Raccoons can be a nuisance to homeowners. They can knock over trash cans and tear through bags looking for food or eat food that was left outside for family pets. They can sneak into attics and sheds and chew and scratch at the building materials and any items stored inside. They can leave behind waste that can cause a terrible smell and make people or pets sick. If humans or pets confront them or catch them off guard, raccoons can bite and scratch and possibly spread rabies.
How to Tell If Raccoons Are Living on Your Property
If raccoons are living in your yard or house, you may not at first be aware of the situation. Since raccoons are nocturnal, they are typically active when people are sleeping and therefore go unseen. They do, however, often leave behind tracks. Knowing how to recognize raccoon tracks can help you realize that you have a wildlife problem and address it before things get out of hand and the raccoons cause major damage.
Since raccoons often frequent water sources, they tend to leave behind muddy pawprints. Raccoons have hands and feet with five fingers or toes on each. They resemble human hands, which is why raccoon tracks are often mistaken for the handprints of a child. Tracks from the front feet have the five fingers spread out. Prints made by the back feet look similar, but the heels are longer and sink into the ground. Raccoon tracks are often side-by-side or very close to each other.
What to Do If You Spot Raccoon Tracks
If you have found raccoon tracks on your property, the animals could be living in your yard or your house. You should take action immediately to address the issue. They might be causing damage that you haven’t noticed. If they haven’t damaged your home yet, they most likely will. If raccoons get into your attic, they can damage the structure of your house and any personal items you have stored there. They might start a fire if they damage electrical wiring or attack any humans or pets they encounter.
Anderson Wildlife Control has a team of animal removal experts who can find any raccoons on your property and trap and relocate them. If they are living in your attic, we can find the entry points they used to get inside and seal them off to prevent raccoons or other species from entering your home in the future.
