Some animals in our society can be more troublesome than desired. Unlike your usual domesticated cat or dog, these animals are here to cause distress. Some may even take a personal liking to your humble abode. They will, when it is possible to do so, enter the premises and try to make your home their own.
Despite having a modestly cute appearance, Raccoons represent that sentiment through and through. If, for example, they discover and opening in your home, they will try to enter. Namely, the attic is one of the spaces to which they can gain access most of the time.
It will be for several reasons, but the following illustrates how to safely remove them from your attic.
Tip #1: Look for Evidence
Even though you may feel as if a raccoon has entered your attic, it may not be that, to begin with. In this light, you will have to conduct some due diligence in finding the source of the present animal. If you are truly confident in a raccoon being present in the home, look for specific signs.
One of the biggest pieces of evidence of raccoon presence being within your attic has to do with scratches. Raccoons love to make attics their own home and will claw apart certain pieces of the space to mark their territory. This is especially true if the attic is tightly structured, and they have no immediate means of escape.
Tip #2: Nighttime
An extension of the previous point concerns the time of day. You seldom see a raccoon entering your attic or home on a bright, sunny day. They are nocturnal creatures by nature and will wait until the sun sets to make their move. Thus, if your attic begins to make loud, scratching noises above, it could be a raccoon.
Moreover, the raccoon will act on this if there are no light sources in and around the property. Bright sources of illumination ward off raccoons most of the time. Since it reminds them of the bright sunny day previously mentioned, they will try to hide until the premises are darkened.
Keep an eye out for their presence based on these specific factors. Consult with pest control professionals on how to minimize the symptoms.
Tip #3: Closing Gaps
To get into the attic, the raccoon will have climbed up the home or used other means of travel. As a result, take a bird’s eyed-view of your home, and see if there are any vulnerabilities present. They are bound to be exploited, especially if they allow the animal access to the home.
Sometimes, you may find a small gap within the roof. Should this not be closed as soon as possible, the raccoon will use it to enter. It is a small oversight that can be worked on to prevent their access outright. Look for similarly sized holes on the upper levels of the property to keep yourself informed.
Tip #4: Food
Besides protection from the weather outside, food will draw raccoons to a home. All animals require sustenance for survival, and raccoons are no different. To make matters a bit more challenging, these animals have a great sense of smell. Therefore, they will be able to detect the presence of food even while far away.
Close all available entry points in your home, and put away open food sources if they are not closed. Any food that is left open will eventually lead a raccoon to be drawn to it. Exacerbating the situation is that raccoons may bring the food upstairs with them to the attic!
Tip #5: Reinforce Entry Points
Raccoons who live in your attic will leave at some point to forage for food outside. This would be the best time to reinforce the entry point they used to get in. Certain raccoon traps could be installed to prevent them from gaining access inside again. It is a simple mechanism, but one that serves its purpose completely.
Tip #6: Professional Removal Services
If you run out of options, you will have to make a call to an expert. Professional wildlife services are your best bet when caring for a raccoon in your attic.
Since disposing of the raccoon yourself can be dangerous, knowing how to get rid of them humanely is key. They may even allow the raccoon to return to its natural habitat, far from your premises. These experts will do all the hard work for you and allow you to get a better night’s sleep again!
