If you’re a homeowner in Ottawa, you might feel like you’re in an ongoing battle with adorable, but pesky raccoons. While their antics can be entertaining, it’s important to be aware of the serious health concerns associated with these animals. This includes the harmful roundworms they carry which can be transferred to humans and pose a significant health risk. That’s why professional raccoon removal in Ottawa is not merely a matter of home maintenance, but a crucial step towards protecting the wellbeing of your household. Our focus in this article is to shed light on these hidden dangers while teaching you how to respond with an informed plan of action.
What Are Raccoon Roundworms?
Raccoon roundworms, scientifically known as Baylisascaris procyonis, are parasites that inhabit the intestines of the animals. They can also be a significant host for a specific type of roundworm. These parasites are commonly found in urban environments, and their eggs or worms are excreted through their feces. This can lead to environmental contamination.
It’s important to be aware that raccoon feces may be present in various areas such as gardens, trash cans, or even attics. If left undisturbed, the eggs can survive for extended periods under different conditions. This increases the risk of accidental ingestion by humans, pets, or other animals, potentially causing an infection. Stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to minimize the risk.
Symptoms of Roundworms
It’s important to understand the indicators that a raccoon may be hosting roundworms. Though it may be difficult to discern these symptoms due to their nocturnal habits and tendency towards elusive behaviour, key signs include:
- Lack of Coordination: One noticeable sign is a lack of coordination or poor balance. This could manifest in stumbling, falling, or even seeming disoriented.
- Slowed Movements: A typically active and nimble animal, raccoons infected with roundworms often move more slowly and may appear sluggish or lethargic.
- Unusually Bold Behaviour or Loss of Fear: Altered behaviour could be a symptom of infection. For instance, if an animal seems unusually bold or unafraid of humans – this could signify an issue.
- Dulled or Partially Closed Eyes: The eyes could reveal clues about their health. Dull or partially closed eyes might suggest an infection.
- Visible Parasites: In serious cases, they may be visible in their feces. Practice careful hygiene when cleaning up droppings to avoid infection.
While observing these symptoms can be challenging, doing so aids in prompt action that keeps both you and wildlife safe. If you notice such signs in raccoons around your property, reach out to a professional immediately.
How Roundworms Can Affect Your Health
You may be wondering, “How do raccoon roundworms affect my health?” Well, it’s essential to understand that these parasites aren’t exclusive to animals. They can indeed pose a serious health risk to humans, especially if you unintentionally consume their eggs found in raccoon feces.
Once ingested, these eggs can hatch into larvae within your body. Travelling through your organs and tissues, they can cause a disease known as larva migrans. Symptoms of this infection may range from mild (fever, fatigue, and loss of muscle coordination) to severe complications like liver enlargement, loss of eyesight, or even brain damage in the more extreme cases.
Sadly, children are often more susceptible to acquiring the infection due to their penchant for playing in the dirt and not washing their hands before eating. A risk also exists for gardeners and anyone coming into regular contact with soil that has potentially been contaminated by feces.
Ultimately, the threat of roundworms is significant and should not be taken lightly. Protect yourself and your loved ones by ensuring proper hygiene practices and taking necessary precautions when dealing with infestations. Call a professional wildlife control service like ours at Skedaddle if you suspect a raccoon presence on your property. We are trained to remove them humanely and safely, mitigating health risks associated with these animals.
Preventing Infections: Tips for Homeowners
Dealing with raccoons in your vicinity is a concern you should take seriously and promptly knowing the health hazards they present. Thankfully, there are several preventive measures homeowners like you can adopt to avert the risk of getting infected with roundworms:
- Maintain a Clean Environment: Regular cleaning can significantly reduce the chances of eggs surviving in your surroundings. Pay special attention to areas such as yards, basements, and attics which wild animals like raccoons often inhabit.
- Secure Trash Bins: Raccoons are notorious scavengers and are attracted to leftover food. Ensure your trash bins are securely covered to prevent them from rummaging and potentially spreading eggs.
- Get Regular Wildlife Inspections: Regular inspections by professional wildlife controllers can help identify and address any potential threats early. They can also give advice tailored specifically to your home and surroundings.
- Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Always use gloves and masks while cleaning known or suspected areas raccoons inhabit to prevent any accidental ingestion or inhalation of eggs. It’s important to leave the cleanup to the professionals, as improper handling can pose serious health risks.
- Teach Safety Measures to Kids: Children are more prone to such infections due to their curiosity and habits, such as eating without washing hands or playing in potentially infected areas. Therefore, it’s important to teach them about the dangers and how to stay safe.
- Ensure Pets are Dewormed: Pets coming into contact with raccoons or their feces can easily get infected and subsequently spread the eggs inside your home. Regular deworming of your pets according to the schedule suggested by your vet is crucial.
On top of these measures, continual vigilance and prompt action at the first sign of any wild animal in your vicinity will go a long way in ensuring the health and safety of everyone in your household from roundworms.
The Importance of Humane Raccoon Removal in Ottawa
When it comes to the dilemma of how to get rid of raccoons, we at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control come to the rescue. While it’s tempting to handle the situation yourself, remember that they are savvy animals highly skilled in eluding amateur removal attempts. Worse still, missteps can escalate the risk of exposure.
Enlisting our help ensures that raccoon removal is done both humanely and thoroughly. With our training in understanding animal behaviour, our experts can effectively evict these masked intruders from your property. We apply advanced detection methodologies to identify frequented areas and possible entry points, which we secure to prevent future invasions.
Moreover, our professional removal service doesn’t just stop at eviction. We understand that roundworm lurks potentially in raccoon droppings. Therefore, we conduct an in-depth sanitation process, disinfecting your home from harmful parasites. This two-fold approach of eviction and sanitation minimizes the risk of infections significantly.
Protect Your Home and Safeguard Your Health With Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control
The risk posed by raccoon roundworms to humans is real and should never be overlooked. These parasites pose potential dangers to our health. They can cause serious illness if they invade our bodies – an alarming fact that puts us all on notice.
As homeowners in Ottawa, it’s in our best interest to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to wildlife control. To this end, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is an invaluable resource. We specialize in safe and humane animal removal, efficiently evicting raccoons from your property and advising on how to prevent further infestations. Moreover, with our noted commitment to treating wildlife with respect while prioritizing human safety, we’re the perfect choice to help you deal with your animal issue.
So, don’t wait until you, your family, or your pets start showing symptoms of infection. Prevention is always better than cure, especially in the context of roundworms. Reach out to us at the first sign of a raccoon on your property. And remember – Skedaddle is here to help you navigate the challenges of wildlife control, creating a safer environment for you and your loved ones.
Take action today. Protect your home, safeguard your health, and ensure a harmonious co-existence with our wild neighbours. Give Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control a call.
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