Raccoons

Natural History

Description: Raccoons are easily identifiable by the alternating black and white rings on their large, bushy tail and the distinct black "mask" across their face, with two white patches above the eyes.
Size: On average, raccoons are 2 to 3 feet long, 12 inches high, and weigh between 8 and 22 lbs.
Lifespan: Raccoons typically live for about 5 years, although some may reach up to 10 to 12 years.
Range: Raccoons are found throughout most of the U.S. and southern Canada. They are gradually expanding further into Canada due to habitat loss in the U.S.
Diet: As omnivores, raccoons eat a variety of foods, including insects, rodents, frogs, fish, snakes, fruit, and nuts. They are opportunistic feeders and will consume whatever plant or animal food is available.
Predators: While raccoons face few natural predators, they may fall victim to humans, dog packs, traps, and automobiles.

Behavior

Activity: Raccoons are nocturnal animals with excellent night vision.
Habitat: In the wild, raccoons prefer to den in hollow trees or logs, which provide warmth, darkness, quiet, and protection. In urban areas, they often seek shelter in chimneys, attics, basements, and drainpipes.
Dexterity: Known for their incredible dexterity, raccoons use their front paws to find food in water, open shellfish, and bring food to their mouths. In urban environments, they also use this skill to open garbage cans and pet food containers.
Behavioral Traits: While raccoons may appear bold by fluffing up their fur to seem larger and uttering growls or cries, they are generally not aggressive unless defending their young.

Health Risks

Raccoons are capable of carrying diseases such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. Symptoms of these diseases may include paralysis, unsteadiness, discharge from the nose or eyes, and extreme lethargy. If you notice these signs in a raccoon, contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center. Less than 1 out of 200 raccoons have been exposed to rabies, and even fewer contract the disease.

Vaccinations for rabies, distemper, and parvovirus are available for pets. Ensure your pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations to fully protect them from these diseases.

Damage Prevention & Other Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a raccoon living in my chimney, how do I get him to leave?

In many ways, chimneys seem like ideal replacement homes for raccoons who would typically den in hollow trees or logs. This is a common problem for homeowners and a potentially dangerous situation for the animals.

In most cases, raccoons are fully capable of coming and going as they please. In this case, repel techniques are the most effective. Keep in mind that they have chosen your chimney because it is warm, dark, and quiet, so the best way to get them to leave is by changing what they find inviting. Placing ammonia-soaked rags in the chimney and playing loud music during the day will discourage the raccoons from taking up residence. Allow a few days for the raccoon to remove her family in case there are babies present and when you are positive all the raccoons are gone, be sure to get the chimney capped to prevent further occurrences.

I have a raccoon living in my attic/underneath my deck, how do I get him to leave?

First, make sure the animal has one easy-to-locate exit. Block all other exits. Obtain six to twelve 1-inch strips of fabric, tie them in tight knots, and soak them in household ammonia. Then, wearing rubber gloves, place these under the deck or in the attic where the animal has been seen or heard.

Next, buy cayenne pepper at 90,000 heat units which can be found at your local natural foods store. Sprinkle the pepper generously in areas that the animal has been seen coming and going, such as a hole leading under the deck or around trees that give the animal access to the attic. Animals cannot tolerate the presence of the pepper and they will vacate the area. Keep children and pets away from the pepper.

Lights and loud music during the day also disturbs animals who sleep during these hours. Once these techniques are used for several days, tape a piece of newspaper over the hole. If it is not disturbed for several more days, cover the hole securely. This will prevent animals from coming back in.

How can I stop raccoons from getting into my trashcan?

Understand that accessible garbage is a regular smorgasbord for hungry animals like raccoons, opossums, and skunks, but the only way they can gain access is if humans let them.

First, make sure you have a garbage can lid that fits tightly. If this isn’t possible, you might try hooking a bungee cord from one side of the can to the other to secure the lid. Or you could try placing a large rock on top of the lid to secure it.

Raccoons enter garbage cans by tipping them over. For this reason, it helps to have the cans stored in racks or tied in an upright position. Most native wildlife is nocturnal and thus usually feed at night, so put your garbage out the morning of pick-up instead of in the evening. Ask your neighbors to do the same.

I have a raccoon in my trap and I would like him removed.

Call Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation to release the animal. Or if you would like to do it yourself, you should:

Cover the trap with an old tarp or sheet while you transport the animal. This makes the ordeal less stressful for them.
The best release sites are wooded areas with an abundant water source.
Once there, prop the door of the trap open and the animal should leave on their own within a few minutes.

Reasons Not to Live Trap

Live trapping is an ineffective means of controlling wildlife in your yard. By trapping and removing and wild animal you are simply creating a vacancy for more animals to move in. It is more effective to ask yourself why the animals are finding your yard appealing (the answer will probably be either food, water, or shelter) and what you can do to remove what it is that the animal is finding appealing, repel the animal from your yard, and prevent them from returning. Exclusion methods and some degree of tolerance are ultimately more successful and lasting.

Live trapping should never be an option between early spring to early fall. This is the time when most species of native wildlife are having their young and there may be babies in, under, or around your house that are entirely dependent on their mother for food and protection. Any action that prevents the mother from caring for her young will result in suffering for her and a slow death for the babies. Since the family will not stay forever, or even for a very long time (a month or two, perhaps less), it is better to wait until the family vacates and then take action that will prevent the same thing from happening again.

Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation

Should you find a wild animal in crisis or need emergency assistance with a wild animal:

Phone

24-Hour Hotline: 830-336-2725

Address

11902 Rustic Lane
San Antonio, TX 78230
Directions

Website

Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc.