If you’ve recently dealt with raccoons causing trouble on your property, you might wonder if trapping and relocating them will permanently solve the problem. Unfortunately, raccoons have strong homing instincts, and unless handled correctly, they may indeed find their way back.
Why Raccoons Return After Trapping
Raccoons are intelligent, resourceful creatures that can travel significant distances to return to familiar territory. They typically have a strong attachment to their established home ranges, especially if food sources, water, and shelter remain readily available. Additionally, raccoons are highly adaptive animals, quickly becoming comfortable in human environments and regularly returning to familiar spots where they previously found easy food and shelter.
The Importance of Proper Relocation
To prevent a raccoon from returning, professional pest control services recommend relocating the animal at least 10-20 miles away from its original capture site. However, distance alone isn’t always enough. Releasing raccoons into a suitable habitat away from human residences significantly reduces their likelihood of returning. A proper relocation site should provide adequate resources like food, water, and shelter, thus ensuring the raccoon adapts successfully to its new environment and does not return seeking its previous habitat.
Steps to Keep Raccoons from Returning
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect your property regularly, ensuring that all potential access points to your attic, basement, garage, or crawl spaces are securely sealed with durable materials.
- Remove Food Sources: Keep garbage bins securely closed and cleaned regularly to eliminate odors. Bring pet food indoors at night, and clean up any fallen fruit or birdseed that might attract raccoons.
- Maintain Your Yard: Trim branches that are close to the roofline, remove debris piles, and keep vegetation well-maintained to reduce hiding spots and pathways for raccoons.
- Use Deterrents: Install motion-activated lights, sprinklers, or even ultrasonic devices that emit sounds raccoons find unpleasant. These deterrents can effectively discourage raccoons from returning to your property.
- Regular Monitoring: Regularly monitor your property for signs of raccoon activity, including tracks, droppings, overturned garbage bins, or noises at night, to quickly address potential issues.
When to Call Professionals
Handling raccoons yourself can be risky due to their potential aggression and the diseases they carry, such as rabies and raccoon roundworm. Attempting to trap or relocate raccoons without proper knowledge and equipment could lead to injury or unintended consequences. Hiring a professional pest control service like Universal Pest Control ensures the safe, humane, and legal handling and relocation of raccoons. Professionals can also identify entry points and vulnerable areas on your property that you might overlook, significantly reducing the likelihood of future raccoon issues.
The Benefits of Professional Raccoon Removal
When you work with a professional pest control company, you benefit from:
- Expertise and Experience: Professionals are trained to handle raccoons safely and effectively.
- Humane Methods: Professionals employ humane trapping and relocation methods that comply with local wildlife laws.
- Long-term Solutions: Beyond just removal, professional pest control services offer lasting solutions, including sealing entry points and advising on preventative measures.
- Safety and Convenience: Professionals handle all aspects of the removal process, minimizing your risk and hassle.
How Universal Pest Control Can Help
At Universal Pest Control, we specialize in humane wildlife control solutions. Our experienced technicians safely trap, remove, and relocate raccoons far enough away to minimize the risk of their return. Additionally, we provide comprehensive exclusion and prevention measures to keep your property raccoon-free. Our proactive approach not only addresses the current issue but also helps prevent future infestations, giving you lasting peace of mind.
Don’t let raccoons take over your home again. Contact Universal Pest Control today for a professional assessment and lasting solution!
