Raccoons

Raccoons

Description

  • Species vary between 2 & 4 ounces at birth, 20 & 30 pounds at maturity.
  • Eyesight is poor in daylight, yet night vision is excellent. 
  • Have a well-developed smell & a keen sense of hearing. 
  • Long canine teeth; broad head; pointed snout; short rounded ears; black eyes; long dense fur.
  • Colours vary from salt & pepper with some cinnamon, to albino; all have a black face mask, white-tipped ears & a tail marked with 5 to 10 alternating black & brown rings.
  • Feet are nimble but flat, which make them slow runners; extremely agile at climbing.
  • Generally live 4 years in the wild but can live up to 16 years in captivity.
  • Incredibly intelligent & inquisitive.

Habitat

  • Raccoons primarily den in well timbered areas; in hollow logs, in wood piles, caves, haystacks, under big roots, in clusters of large rocks or often in other animals’ abandoned dens.
  • They generally do not construct their own den sites but relay on natural processes or the work of others.
  • Maintaining several dens at once ensures security for the raccoon

Diet

Raccoons are omnivorous & eat a variety of foods: rodents, slugs, small birds, eggs, snails, grubs, insects, fish, snakes, fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains & human refuse. They will eat almost anything.


Unique Facts


Raccoons are extremely social and playful nocturnal creatures. They spend much of their time at night foraging. Although the male is mainly solitary, families will den together during the winter season. They remain inactive for extended periods during severe winters but do not hibernate. When threatened, raccoons will flatten out their ears, hunch their back, & swish their tail while growling. They moult annually and eat heartily to prepare for winter.


Procreating


Raccoons do not form long-term or bonding relationships but pair only to mate. Mating can occur from December to February & gestation takes 9 weeks. Babies are born without teeth between April and July in litters of about 1 to 7. Eyes & ears open up at 3 to 4 weeks & they are weaned at 10 to 16 weeks. Female raccoons reach maturity around 1 year and tend to be monogamous. Males mature in 18 months to 2 years.



Challenges

These unwelcome guests will shelter in chimneys, attics, garages, under decks or porches, hot tubs and large trees. They get into garbage cans, damage lawns in search of grubs, leave droppings, devour gardens and fruit trees. They sometimes chew holes & rip shingles to find a warm place to make a den. They can create noise and will often kill pond fish.


Predators


People, cougars, dogs and coyotes. Young raccoons often fall prey to eagles and hawks.

Solutions

Eliminate access to food & shelter. Homes must be raccoon-proofed.


Simply relocating the raccoon is not a solution.

The stress can cause death within months. If a family is moved, mothers become confused & often abandon their young in search of food or are forced out of their new area by local raccoons. The empty den in your home will still be available for a new raccoon to move in.


Homes and Attics


Raccoons will often invade homes in search of a warm, comfortable place to have their babies. The easiest and most humane solution is to leave them alone until the babies are old enough to leave with the mother (7 to 8 weeks of age). At this time they must forage for food and will find most places too hot to stay. If you have to evict them before then, find the entrance to the den & sprinkle flour or place a bunched up piece of paper in front. Check occasionally for footprints in the flour or disturbance of the paper. This will verify the opening and whether the den is still in use.


The best deterrent, found at most garden centers, is to sprinkle coyote urine around problem areas. Loud music, chatter or bright lights will often work as well. If these procedures do not work, wait for the mother to leave and gently place babies in a box with hot water bottles and a blanket. After you have temporarily closed the entrance, put the box just outside. The mother should come and relocate them to another den. This could take up to 48 hours, so watch over the babies and protect them from predators.


Dehydration could occur if it takes too long for the mother to return. Contact us if that happens. Before permanently sealing the hole, test for more raccoons. If there are any babies still inside, the mother will be very destructive to the area.


Chimneys


Place a humane trap baited with food inside the fireplace & slowly open the damper. Isolate the room as much as possible and open outside windows and doors to provide the raccoon with an escape option. You can also lower a thick rope down the chimney for it to climb out. To prevent further incidents, have the chimney capped with a screen.


** Smoking out animals is inhumane and causes a slow and painful death. It can also cause a fire or other problems if the animal dies and you cannot dispose of it properly.


Home and Garden


Raccoons dislike strong smells & bright light. Use deterrents around problem areas: coyote urine, pure soap flakes watered thoroughly, bone meal mixed in soil, naphtha flakes, mothballs, diluted tabasco sauce. Light areas where raccoons gather, using one 100 watt bulb for every 15 metres of garden. Cover new sod with small wire mesh until the sod takes root. Trim overhanging trees that are providing access to buildings. Feed pets inside the house & spray lingering raccoons with a hose or with a motion-sensored water pump.


Garbage


Raccoons will return repeatedly to garbage cans that they find feasts in. To discourage them, use garbage cans with tight lids. Fit bungee cords around the handles & over the lid. The best defense is to leave garbage inside the house/garage until the morning of pick up.


Composting


Open composters are feasts for nocturnal creatures. Make sure there are no holes around the sides and  sprinkle the area with strong-smelling repellents. Often, animals will jump or fall into composters but can’t climb out. Help by placing a board, ramp style, inside the composter and allow the animal to leave on its own. The best defense is to have a tight secure lid.


Hot Tubs | Ponds | Pools


Raccoons love water but absolutely hate to be sprayed with it. Use a water pump equipped with a motion sensor. Install low-voltage wire around the perimeter and light the problem area with bright motion sensored lights. Create barriers and make it difficult for raccoons to access these places.

Find Out More

Share by: