Raccoons are easy to distinguish from other wildlife, thanks to their black “masked” faces and striped, bushy tails. These medium-sized mammals can grow up to 38 inches long and are found across North America, including Western Massachusetts and Upstate New York.
Raccoons are sometimes affectionately referred to as trash pandas because they eat just about anything they find and are known for rummaging in the trash. Garbage isn’t their only diet, however. Berries, nuts, fruit, fish, pet food, insects — these omnivores eat it all.
Wild raccoons typically live for two to five years but can thrive for up to 20 years in captivity. They have dexterous front paws that allow them to grab and manipulate food and objects much like human hands. These critters can flip latches, open jars, turn doorknobs, and more.
Mating season typically runs from January until June. It isn’t uncommon to find raccoons foraging for food during the day during spring and summer, when they need to feed their young. Otherwise, these mammals are mostly nocturnal.
Raccoon Dangers and Damage
Raccoons may look cute from a distance, but when they invade homes, buildings, and properties, they can create significant damage. Farms and gardens are at particularly high risk of raccoon-related damage. These masked creatures forage through vineyards, cornfields, orchards, and other crops.
The potential dangers don’t stop there. Despite their size, raccoons can fit into openings as small as a softball, often widening existing holes and gaps or creating new ones. These wildlife nuisances have also torn shingles off roofs, destroyed vents, and created fire hazards by denning inside. Raccoons also chew on wires, creating potential electrical hazards by short-circuiting outlets.
Beyond the physical damage, raccoons also pose a health threat to residential and commercial properties. Their droppings may carry diseases and parasites, and the animals could have rabies, a serious condition that damages the central nervous system of people and animals.
It creates inflammation in the brain and leads to symptoms such as fever, headache, increasing agitation, and confusion. Rabies can be fatal, which is why it’s essential to get prompt medical attention for a raccoon bite.
Signs of Raccoon Infestations
The sooner raccoons are removed from a property, the less damage they can do. Property damage, including torn insulation, new or widened holes, and missing shingles, is often one of the first signs of their presence. Other signs include:
- Noises: Raccoons make various noises, including whistling, growling, hissing, screaming, and bird-like sounds.
- Droppings: Raccoons’ fecal material usually looks like a cylinder, with rounded ends and dark coloration. Droppings may be found indoors, around the bases of trees, near woodpiles, and in other areas.
- Dens: Unlike other animals, raccoons don’t build nests. They prefer moving into sheltered areas like sheds, porches, and attics. They may also den in hollowed trees or nests left behind by other animals.
- Garbage: Raccoons can easily open cans or tip them over. Finding garbage that has been inexplicably scattered is often a sign of raccoon presence.
Raccoon Identification
Raccoons have a distinct look thanks to their black masked faces and striped tails. Fur colors range from light brown to reddish-brown to silvery brown. Many people mistakenly believe they belong to the rodent family, but raccoons are more closely related to pandas and other bears, cats, and wolves.
Raccoon Habitats
Raccoons can be found across North America, northern regions of South America, and parts of Europe and Japan. They typically live in hardwood forests or near water sources such as streams and ponds. They’ are highly adaptable and can create dens in trees, logs, brush piles, haystacks, sewers, barns, and other structures. Hollowed, empty areas around a home or commercial property are a sign of a possible raccoon presence.
Identification
- Class: Mammalia
- Species: Procyon lotor
- Size: Average 26 to 38 inches long; weight 14 to 23 pounds or more
- Color: Gray to gray-brown to reddish-brown fur; black “mask” markings around the eyes
- Tail: Average 10 inches long; black stripes
- Legs: 4
Schedule a Free Inspection with USX Pest
Contact USX Pest Control at the first sign of raccoon infestation. Trained technicians will come and conduct a thorough assessment to determine where and how raccoons are entering the property. The results of the inspection allow us to create a removal plan tailored to each individual commercial or residential property. Call us at 855-761-1550 or schedule an inspection online to get started.