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Raccoons are a stocky mammal about 2 to 3 feet in length and can weigh from 10 to 40 pounds. They have distinct markings that include a black “mask” over their eyes and a heavily furred tail with colored rings on it. The body coloring is a black and gray referred to as “salt-and-pepper” colors. The gray color often contains a golden tone to it. Raccoons are nocturnal and mostly cause problems during night time hours.
Raccoons will consume nearly anything including fruits, nuts, grains, small mammals, birdseed and garbage.
Raccoons can be identified by the way they communicate with some variety of whimpers, purrs, whines, squeals, and screams.
Nuisance Concerns: Raccoons can cause problems and damage in a variety of ways.
- Garbage cans - Raccoons feed at night and homeowners may find garbage cans left outside or by the curb may be tipped over. This is commonly mistaken for neighborhood dogs. Raccoons are also attracted to dog and cat food left outside.
- Attics, walls, and crawl spaces- Raccoons look for areas to create a den. They will look for openings or chew holes in shingles, soffit, and facia to gain entrance into an attic space. Rather than soiling their den areas, raccoons establish "latrine" sites where they will defecate repeatedly. The “latrine” site if located inside the home can be a major problem and hazardous for homeowners with the strong smell as well as the damage.
- Health concerns - Raccoons are known carriers of Baylisacaris procyonis, or Roundworm. Roundworms can lay thousands of eggs that pass through raccoons and their feces. Contaminated feces left on or around decks, outside food dishes, or on lawns may be consumed or come in contact with pets or children. Raccoons and raccoon feces should be handled with care.
- Chimney - Raccoons have learned that uncapped chimneys make a great substitute for hollowed out trees to use as a place for creating a den. This will often cause a plugged chimney and create a back draft.
- Gardens - Raccoons love corn, grapes, and melons. If these are not available they will eat various other fruits or vegetables at or just before their peak in ripeness.
- Lawns - Raccoons are known for rolling up freshly laid sod or shredding grass in search for grubs and worms.
- Poultry - Raccoons will occasionally kill poultry. The heads of adult birds may be bitten off and left away from the body. Young poultry in pens or cages may be killed or injured by raccoons reaching through the wire and attempting to pull the birds back through the mesh. Eggs may be removed completely from nests or eaten on the spot with only the heavily cracked shell remaining. Raccoons are also known to destroy bird nests in bluebird and wood duck nest boxes.
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