Raccoons are a common presence in built-up areas. Properties that are located near bodies of water, woods, and forests, also commonly experience nuisance raccoon problems. Although raccoons are truly innocent and fascinating mammals, they pose various dangers and must be managed safely and humanely. If you still think raccoons are not a threat, read on to learn about the 3 biggest dangers raccoons pose to society.

1. People

The first and most important risk posed by the presence of a wild raccoon on your property is the risk of harm to people, especially children. Raccoons are known carriers of several viruses and infectious diseases, including serious ones like rabies, leptospirosis, distemper, and raccoon roundworm, as well as less serious ones like lice, fleas, ticks, and more. Although raccoons do not generally bite or attack, they will if provoked. For example, young children may bump into a baby raccoon in the yard that they think is abandoned, but in reality, the mother raccoon is nearby and ready to pounce if she senses her cub is in danger.

2. farts

Pets often fall victim to raccoon attacks because they inadvertently provoke them simply by being curious and sniffing. This is why pet vaccinations are so vital to the safety of your dogs and cats. This includes vaccinations against rabies, leptospirosis, distemper, Lyme disease, and raccoon roundworm. It is also vital to give your pet flea, tick and heartworm medication regularly.

3. Property

Raccoons are highly intelligent and have excellent memory and problem-solving skills. This is one of the reasons why they are the common offenders of attic and basement invasions. They can use their human-like legs to grab, tear, and pry. They tear down attic insulation, chew through electrical wiring, litter floorboards and ceilings with their droppings, and more. However, even if raccoons can’t access the insides of a house or building, they can still cause a great deal of structural damage to a property. They’ll tear up lawns for maggots, clean up gardens, strip siding, rip shingles off roofs, rummage through trash cans, steal bird seed and pet food, and much more.

Dealing with a raccoon problem

If you have a problem with raccoons, you’ll need to take control by removing whatever attracts them to your property. For example:

Only put trash cans out in the driveway on the morning of trash collection day, don’t leave pet food and other food and water sources out (bird baths, squirrel feeders, bird seed, bird bowls, etc.) pet food, stored bags of pet food, etc.), installing motion lights or sound machines to scare away raccoons, putting up fences to protect your yards, and eliminating shelter options like compost piles, log piles, pet houses and more. You will also need to contact a licensed raccoon removal and control company to inspect your property and make sure there are no entry points for raccoons to enter.