Raccoon Identification

What are raccoons?

Raccoons, commonly referred to as “masked- bandits,” are frequent visitors to our yards and sometimes inside our homes. These wild animals are most well-known for the black “mask” of fur that covers their eyes. Covering their hunched body is salt and pepper colored fur, and the gray and black fur on their tail alternates, creating a “ringed” pattern. Raccoons also have hand-like paws that provide them with good dexterity and the ability to manipulate objects and create entrances into homes and other structures.

While people rarely see raccoons during the day because of their nocturnal nature, they do make their presence well known. Signs of a raccoon problem include:

• Scratch marks and droppings at the base of trees in your yard.
• Small “human-like” handprints in the soil or in garden areas about two to four inches in length.
• Overturned trash cans or compost bins.
• Trash bags that have been torn open.
• Torn siding or window screens.
• Loud running sounds above ceilings or behind walls.

Are raccoons dangerous?

Raccoons are dangerous because they spread many diseases that make people ill, including rabies. They also carry in their fur disease-spreading fleas and ticks and internal parasites like roundworms.

Digging and chewing through insulation, drywall, wires, and ducts, raccoons are damaging pests when they get into a house. Unfortunately, keeping them out is difficult because they are so adept at using their paws and teeth to create openings in vents, around windows and doors, and at the roofline.

Raccoons emerge from their burrowing spots every evening to feed, damaging gardens and lawns in the process. They are also famous for digging through garbage bins and creating large messes that we then have to deal with.

Why do I have a raccoon problem?

Raccoons are wild animals, and though they typically live outside and don’t need our help to survive, they have learned we offer them things to make their lives easier, such as food and shelter. Having raccoons on your Dallas area property is problematic because, as wild animals, they protect themselves from danger by biting, scratching, and other aggressive behavior. A cornered raccoon could result in you, your child, or your pet becoming injured.

Where will I find raccoons?

You will find that raccoons like to create burrows near food and water sources. In rural areas, they live in wooded areas or fields near streams.

When living in more urban or suburban areas, places they nest include:

• Hollow trees
• Ground holes
• Under woodpiles or bushes piles
• Under dumpsters, decks, porches, or construction debris
• Inside chimneys, attics, and crawlspaces

How do I get rid of raccoons?

If raccoons have made themselves at home on your Texas property, contact Brinker Animal Removal. Our professionals will come to your property to inspect, perform customized services, exclusion work, and wildlife proofing. We have the experience and dedication needed to remove raccoons from your property and prevent them from returning.

If you are in the Dallas/Fort-Worth area and need help controlling raccoons or other wildlife on your property, reach out to Brinker Animal Removal today.

How can I prevent raccoons in the future?

While you should always allow a professional to handle issues with raccoons, there are things you can do around your property to make it less attractive to these unwanted visitors:

• Keep raccoons out of your trash cans and compost bins by keeping locking lids on them.
• Store pet food in hard-sided containers with lids. Pick up uneaten pet food each evening.
• Cut back trees and shrubbery from your home’s exterior walls.
• Make sure to shut garage doors, shed doors, and basement doors every evening.
• Place covers over vents leading into your home.
• Install a chimney cap, and repair any roof damage.
• Repair any small defect that raccoons could enlarge to create an entrance into your home.
• Place sturdy fencing around decks and porches to stop raccoons from getting underneath.

Learn about our residential animal removal and commercial wildlife services.