Spring Raccoon Control

Now that spring has sprung, your lawn, garden, and area wildlife are waking up from dormancy. This means beautiful flowers and greener grass, but it could also mean more pests to deal with. Raccoons are one wildlife species that become more active in the spring. Not only are they scavenging for food but they’re also searching for a mate, and this could mean more sightings around your home. Here are some spring raccoon control tips to try.

Spring Raccoon Control

If you want to make sure your home isn’t on a raccoon’s welcome back tour route, there are certain precautions to take: 

1. Secure trash containers. If you store trash cans outside, make sure the lid is tight. Try not to leave trash bags with food scraps laying out the night before trash pick-up. These bags are easily torn into by hungry raccoons.
2. No outdoor food. If you usually leave pet food or other scraps outside, don’t. This not only attracts wildlife, but it can also attract insects.
3. Seal attics and other crawl spaces. Raccoons typically nest in trees and other wooded areas near water. If you live in this general vicinity and also tend to leave food out, raccoons will take this as an open invitation to roost in your attic, shed, or garage.
4. Watch for contaminated soil. If a raccoon is attracted to your yard, they don’t have to nest or eat to cause damage. Simply using your lawn as a bathroom can contaminate the soil and garden. Be sure to watch for any signs of deposits and carefully monitor kids or pets at play.

If you do find signs of raccoons in your yard or home, it’s best not to try and capture them yourself. Contact Cardinal Pest for pest removal options and evaluation on how you can keep them away from your home in the future.