Raccoons might look cute with their mask-like faces and tiny paws, and watching them when they’re outside is fun. However, when they get into your house, you have a problem. If you hear scratching or other strange sounds coming from your attic, it is time to understand how do raccoons get in your attic and how to deal with them. Also, you may have seen odd scratches outside your house. If you notice either of these things, a raccoon might be living in your home. So let’s talk about how to identify the signs of raccoon in house and what to do about it.
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5 Signs That A Raccoon Is In Your House
If you think you have a raccoon problem, here are signs of possum infestation to look out for:
#1. Sounds of Scratching and Scurrying
Raccoons do most of their moving around at night, so you probably won’t hear them much during the day. But it’s hard not to listen to a raccoon moving around at night. You can easily hear them scratching around the attic and wonder how can a raccoon get in your attic. Sometimes there are noises even in the walls if they can get in there. So even though raccoons aren’t very big, you might hear them.
#2. Seeing Tracks And Traces
Tracks are the very first and most common signs of raccoon in house. The tracks of these animals are thought to be pretty easy to recognize. Most of the time, they look like people’s footprints, but these tracks are usually about four inches or less long. So if you find what looks like tiny human footprints in these places in and around your home, don’t wait. It’s time to call a raccoon removal service.
#3. Stacks of Feces
Raccoons are pretty clean animals. They have a strong sense of smell and don’t like living in their own waste. As a result, these creatures tend to leave piles of trash around where they live. In a way, wherever they poop, they collect and dump them in a specific area. These piles of feces are a dead giveaway that a raccoon has found its shelter nearby.
#4. Damage And Scratches To Or Near The House
Most raccoons scratch at the bark of trees, especially at the bottom, at the base. Unfortunately, they also damage sheds, porches, and other buildings on the property. To determine what these marks are, you should look for worn patterns, different oils that could have come from the animal’s body, and any hairs that stand out. If you see these things, you may take them as signs of possum infestation.
#5. Fiddled Trash Cans
Raccoons have a terrible reputation for digging through trash cans and dumpsters to find food. They are called trash pandas because they are always getting into the trash. If you go outside one morning and find your trash cans overturned and trash all over your yard, that’s a clear sign that raccoons have been there recently.
7 Tips to Deal with a Raccoon in House
When you see a raccoon, we have some excellent advice for you.
#1. Try To Relax
You need to stay calm so that you can think clearly about how to handle the rest of the situation and not freak out about what might happen. Take a deep breath and ensure space between you and the raccoon. Even though you are staying calm, don’t waste too much time. Please call critter out experts as soon as you can.
#2. Keep Waste bins Safe
Your trash can is the best place for a raccoon to find food on your property. These animals are more intelligent than you think, and they will knock over your trash can or open the lid to get to the tasty food inside. To avoid this, keep the tops on your trash cans tight. Even if raccoons can’t get to your trash, the smell of it may draw them in. If you have garbage that smells bad, like raw meat, put it in a plastic bag first to keep the smell in.
#3. Block The Way To Places To Hide
Raccoons like to hide in places that are dark and closed off. This includes areas like the crawl space under a deck or porch, under the roots of a big tree, or wherever there is enough thick brush to hide. Hence, find places on your property where raccoons could hide and get rid of them or put up a barrier so they can’t get in. Wire mesh, sheet metal, or another strong material that raccoons can’t easily tear up can be used to block off such holes in your home.
#4. Close up your Chimney
If you don’t want raccoons on your roof, you should seal off your chimney. We might not want to go into this dark, small room, but for raccoon moms, this is the perfect place. Most of the time, a raccoon seeks to get into your chimney to give birth there. Raccoons like to nest in tree holes and hollow tree trunks, similar to chimneys. So before you seal your chimney, check to see for signs of possum infestation there.
#5. Fragrance Repellents
Raccoons have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find your trash from miles away. But you can take advantage of the fact that they have good noses. There are a lot of strong smells that will confuse their senses and make them stay away. Place the scents near places where raccoons might be, such as food sources, small spaces, and other areas. You can also put the smells around the outside of your property to make a border.
#6. Get Rid Of All Water Sources
Check your property for places where raccoons might be able to hide or find food. Also, look for sites where they might be able to get water. If you have a problem with raccoons, you should cover water-filled places, like swimming pools, at least at night with solid lids. This is very important for ponds with fish. If you get rid of all the places where raccoons can get food, water, and shelter, they will have no reason to hang out in your yard.
#7. Motion-Activated Sprinklers
An explosion of water is a natural way to keep raccoons away. If you want to do that with water, your yard will need to be showered with water all the time. But that’s not ideal. Hence, to keep raccoons out of your yard, you can use a sprinkler that turns on when it sees movement. Because of the technology, it can only spray water when it senses motion. This is an excellent way to chase away raccoons and other unwanted animals.
That was it! Our guide to detecting the signs of raccoons in house and some excellent ways to get rid of them and ensure they stay away. That being said, if you still struggle with raccoons and other critters in your house, maybe it’s time to seek help from critter out professionals like Critter Stop, who are experts in raccoon removal and much more.
