What To Do If You Have A Raccoon On Your Premises

> NEVER FEED RACCOONS!!!

> Be sure to eliminate all food sources such as pet food or birdseed. If food must be left outside, then remove all food at night.

> Put trash out the day of pick-up instead of the night before. Use metal or heavy plastic trash containers. If needed, secure the lids by using a bungee cord, rope, etc. that has been soaked in 2 Tablespoons Tabasco sauce per quart of water, or the commercial repellent "Ropel" (available at garden, hardware, pet or feed stores). "Ropel" is a long lasting, extremely bad tasting commercial repellant and will stop raccoons and many other animals from chewing things such as wood, wire, screens, lawn furniture, etc. If they still get in, you can pour about one cup of ammonia in the trash can every week, after the trash has been picked up. If you can, store trash in a garage or a shed.

> "Repel" granules (a commercial dog and cat repellent, which is available at most pet stores or garden centers) can be sprinkled around any area where raccoons gather (roof, attic, trash area, etc.)

> Keep BBQ grills clean or stored in a secure place such as a garage or shed.

> When you see a raccoon in the yard, turn on the lights and run outside yelling and swinging a broom to scare them off. You can also spray them with a hose. CAUTION: Do not corner a raccoon, thereby forcing them to defend themselves.

> Remove overhanging tree branches to cut off easy access to your yard or roof. You can also place an 18-inch cylinder of sheet metal around the trunks of the trees at least 3 feet above the ground.

> Use a "Scarecrow" (a motion-activated sprinkler sold by Contech). It works great for keeping most animals out of yards or large areas.

> Try sprinkling a repellant such as "Repel" granules, Cayenne pepper or the "Hot Pepper Repellent Recipe" around the area.

> Raccoons are very intelligent animals. These tactics usually work quite well because of this. If a raccoon tries to get food or shelter and not only can't, but also feels uncomfortable, then after a couple of attempts they will stay away and find an alternative source.

What To Do If You Have A Raccoon In Your Garden Or Fish Pond

> Use a "Scarecrow" (a motion-activated sprinkler sold by Contech).

> Use an electric fence. Stay with high voltage and low amperage, so it is safe for people, pets and other wildlife.

> For small ponds: Build a wooden frame to cover the pond. Cover the frame with 1-in. x 2-in. welded wire. Secure it to the ground. This frame can be left on permanently or removed daily. Just be sure the pond is covered at night, since raccoons are only active at night.

> Design the pond so that it is at least 2 1/2 feet deep so the fish can hide. A raccoon will not be able to catch fish in deep water. Also, it is a good idea to give the fish places to hide, such as rocks piled up in the bottom of the pond.

What To Do If You Have A Raccoon Coming Through Your Pet Door

Note: If you live in raccoon habitat, a pet door for dogs or cats is not a good idea. If the raccoons discover it they will use it to come into your home in search of food.

> Lock and secure the pet door at night.

> Place a piece of plywood or cardboard outside of the pet door; sprinkle it with a liberal amount of Cayenne pepper or "Repel" granules. Be sure to lock the pet door that night and remember to do so for several nights. During the day you can remove the repellant so your pets can use the door. Usually, after just a few nights, the raccoons will stop coming to your pet door.

> According to a study done in Colorado, the #1 reason raccoons die is from starvation. Once the raccoon realizes they can't access your pet door for food they will not want to waste time or energy coming to your house.

What To Do If You Have A Raccoon In Your Attic

> If there are no babies, scare the raccoon out. Use Caution!!! Just making your presence known will usually do it. Go into the attic a few times a day with a flashlight. Shine the light on them and talk to them. A raccoon is not an aggressive animal. But if touched or threatened (by being cornered or feeling boxed in) they will defend themselves and they are quite adept at doing so.

> If there are babies, it is best to leave the raccoons alone until the mother takes them out. Raccoons do not build a nest and they do not bring food back to the den. When the babies are about 8-10 weeks of age, the mother will start weaning them. She will then take them out of the attic and not return.

> If you can't wait, give the mother one to two nights to relocate the family.

> Place a radio on a talk station in the attic or use an ultra-sonic device. Also, rig up a spotlight and aim it in the area where the raccoons have their den.

> Block the entrance securely once they have moved out.

> Sprinkle Cayenne pepper or "Repel" granules around the entrance area, if that is possible; or spray a repellent, such as "Ropel", around the entrance area.

What To Do If You Have A Raccoon In Your Chimney

For firebrick chimneys:

> Under no circumstance should a fire be built to evict any animal. Fires will only burn and/or kill an animal; not evict it.

> If there are babies, it is best to leave the raccoons alone until the mother takes them out.

> If you can't wait, place a bowl of ammonia in the fireplace, and if needed, leave the flu open 1/8 inch. Most flues are not airtight. If you don't smell ammonia in the room where the fireplace is, then the flu is not airtight. This in itself usually works.

> Place a radio in the fireplace. Tune it to a talk program. Do this during the day, and use it in combination with the ammonia; or you might want to use an ultra sonic device. Give the raccoons two to three nights to move out.

For metal chimneys:

> In metal chimney pipes, the raccoon may not be able to climb out on his own.

> Take a piece of cloth, such as blankets or sheets (you may have to tie two or more together to reach the bottom of the chimney) or you can also use rope, tied in a knot every foot, but it should be at least 1-in. diameter.

> Attach this at the top of the chimney. Raccoons are heavy, so secure it well. Drop the rest down the chimney; making sure it reaches the bottom. Tie something to provide weight to the bottom of the rope or cloth, such as a hammer or a pair of pliers, and lower slowly. This will help you to feel the bottom, especially if the pipe is curved. Also, it will provide stability when the raccoon climbs up and out. The raccoon will usually leave in 1 to 24 hours.

> After the raccoon is gone, securely cap the chimney so this does not happen again.

What To Do If You Have A Raccoon On Your Roof

> Sometimes spraying water from a hose will scare them off.

> If it is a constant problem, then sprinkling "Repel" on the roof works great!

Natural History

Hunting and Feeding Habits

Raccoons are only active at night and sleep during the day.

If you see a raccoon during daylight hours, do not approach it, it may be sick.

Mating And Breeding

Raccoons can breed anytime from December to June, but most breed about February.

The gestation period is 63-65 days.

Birth To Maturity

Most young are born in April or May. Litter size is usually 2-5 babies.

At about 8-10 weeks old, the young usually leave the den and follow the mother to a new location.

Young are weaned at about 12 weeks and disperse in the fall or early winter; or they may stay with their mother until spring.

Public Health

RACCOONS CARRY DISTEMPER.

Distemper is a contagious, airborne disease that can cross-infect skunks, foxes, coyotes and domestic animals.

There is no danger of infection to people.

Since the Fall of 1994, in the Bear Creek corridor and open space areas on Green Mountain, numerous dead raccoons have been found. Animal control officers have euthanized others that displayed symptoms of distemper. The Colorado Department of Health has confirmed distemper from tissue samples.

In addition to vaccinations for pets, people should keep cats inside and keep dogs fenced at home and on leashes in open space areas to avoid contact with dead or infected animals.

People should not try to help or capture any wild animal displaying distemper symptoms such as: walking in circles, frequent stumbling or falling, "goopy" discharge from the eyes, seizures, or nocturnal animals being active during daylight hours. Animals with distemper may approach humans and appear unnaturally friendly, but are actually extremely unpredictable and capable of attack.

If you see animals with distemper symptoms or dead animals, call Lakewood Animal Control. Do not attempt to remove the animal yourself.

- Information provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife

- Information also provided by the Urban Wildlife Rescue, Inc.

Animal Control Home | Colorado Div. of Wildlife
Urban Wildlife Rescue | Table Mountain Animal Shelter