Raccoon control is not a simple process and usually is best left to experts. When you find your garbage cans overturned or when you hear scratching in the attic, you might consider trapping or killing the animal yourself. Amateur attempts at raccoon control typically do not go as planned, though, often creating more problems than they solve. In most jurisdictions, unlicensed trapping is illegal. The best option for effective raccoon control is to get a professional who has the skill, licensing and equipment to remove the animal.
Raccoons can be a nuisance, most notably by creating a mess while foraging for food, but there are other concerns as well. They can cause property damage, especially if they get in the living areas, but also in less visible portions of the home, where they can rip up insulation and wiring. The animal can carry fleas and parasites into your home, and it is a vector for rabies and distemper, raising serious health concerns.
Trapping a raccoon is not as easy as it sounds. An amateur who is attempting raccoon control will first have to acquire or make a suitable trap, large enough to hold the animal and strong enough to prevent it from escaping. If materials such as wire are not strong enough, the animal might get loose or severely injure itself in the attempt.
Without professional raccoon control expertise, you might trap the wrong animal, such as other wild animals or neighborhood pets. Even if a raccoon is caught, it might not be the one that has been rummaging through your garbage. Of course, even if you do manage to trap the raccoon, you still will need to get rid of it. In most regions, you cannot relocate or destroy a raccoon without a license. Apart from the legal considerations, you might also risk injury by handling a trap with a wild animal inside.
When raccoon control is needed indoors, such as in the attic, there are additional problems. Most often, raccoons who enter attics and similar sheltered areas are expectant mothers. Removing the mother might leave a litter of three to five babies to die slowly in your attic.
Chemical and electronic repellents are available, each promising to keep raccoons away. Experts agree that these products simply do not work, and buying them is just a waste of money. In most cases, the animal will ignore these raccoon control measures and carry on normally.
The most effective raccoon control steps that you can take involve prevention. Strap down the lids of your garbage cans. Do not leave pet food outside, and if you have a pet door, lock it at night. By taking these steps, raccoons will be less likely to forage around your property.