During the spring, especially, animals take shelter in warm dry areas like attics to give birth to their young. If you believe that you have a raccoon living in your attic, it is best to consult a wildlife control expert.
Damage Raccoons Can Cause in Your Attic
Raccoons are foragers who collect random items to either build their nests with or to eat. This will sometimes lead them to entering urban areas. They will often enter the attic through either the roof or the soffit creating costly damage. On top of the damage done to your property, raccoons pose a health risk. Raccoons carry many parasites on and in their bodies that are hazardous to most people, especially young children, and infants. From roundworm to rabies, they can cause all manner of health problems just by being on your property.
How to Know if You Have Raccoons in Your Attic
- Animal excrement/feces found in the attic or on the roof
- Noises (including snarling, scratching, and footsteps)
- Scratch marks found in the woodwork
- Random smears of dirt on the outside of your home
- Foundation vents having holes
- Sightings of Raccoons on the roof, in your yard, or other areas of your property
What to do After Finding Raccoons in Your Attic
If you believe you have raccoons living in your attic, here are some steps to follow:
1. Look for the Raccoons and Babies
You will need to determine if the raccoon is just visiting your home or if they may have moved in. Mother raccoons will seek out safe, warm places to have their babies and take care of them.
2. Locate any Entry Holes
This step is important so you know what needs to be fixed to keep them out in the future.
3. Remove Raccoons with Trappings
It is important not to close the entry point before removing the raccoons. If you seal the raccoons inside your attic they will often rip through the ceiling below to escape. They may also become trapped inside of a wall cavity and die causing your home to smell for a long period of time. If raccoons need to be trapped and removed from your property it is always best to contact a raccoon removal company. Look up a local wildlife removal specialist who knows what to do.
4. Clean up the Attic
With the creatures gone, you will need to clean up every area of the attic. There is simply no way to know where they may have gone and what they may have done with anything not stored away in a sealed box or bag. So, take the time to see what you have and clean it all up. Also, decontaminate the area to ensure that no parasites or bugs left behind become a further problem.
If you live in Columbia, Maryland and are experiencing a raccoon infestation, contact Mid Atlantic Wildlife Control for humane assistance in removing them.