How to Remove Raccoons from Attics and Decks: A Humane Approach

Raccoons, while fascinating creatures, can become a significant nuisance when they invade our homes, particularly attics and decks. Their presence can lead to structural damage, insulation destruction, and potential health risks. Handling raccoon removal with care is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of these animals. Gates Wildlife Control is renowned for its meticulous and humane approach to raccoon removal, ensuring that all animals are safely and successfully reunited with their mothers. This article will explore effective strategies for removing raccoons and highlight how Gates Wildlife Control exemplifies compassionate wildlife management.

Identifying a Raccoon Infestation

Before embarking on a removal process, it’s essential to confirm that raccoons are indeed the culprits. Common signs of a raccoon infestation include:

? Noises: Scratching, thumping, or chattering sounds, particularly at night.

? Damage: Access points under the deck, grass worn down.

? Droppings: Large, dark droppings that resemble small dog feces.

? Tracks: Paw prints around entry points, usually with five toes.

Humane Removal Methods

Inspection and Entry Point Identification

The first step in humane raccoon removal is a thorough inspection. Identify all potential entry points, such as vents, chimneys, and gaps in the roofline or decking. Sealing these entry points after ensuring all raccoons are out is crucial to prevent future infestations.

One-Way Doors

One-way doors are an effective and humane method for evicting raccoons. These devices allow raccoons to exit but prevent them from re-entering. Install the one-way door at the main entry point and monitor the situation to ensure all raccoons have left.

Animal Proofing

After confirming that all raccoons have left, seal all entry points with durable materials such as heavy-gauge steel mesh. Ensure there are no gaps left unattended, as raccoons are adept climbers and can claw and chew through surprisingly small openings.

Gates Wildlife Control: A Compassionate Approach

Gates Wildlife Control sets a high standard for humane wildlife management. Their painstaking approach ensures that all animals, especially young raccoons, are safely and successfully reunited with their mothers. Here’s how we do it:

Detailed Inspection

Gates Wildlife Control begins with a comprehensive inspection to identify all entry points and assess the extent of the infestation. Their team uses state-of-the-art equipment to ensure no detail is overlooked.

Video Surveillance in Difficult Situations

In particularly challenging cases, Gates Wildlife Control utilizes video surveillance to gain a complete understanding of the situation. Each raccoon removal scenario is unique, and video monitoring allows the team to observe raccoon behavior, identify all entry and exit points, and ensure that no animals are left behind. This careful observation is critical for developing a tailored and effective removal plan.

Professional and Humane Removal

Rather than resorting to lethal methods, Gates Wildlife Control employs one-way doors and live traps. They are meticulous in their approach, ensuring that all family members, including the young, are safely removed. In cases where young raccoons are present, they are carefully gathered and placed in a heated release box, which the mother can access once she exits through the one-way door.

Reuniting the Family

A unique aspect of Gates Wildlife Control’s approach is their commitment to reuniting young raccoons with their mothers. They understand that separation can be detrimental to the survival of the young. The heated release box is positioned near the original entry point, allowing the mother to find and relocate her babies safely.

Post-Removal Measures

After ensuring all raccoons have been safely removed and reunited, Gates Wildlife Control proceeds with sealing all entry points. They use high-quality materials to prevent future infestations and provide homeowners with advice on how to minimize attractants that could invite raccoons back.

Conclusion

Removing raccoons from attics and decks requires a compassionate and methodical approach. It’s not just about evicting these creatures but ensuring their safety and well-being throughout the process. Gates Wildlife Control exemplifies this humane approach, prioritizing the reunification of raccoon families and the long-term prevention of future infestations. By following these humane methods, including the use of video surveillance for particularly challenging situations, and seeking professional help when needed, homeowners can effectively and ethically resolve raccoon infestations.