Are you experiencing property damage caused by raccoons? If you live in Ottawa, you may have noticed that they are more common than you think and can be a real nuisance when they invade your property. These curious creatures love to explore and find food in and around homes. Unfortunately, their love for exploration often leads them to cause property damage. From ripped shingles to torn ventilation screens, they can inflict a lot of harm on your property.
To protect your home from these critters, it’s important to know how to get rid of them safely and effectively. In this blog article, our Skedaddle experts discuss the importance of raccoon removal in Ottawa, the types of property damage caused by raccoons, and how to get rid of raccoons without causing harm to you or the animals.
Examining the Dangers Raccoons Pose to Your Home and Family
While their cute and curious demeanour may seem harmless, raccoons can create quite a headache for homeowners. They are capable of causing extensive damage to your home both internally and externally. Additionally, they are known carriers of infectious diseases, and their presence can put the health of your family and pets at risk.
Structural Damage to Your Home
The nimble fingers of raccoons allow them to tear off roof vents, shingles, and even siding as they try to access your home. Often they are drawn to the attic, where it’s warm, quiet, and an ideal nesting spot. Once inside, they will not hesitate to tear into insulation, ductwork, and even electrical wiring, leading to further structural damage and potentially high repair costs.
Risk to Your Family’s Health
Unfortunately, the risk extends beyond physical damage to your property. Raccoons may carry a host of diseases and parasites which can be dangerous to humans and pets, including rabies and roundworm. Even if the animals do not directly interact with your family, they can leave these harmful pathogens behind in their waste.
The Nuisances of Nightly Ruckus
Raccoons are nocturnal animals. Their foraging activities can create annoying, and often disturbing noises all night. The ruckus they make in walls, attics, or yards can severely disrupt your nightly peace and quiet.
It’s clear that an infestation is not a minor issue. Attempting to handle raccoons on your own can be extremely dangerous due to the risks they pose.
Common Signs of a Raccoon Invasion: What You Should Be Looking For
Recognizing the common signs of an invasion can be the difference between a manageable problem and substantial property damage. By familiarizing yourself with these indicators, you can take immediate action before the situation worsens.
- Evidence of Foraging
Raccoons are known for their relentless search for food. Unsecured trash cans, pet food left outdoors, and raided bird feeders can all show signs of raccoon activity. If you notice these red flags, it may be time to inspect your property more thoroughly.
- Noise and Disturbance
As already mentioned, raccoons are nocturnal animals and their activities predominantly take place at night. Signs like loud thuds, scratching sounds in your attic or walls, or other unusual noises can be a clear sign of raccoon infestation.
- Unpleasant Odours
Raccoons can often leave a detectable smell long before their presence is more physically obvious. An unexplained, lingering unpleasant odour around your home, especially in places like attics and basements, can point to raccoon activity. This odour can be from their droppings or, in unfortunate cases, from a trapped animal that has died.
- Raccoon Tracks and Droppings
Raccoon footprints and droppings can be among the most tangible signs of an infestation. If you spot any small, paw-like footprints around your property, especially in mud or soft soil, you should be alarmed. Additionally, finding droppings in or around your home is a significant sign that you have unwanted guests.
If you notice any of these signs, contacting a professional for an assessment can help you avoid long-term damage to your property.
Making Your Home Less Attractive to Raccoons: Prevention Strategies
Preventing raccoons from causing havoc to your home is far better than dealing with the aftermath of an infestation. There are several preventative measures you can employ to minimize the allure of your property to these creatures.
Secure Your Garbage Bins
Raccoons are opportunistic feeders. Any smell of food can attract them to your property. You can prevent this by ensuring your garbage bins are tightly sealed and ideally locked. By doing this, you discourage them from rummaging through your trash for a snack.
Keep Your Yard Clean and Clear
Messy yards provide numerous hiding places and potential food sources. Keep your property clean by promptly removing fallen fruits and sealing off compost piles. Limit their access to potential nesting areas by trimming overgrown bushes and trees near your house.
Seal Off Entry Points to Your Home
Raccoons can find their way into your home through the smallest of openings. Regularly inspect and fix any cracks, holes, or gaps in your home’s exterior, including roofing and vents. Cover low access points such as windows and chimneys with heavy-duty screens to prevent them from gaining entrance.
Install Motion Sensor Lights
Despite being adept at navigating the dark, raccoons prefer to operate undetected. Installing motion sensor lights around your home can act as a deterrent and help keep your yard wildlife-free.
A combination of these steps can help to make your home less appealing to wildlife and deter them from wreaking havoc on your property.
When to Call Skedaddle for Raccoon Removal in Ottawa
Recognizing when professional intervention is necessary is key to addressing an invasion effectively. While some signs of raccoon activity may be hard to miss, other indicators are less obvious and may require expert analysis. Further, attempting to handle intruders on your own can be risky and often exacerbates the situation.
You should consider making the call to Skedaddle if you:
- Notice persistent signs of activity including noises and evidence of foraging.
- Discover significant or increasing property damage.
- Or your family experiences health symptoms that could be related to raccoon-borne diseases.
- Feel uncomfortable or unsafe dealing with the issue independently.
Raccoon removal requires a careful approach that protects both your family and the animals themselves. As experts in wildlife control, Skedaddle has the experience, techniques, and knowledge to handle these situations. Our approach is based on the humane treatment of animals and comprehensive solutions to prevent re-entry.
Why Choose Skedaddle for Raccoon Removal
Choosing Skedaddle for wildlife removal means you are getting a professional service that values both the safety of your home and the well-being of the wildlife. Here are a few reasons why property owners in Ottawa continue to trust Skedaddle:
- Humane Approach: At Skedaddle, we prioritize the humane treatment of wildlife during removal.
- Experienced Team: Our team of experts aces in dealing with wildlife invasions, having handled a variety of cases, we have developed field-tested strategies to remove raccoons safely and effectively.
- Long-Term Solutions: We aim to provide more than just immediate relief; our comprehensive solutions address entry points to prevent future invasions.
- Health and Safety: We are committed to protecting the health of your family and pets. Our cleanup process includes the removal and decontamination of infected areas.
Dealing with a wildlife infestation can be daunting, but you’re not alone. Our trained experts at Skedaddle are ready to come to your aid and make your home impenetrable for wildlife invaders. If you’re dealing with raccoons in your home or property, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
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