The Safest Way to Get Rid of Raccoons Near Your Home

Raccoons are an incessant problem in suburbs and residential neighborhoods across the country.  They are often spotted in wooded areas close to homes and parks, or in houses, occupying attics, crawl spaces, and roofs.  Raccoons are fascinating creatures and should be respected; however, it is understandable that they can be a nuisance to homeowners.  For this reason, there are creative methods to avoiding raccoon encounters, and preventing them from entering your property, and worse, your home. 

Continue below to learn three safe and effective ways to get rid of raccoons near your home in Indianapolis. 

Raccoon Control Indianapolis Indiana 317-535-4605
Raccoon Control Indianapolis Indiana 317-535-4605

Do Not Leave Pet Food Outside

Raccoons are omnivores, which mean they eat almost everything, from small invertebrates like frogs and crawfish, to fruits, nuts, and vegetables.  Raccoons in residential areas are attracted to any food source, and pet food is a popular choice.  Many pet owners have pets that are primarily outdoor pets.  They will leave bowls of cat or dog food on the patio or in the doghouse.

Raccoons will immediately pick up the scent and be attracted to come and steal the pet’s food.  Raccoons will also remember that that particular house is a guaranteed source of food and will return night after night to retrieve more.  If you leave your pets’ food outside, be sure to bring it back in before night fall.  This way, you can help avoid attracting raccoons to your house.

Secure Your Home from the Outside

It is common for homeowners to leave access points open to their house without even realizing it.  For example, doggy doors are installed in homes all over the country, and raccoons can enter your home through these doggy doors.  This is more likely to happen if you live near wooded areas. 

Besides pet flaps, there are other vulnerable spots on homes that raccoons can access, such as holes on your roof, garages, crawl spaces, and under porches.  Before dark, lock any doggy doors you have in your home and be sure to get annual or bi-annual home inspections to make sure your home is secure.  Not only can this prevent unwanted animal intrusion, but it can also lower your energy costs as well. 

Bring in Your Garbage Cans at Night

Raccoons are commonly seen rummaging through garbage and trash cans.  This is because they know there will be scraps of food in them for an easy meal.  By leaving your garbage cans out overnight, you are giving raccoon colonies an open invitation to come dine in your driveway.  Trash simply attracts raccoons.  To avoid huge messes and frequent visits from raccoons, bring in your garbage cans at night.

Are you seeing too many raccoons around your house each night? Contact Indianapolis Raccoon Removal at 317-535-4605 for prompt and professional Indianapolis raccoon removal services you can trust.

Related Posts:

Will a Wild Raccoon Hurt Me?
Why Raccoons are a Threat to Your Home and Loved Ones
Top 3 Products for Humane Raccoon Abatement

Indiana Raccoon Removal and Contro
Indiana Raccoon Removal and Control 317-535-4605

Facts About Raccoon Eating Habits

Raccoons are common visitors to metropolitan and residential communities. They are smart mammals that have a good memory and remember to go after what they know is accessible. Raccoons have learned that our neighborhoods and cities are perfect spots to grab an easy meal and perhaps some warm shelter as well. For this reason, raccoons have been labeled a nuisance animal in these areas.

Although raccoons are considered nuisance wildlife in urban areas, they are truly delightful critters with many interesting facts to offer. Maybe if you can recognize a raccoon’s diet, you might be able to understand what it is they are after when they trespass onto our properties. With this kind of knowledge, you can perhaps come to respect these mammals, and have a strategy to prevent them from invading your property in the future.

Continue reading to learn just what a raccoon diet looks like, and who to call for professional advice and information regarding raccoon control and more.

Indianapolis Indiana Raccoon Removal 317-535-4605
Indianapolis Indiana Raccoon Removal 317-535-4605

What Do Raccoons Eat?

Raccoons are opportunistic eaters. They are omnivores that eat many different varieties of plant life, invertebrates, and vertebrates. In nature, raccoons are fond of fish, frogs, nuts, acorns, berries, fruit, insects, worms, bird eggs, and even larger prey like birds, snakes, and lizards. With so many subspecies of raccoon in the world, their diets vary depending on the region in which they live. Raccoon species that live near ocean eat more shellfish and aquatic wildlife, in contrast to the Northern raccoon which feeds mostly on the foodstuffs we mentioned before.

Raccoons in Urban Areas

Raccoons that trespass onto residential and commercial properties are looking for anything and everything similar to the foods we just discussed. For those who like to take the garbage outside the night before trash pickup day, you might experience higher frequencies of raccoons to your property.

Leaving garbage outside is like giving raccoons, and other nocturnal wildlife, a free invitation to an all-you-can-eat buffet in your driveway. Not only does this habit attract nuisance wildlife, but it also leaves behind a huge mess for you to wake up to. And raccoons will remember your home as a means for food and return night after night looking for more hand-outs.

Raccoons Will Eat Your Other Animal Food

Raccoons also like to eat pet food, bird seed, and even squirrel seed. Properties with pet bowls outside, or even pet food in the garage, have a higher chance of experiencing problems with raccoons than properties that do not take part in such activities. Bird feeders and squirrel feeders are also a big attraction for raccoons. Removing these objects from a property with raccoons can greatly reduce their rate of return, and leave other raccoons disinterested in your home.

If you have a problem with nuisance raccoons, never try to trap or harm them on your own. It requires professional training, tools, and licensing to facilitate any type of raccoon removal service. Contact Indianapolis Raccoon Removal at 317-535-4605 for DNR licensed and insured critter control services for raccoons in Central, Indiana.

You Should Also Read:

How to Make Safe and Humane Raccoon Repellents at Home
How to Spot the Signs of Rabies in a Raccoon
3 Reasons a Raccoon is Dangerous to People and Pets

Indiana Raccoon Removal and Contro
Indiana Raccoon Removal and Control 317-535-4605