Raccoons, while often perceived as cute and cuddly, can quickly become a nuisance when they invade our homes, gardens, and properties. Their scavenging habits, destructive tendencies, and potential to carry diseases make them unwelcome guests. While the urge to eliminate them may be strong, it’s crucial to approach raccoon removal with a focus on humane and ethical practices. Killing raccoons should always be a last resort, and only considered when all other methods have failed and when permitted by local laws and regulations. This comprehensive guide will delve into humane raccoon removal strategies, emphasizing prevention, exclusion, and live trapping, while also discussing the ethical considerations and legal ramifications of lethal methods.
**Understanding the Raccoon Problem**
Before taking any action, it’s essential to understand the root cause of the raccoon problem. Why are they attracted to your property in the first place? Common attractants include:
* **Food sources:** Garbage cans, pet food, bird feeders, gardens, and fruit trees provide readily available meals for raccoons.
* **Shelter:** Attics, chimneys, sheds, crawl spaces, and decks offer safe and comfortable places for raccoons to nest and raise their young.
* **Water:** Ponds, bird baths, and leaky faucets provide a convenient water source.
By identifying and addressing these attractants, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of raccoons visiting your property.
**Prevention: The First Line of Defense**
Preventing raccoons from entering your property is the most effective and humane way to deal with them. Here are some preventative measures you can take:
* **Secure garbage cans:** Use heavy-duty garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. Consider using bungee cords or straps to further secure the lids.
* **Eliminate food sources:** Store pet food indoors, clean up spilled birdseed, and harvest fruits and vegetables promptly. Avoid leaving food scraps outdoors.
* **Seal entry points:** Inspect your home for any potential entry points, such as cracks, holes, and gaps in the foundation, roof, and around pipes. Seal these openings with sturdy materials like hardware cloth, metal flashing, or concrete.
* **Trim trees and shrubs:** Keep trees and shrubs trimmed back to prevent raccoons from climbing onto your roof.
* **Install chimney caps:** Install a sturdy chimney cap to prevent raccoons from entering your chimney.
* **Use motion-activated lights and sprinklers:** These can deter raccoons from approaching your property.
* **Apply raccoon repellent:** There are various commercially available raccoon repellents that can be applied around your property. Look for repellents that contain ingredients like capsaicin (from chili peppers) or predator urine.
**Exclusion: Keeping Raccoons Out**
If raccoons have already gained access to your property, exclusion is the next step. This involves physically preventing them from entering specific areas, such as your attic or shed.
* **One-way doors:** Install a one-way door over the entry point that the raccoons are using. This allows them to exit but prevents them from re-entering. Make sure all other potential entry points are sealed before installing the one-way door.
* **Hardware cloth barriers:** Use hardware cloth to create barriers around vulnerable areas, such as gardens or under decks. Bury the hardware cloth several inches into the ground to prevent raccoons from digging underneath.
* **Professional exclusion services:** Consider hiring a professional wildlife removal company to perform exclusion services. They have the expertise and equipment to effectively seal entry points and prevent raccoons from returning.
**Live Trapping: A Humane Removal Option**
Live trapping is a humane way to remove raccoons from your property, but it requires careful planning and execution. Here are some tips for successful live trapping:
* **Choose the right trap:** Use a large, sturdy live trap specifically designed for raccoons. The trap should be at least 32 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 10 inches high.
* **Bait the trap:** Use a bait that raccoons find irresistible, such as marshmallows, peanut butter, canned tuna, or sweet corn. Place the bait at the back of the trap.
* **Position the trap:** Place the trap in an area where raccoons are known to frequent, such as near their entry point or along a well-worn path. Camouflage the trap with leaves and branches to make it less conspicuous.
* **Check the trap regularly:** Check the trap at least twice a day, morning and evening, to ensure that a raccoon hasn’t been trapped for too long. Trapped raccoons can become stressed and dehydrated, so it’s important to release them as soon as possible.
* **Handle trapped raccoons with care:** Wear heavy gloves and protective clothing when handling a trapped raccoon. Approach the trap calmly and quietly to avoid startling the animal. Cover the trap with a blanket or tarp to reduce stress.
* **Relocate the raccoon:** Relocating a raccoon can be tricky, as it’s important to choose a suitable release location that is far enough away from your property but still provides the raccoon with access to food, water, and shelter. Contact your local wildlife agency for advice on appropriate release locations. Keep in mind that relocating raccoons may be illegal in some areas.
**Important Considerations Before Relocation:**
* **Mother Raccoons and their Kits:** Springtime is birthing season for raccoons. If you trap a raccoon during this time, there’s a high probability it’s a mother with dependent kits somewhere nearby (likely in your attic, chimney, or under a deck). Relocating the mother will leave the kits to starve, which is inhumane. **Never relocate a raccoon in the spring or early summer without first ensuring there are no dependent young.** Look for signs of kits (whimpering sounds, small droppings, etc.). If you suspect there are kits, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.
* **Legality of Relocation:** Many jurisdictions have laws regulating or prohibiting the relocation of wildlife. This is due to concerns about the spread of diseases and the potential for the relocated animal to disrupt the local ecosystem. Always check your local laws before relocating a raccoon.
* **Survival Rates:** Studies have shown that relocated raccoons have a low survival rate. They are unfamiliar with the new territory, making it difficult to find food, water, and shelter. They are also vulnerable to predation and competition from established raccoon populations. Relocation should only be considered as a last resort.
**When Lethal Methods May Be Considered (and the Ethical Concerns)**
As stated earlier, killing raccoons should only be considered as a last resort, and only when all other humane methods have failed and when permitted by local laws and regulations. There are several ethical and practical considerations to keep in mind:
* **Legality:** Before using any lethal method, it’s crucial to check your local laws and regulations. Many areas have strict laws regarding the killing of wildlife, and you could face fines or other penalties for violating these laws.
* **Humaneness:** If lethal methods are necessary, it’s essential to choose a method that is as humane as possible, causing minimal pain and suffering to the animal. Avoid using methods that are cruel or inhumane, such as poisoning or drowning.
* **Non-target animals:** Be extremely careful to avoid harming non-target animals, such as pets or other wildlife. Use traps or baits that are specifically designed for raccoons and take precautions to prevent other animals from accessing them.
* **Public safety:** Consider the potential risks to public safety when using lethal methods. Avoid using methods that could pose a danger to humans, such as firearms or explosives.
* **Ethical considerations:** Killing an animal, even a nuisance animal, is a serious decision that should not be taken lightly. Consider the ethical implications of your actions and explore all other options before resorting to lethal methods.
**Lethal Methods (Proceed with extreme caution and only when legally permissible):**
* **Shooting:** Shooting raccoons with a firearm can be effective, but it requires skill and accuracy. It’s essential to use a firearm that is appropriate for the size of the animal and to follow all safety precautions. Shooting should only be done in areas where it is legal and safe to do so.
* **Body-gripping traps (e.g., Conibear traps):** These traps are designed to kill animals quickly by crushing their bodies. However, they can also be dangerous to non-target animals and humans. Body-gripping traps should only be used by experienced trappers who are familiar with their safe and effective use. These traps are often heavily regulated or banned in many areas.
* **Poisoning:** **Poisoning raccoons is generally considered inhumane and is often illegal.** It can also pose a significant risk to non-target animals and humans. Poisoned raccoons can suffer a slow and agonizing death, and their carcasses can contaminate the environment. **Under no circumstances should you attempt to poison raccoons.**
**Important Considerations for Lethal Control:**
* **Licensing and Permits:** Lethal control often requires specific licenses and permits from your local wildlife agency. Ensure you have all necessary permissions before taking any action.
* **Professional Assistance:** Given the complexities and ethical concerns, engaging a professional wildlife control operator (WCO) is highly recommended if lethal control is deemed necessary. They have the expertise and equipment to handle the situation safely, legally, and humanely (as possible within the confines of lethal control).
* **The ‘Vacuum Effect’:** Removing a raccoon from an area can create a ‘vacuum effect,’ where other raccoons move in to take its place. Without addressing the underlying attractants, lethal control may only provide a temporary solution.
**Cleaning Up After Raccoons**
After removing raccoons from your property, it’s essential to clean up any mess they may have left behind. Raccoon droppings and urine can contain harmful bacteria and parasites, such as raccoon roundworm, which can be dangerous to humans and pets.
* **Wear protective gear:** Wear gloves, a mask, and eye protection when cleaning up raccoon droppings and urine.
* **Disinfect contaminated areas:** Use a disinfectant solution to clean and disinfect any areas that have been contaminated by raccoon droppings or urine. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
* **Dispose of contaminated materials properly:** Dispose of any contaminated materials, such as insulation, bedding, and clothing, in sealed plastic bags. Contact your local waste management agency for guidance on proper disposal methods.
* **Wash your hands thoroughly:** After cleaning up raccoon droppings and urine, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
**Preventing Future Problems**
Once you’ve removed raccoons from your property and cleaned up any mess they may have left behind, it’s important to take steps to prevent future problems. This includes:
* **Maintaining preventative measures:** Continue to implement the preventative measures discussed earlier, such as securing garbage cans, eliminating food sources, and sealing entry points.
* **Regular inspections:** Regularly inspect your property for any signs of raccoon activity, such as tracks, droppings, or damage.
* **Professional assistance:** If you continue to have problems with raccoons, consider hiring a professional wildlife removal company to provide ongoing monitoring and control services.
**Conclusion: Prioritizing Humane Solutions**
Raccoon removal is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of ethical, legal, and practical factors. While killing raccoons may seem like a quick and easy solution, it should only be considered as a last resort. By focusing on prevention, exclusion, and live trapping, you can effectively remove raccoons from your property in a humane and ethical manner. Remember to always check your local laws and regulations before taking any action, and consider consulting with a professional wildlife removal company for assistance. Prioritizing humane solutions not only protects raccoons from unnecessary suffering but also helps to maintain a healthy and balanced ecosystem. The long-term solution lies in understanding raccoon behavior and making your property less attractive to them in the first place. This approach is more effective, more humane, and ultimately, more sustainable.