RACCOONS (Procyon Lotor)

Raccoon, sometimes spelled racoon, is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. Adult raccoons on Long Island can weigh 20 to 30 pounds, and male raccoons are usually 20% heavier than females. The most characteristic physical feature of the raccoon is its bandit mask. They are known for their mischievous nature, making them nuisance wildlife, especially when it comes to garbage cans. Though usually nocturnal, the raccoon can sometimes be seen foraging for food during the day. Raccoons are omnivorous animals, feeding on insects, grubs, earthworms, fruits, nuts, fish, frogs, eggs, birds, and squirrels. Raccoons are social animals and live together in groups. In the spring, four to seven raccoon pups are born and are raised by the mother raccoon. Life expectancy of raccoons in the wild is only about three years, in part due to Canine Distemper, which contributes significantly to raccoon mortality. Raccoons are very abundant throughout Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens County, and are among the most widespread wildlife mammals in New York State. Raccoons are more densely populated in large cities than in the wild. Long Island raccoon populations may exceed 100 per square mile, according to statistical data compiled by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The lack of raccoon predators, which normally would include coyotes, bobcats, and cougars, is the cause of the overpopulation of raccoons on Long Island. Birds of prey, also known as raptors, will prey on raccoon pups. In the wild, raccoons are most commonly found in wooded areas along rivers, marshes, or lakes, where they inhabit hollow trees and logs. Raccoons are nearsighted and color blind, but have excellent night vision. The eyes of a raccoon are well-adapted to low-light conditions. Raccoons have a unique eye shape, and the retinal surface of this nocturnal animal's eye is much larger than that of animals that live by day. Nocturnal animals have eyes with a tapetum lucidum, which is a mirror-like reflective layer at the back of the eye that is designed to supply more light to the retina. When illuminated, the tapetum lucidum causes the animal's eyes to glow in the dark. Raccoons have an excellent sense of smell and hearing and are even able to hear sounds produced by earthworms underground. The most important sense for raccoons is their sense of touch. They have hypersensitive front paws, and almost two-thirds of the area responsible for sensory perception in their brain's cerebral cortex is specialized for the interpretation of tactile impulses. In urban areas, such as Long Island, NY, raccoons will use their hypersensitive front paws to identify weak spots through which they will enter a home or business. Raccoons may proceed to tear a hole in a compromised area of the roof, enter through a vent, or push through a soffit to gain access to an attic. In the attic, this nuisance wildlife animal will damage insulation, central air conditioning ducts, and electrical wires, which can result in a fire. Like most animals, raccoons are opportunistic creatures and seek a lifestyle that has the greatest reward for the least effort. These critters will make their home in your attic, crawl space, garage, shed, chimney, under a deck, or porch of your Long Island residence. If you suspect that raccoons have taken up residence in your home, you need to contact Long Island Animal Control, wildlife animal trapping immediately to resolve your pest control problem.

RABID RACCOONS • RACCOON DISEASES

Raccoons may harbor parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and lice. Raccoon diseases include canine distemper, mange, rabies, and canine and feline parvovirus. Raccoon feces and urine are associated with raccoon roundworm, Giardia, and Leptospirosis. Raccoons are the most common carriers of rabies in the United States. Rabies is an infectious disease caused by a virus, and it is almost always fatal if not treated in time. Rabies is transmitted through saliva, so rabies can only be contracted via a bite from a rabid raccoon. If you or your pet is bitten by a raccoon, you should wash the wound vigorously with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately for yourself or your pet. Contact Long Island Animal Control, and one of our nuisance wildlife control operators will trap the raccoon and have it tested for the rabies virus. If you see a raccoon out during the day, this does not always mean that the raccoon has rabies. A lactating mother raccoon, who has raccoon pups, can sometimes be seen out during the day in search of food. A rabid raccoon usually has trouble walking, staggers as though it were drunk, looks confused and disoriented, and is lethargic. A rabid raccoon infected with the rabies virus has weeping eyes and frothing at the mouth, and the fur on the face appears to be wet and tangled. A rabid raccoon may be very aggressive, or appear to be very tame, and show no fear of humans. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by Leptospira bacteria that are carried in the urine of raccoons. Both animals and people can become infected when urine-contaminated water from infected animals comes into contact with their skin, nose, mouth, throat, or eyes, or is swallowed. Without treatment, Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death. Canines are especially at risk and may die from Leptospirosis, so you need to get your dog vaccinated against this disease. However, the Leptospirosis vaccine does not provide 100% protection because there are several strains of the disease, and it does not confer immunity against all of them. Raccoon feces contain raccoon roundworm eggs (Baylisascaris procyonis). Humans, especially children, who come into contact with raccoon feces can become infected with raccoon roundworms. Ingestion of raccoon roundworm eggs can result in blindness or death. Raccoons can also threaten the health of other mammals. They can carry Aleutian disease, which is a parvovirus that affects other fur-bearing animals.

RACCOON REMOVAL - INSPECTION - LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

This is the first step in the wildlife removal process. Long Island Animal Control wildlife trappers will inspect your property to ascertain what type of animal is inhabiting it. Evidence of raccoons on your premises may include...

Raccoon Tracks - May be observed in the snow. Raccoon footprints may also be seen on the side of a Long Island home or building. Both the front and back feet of a raccoon have five toes. The rear foot shows the heel and resembles a small human footprint, and is about three to four inches long. The front prints have shorter heel marks and are two to three inches long.

Raccoon Feces - Raccoon latrines may be at the base of a tree, on a log, on a woodpile, on a deck, on a patio, on a roof, or in an attic of a Long Island residence. Raccoon feces are 2 to 3 inches long and resemble dog feces. What distinguishes it as raccoon feces is the presence of berry seeds.

Raccoon Damage - Raccoons will tear off shingles and rip a hole in the roof of a Long Island home to gain access to the attic. They may also enter your residence's attic through a soffit, gable vent, or attic fan. In the attic of your home, raccoons will damage the insulation and the central air conditioning ductwork.

Trash Cans - Overturned, or opened by raccoons as they feed on garbage. Use trash cans with locking lids, or ideally, store them in an outdoor storage shed to prevent raccoons from getting into them.

Lawns - Raccoons will damage your lawn in search of grubs, which are the larval form of the Japanese beetle. They have remarkable dexterity and can roll up large pieces of sod when foraging for these insects.

Raccoon Repellents

They are not effective in getting a raccoon out of an attic. Ammonia, bleach, coyote urine, mothballs, loud radios, and ultrasonic sound-emitting pest-control devices don't get rid of raccoons.

Raccoon Sounds

Noises coming from the attic at night may be originating from raccoons living in the attic of your Long Island home. There may be loud thumping, heavy footsteps, scratching, and growling sounds emanating from the attic. If bird-like chirping sounds are arising from the attic, this is probably from raccoon pups.

Raccoon Trapping

It is an effective solution for getting rid of raccoons and is the method used by humane wildlife control professionals at Long Island Animal Control Wildlife Removal Services. There are numerous types of raccoon traps and raccoon baits that can be used. Knowing what type of humane raccoon trap to use and what bait to use is largely dependent upon what time of the year it is. The raccoon removal trapping methods that our Long Island wildlife removal experts use, are also dependent upon the situation and where the raccoons are entering your Long Island home or business. Our wildlife control operators do raccoon removal in Nassau County in attics, chimneys, garages, crawl spaces, sheds, under porches, and decks. Raccoon removal cost is dependent upon what would be entailed in getting rid of the raccoon or raccoons. Long Island wildlife animal trappers know which raccoon traps and bait to use in every situation.

Raccoon Exclusion

Upon completion of the raccoon removal process, we will send out a licensed contractor to give you a free estimate on any repairs that need to be done to your Long Island home or business to keep raccoons out. A chimney cap is an exclusion device that prevents birds, squirrels, bats, and raccoons from coming down the chimney. Should you require raccoon feces removal and attic restoration services, we will get you a free estimate on these services as well. We will suggest any modifications that can be made to your home or business to prevent future wildlife conflicts and Long Island pest control issues.