When it comes to raccoons and pets safety, keeping our furry family members secure should always be a top priority. Protecting pets from raccoons is essential because, while these nocturnal animals are undeniably clever and adaptable, they can pose significant risks to the well-being of domestic animals and humans. Whether you’re in Oshawa, where green spaces like Lakeview Park often attract various wildlife, or in another part of Ontario, understanding raccoon dangers for pets can help ensure everyone stays safe and sound.  

Below, we’ve outlined practical advice to help homeowners create a safe environment for pets while minimizing any potential conflicts with raccoons.  

Raccoons And Pets Safety  

Raccoons are resourceful creatures known for making their way into residential areas, especially where food and shelter are easily accessible. While they generally avoid direct confrontations, encounters between raccoons and pets can still lead to dangerous outcomes. This is especially concerning if pets are naturally curious or spend a lot of time outdoors.  

Here’s why safety around raccoons is so important for pets and your household overall:

• Disease Transmission: Raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, and canine distemper, which can spread through scratches, bites, and even indirect contact like contaminated water.
• Aggressive Behaviour: A cornered raccoon can become aggressive to defend itself, especially if it’s a mother protecting her young.
• Food Competition: Raccoons scavenging for food might invade pet feeding areas, creating tension with dogs or cats nearby.
• Parasites: They might carry parasites like fleas, ticks, or the dangerous raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), which can pose health risks to both pets and humans if ingested or inhaled.

To maintain safety, it’s essential to focus on prevention first. This involves securing outdoor areas, maintaining clean waste disposal, and keeping an eye on our pets when they’re outside.  

Protect Pets From Raccoons  

Protecting pets from raccoons involves a proactive approach that combines physical barriers, behavioural monitoring, and environmental management. Here are some strategies to consider implementing in your home and outdoor spaces:

1. Supervise Outdoor Time

The first step in ensuring safety is to monitor your pets when they are outside, especially at dawn or dusk when raccoons are most active. Avoid leaving pets unattended in the backyard during these hours. This is particularly helpful for pets like cats or small dogs who might be more vulnerable to an aggressive raccoon protecting its territory.  

2. Secure Feeding Stations

Never leave pet food outdoors overnight. Raccoons are excellent foragers, and easily accessible food scraps or bowls can attract them to your yard. Opt for indoor feeding instead and clean up any leftover food immediately. Use sturdy, raccoon-proof containers to dispose of food waste.  

3. Protect Entry Points

Raccoons are surprisingly dexterous and can pry open loose screens, attic vents, or chimneys to enter your home. Inspect your property regularly for potential entry points, and seal any gaps with heavy-duty materials like galvanized steel. For homes near wooded areas in Oshawa, ensuring your property’s perimeter is animal-proof is even more critical.  

4. Install Motion-Sensor Lights

Bright lights that are triggered by movement can deter nocturnal animals like raccoons from entering your yard. Placing them near entrances, gardens, and outdoor kennels can make raccoons think twice before pursuing food or exploring further.  

5. Keep Garbage Secure

One quick way to discourage raccoons is by securing your garbage area. Use bins with secure locking mechanisms, and avoid letting strong food odours linger. If possible, store bins in garages or sheds.  

By following these guidelines, your property becomes far less attractive to wildlife, effectively reducing the chances of an encounter.  

Raccoon Dangers For Pets  

While raccoons might seem harmless at a distance, their interactions with pets can lead to several hazards. Understanding these dangers allows homeowners to stay prepared and take key precautions.  

These are some common risks raccoons pose to pets:

1. Rabies

Raccoons are a significant rabies carrier in Ontario, and an infected raccoon bite could be life-threatening to your pets. It’s vital to keep your dogs and cats up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Symptoms of infection include aggression, lethargy, and unusual vocalizations.  

2. Physical Injury

If confronted, a raccoon may bite or scratch defensively. Injuries from their sharp claws can lead to deep wounds, infections, or permanent damage to smaller animals. Dogs, particularly breeds with strong prey drives, are more likely to engage directly with wildlife, making them targets for aggressive raccoon behaviour.  

3. Canine Distemper

Canine distemper is another disease often carried by raccoons. This viral condition causes fever, vomiting, seizures, and can become fatal if untreated. Owners should ensure dogs receive vaccinations every three years as advised by veterinarians.  

4. Parasites

Raccoons frequently carry parasites that impact both animals and humans. Raccoon roundworms, for instance, pose a severe threat if pets ingest their feces. Regular deworming treatments for pets and carefully cleaning contaminated areas can help mitigate this risk.  

Owners should contact a local wildlife control expert, like us at Skedaddle, or consult a vet if they suspect any interaction between their pets and raccoons has occurred.  

Taking Action For Raccoon Safety  

The more proactive we are in preventing raccoon encroachments, the safer our outdoor spaces become for everyone in the household. Consider implementing additional steps to protect your pets now and into the future.  

Here’s a simple 6-step checklist to follow for ongoing safety:

1. Install fencing around gardens or pet play areas.
2. Ensure all attic vents, chimneys, and siding are secure.
3. Trim low-hanging branches that offer roof access.
4. Keep pet food and water bowls strictly indoors.
5. Perform seasonal property checks for signs of activity or damage.
6. Educate family members or housemates about raccoon habits and hazards.

By consistently applying these best practices, you reduce the likelihood of unwanted encounters while keeping pets and local wildlife safe. Remember, wildlife control methods should always be humane and effective—we want to resolve problems without impacting the natural ecosystems in our neighbourhoods.  

When to Call Professionals for Help

While preventative measures are essential in deterring raccoons and other wildlife, some situations require professional intervention. If you hear unusual noises in your attic or walls, notice damage to vents, shingles, or soffits, or discover droppings and strong odours around your property, it may be time to contact Skedaddle. 

Our trained professionals are equipped to assess the issue, safely remove wildlife, and implement exclusion techniques to prevent future problems. Additionally, if you encounter wildlife that appears injured, sick, or aggressive, it’s crucial to leave the situation to experienced experts who can handle it safely and humanely. At Skedaddle, we prioritize effective solutions that care for your home and the well-being of local wildlife.

Skedaddle Helps to Protect Your Pets  

Wildlife safety is one of the many responsibilities of owning a home, particularly in areas rich in biodiversity, like Oshawa, where parks like Darlington Provincial Park create beautiful but wildlife-friendly environments. At Skedaddle, we offer humane solutions for wildlife conflicts, helping homeowners enjoy peace of mind while maintaining the harmony of their properties.  

Protect the furry members of your family and keep your outdoor spaces secure by reaching out to us for advice or a professional home inspection. Don’t wait until an encounter happens—we’re here to help make prevention easy.  

Contact Skedaddle Wildlife Control today to ensure your home and pets live safely alongside neighbourhood wildlife.