Background

This nocturnal animal is a frequent guest at many homes and buildings. You'll find them searching through garbage cans or dumpsters looking for food. In other cases, this animal may literally tear into an attic and nest there leaving droppings and making quite a bit of noise. In yet other instances, they may climb down into a chimney and nest near the damper.

This large animal, known for its distinctive "masked" face and beautiful fur, may grow to between 24" and 48" in length and weigh between 12 lbs. and 25 lbs. A litter of raccoons may contain between three and six young.

Control

Control is dependent on the situation. Exclusion is very practical in many cases. For chimneys, chimney caps are available to prevent raccoons from entering. Garbage cans with secured lids will discourage continued attacks on those items. Also, pruning back of trees may remove access to an attic and allow for repairs.

Unfortunately, we do not have any repellents for this pest. To eliminate a raccoon problem, it is necessary to remove the troublesome animals using a live trap. We recommend Havahart TM traps which are very effective. Two sizes are available. The traps will capture the raccoon alive.

If transported at least ten miles away, the animal will generally not find its way back. Traps may be re-used as needed. Canned fish or cat food are excellent bait for the trap. However, if cats or other pets are present in the same area, you can substitute slices of apple as a bait instead.

Note that many state and local governments regulate trapping of wild/nuisance animals - you may want to check with local authorities first. The link above will take you to the Havahart website. For pricing information on these traps, click here. To view our entire products page from the top, click here.