CommunityNews
Attic Invaders
By Cheryl Conley, Lake Creek Nature Preserve Board of Directors
Social media is a haven for those seeking advice and commiseration on a number of topics. I feel compelled to revisit a topic that comes up frequently during wildlife“ baby season”— the topic of raccoons taking up residence in attics. It happens with alarming frequency during this time of new life in the natural world. There are effective non-lethal strategies to remove raccoons from your home allowing both you and the animals to thrive in our shared environment.
These opportunistic rascals with the masked faces are everywhere. They’ re highly intelligent with amazing problemsolving skills and thrive in cities. Although nocturnal, you might see one during the day. Don’ t automatically jump to the conclusion that they must have rabies. Most likely, they are pregnant or nursing moms foraging for food.
Like any good mom, pregnant raccoons seek out den sites that offer protection from predators and the elements. Acceptable sites are tree cavities, underground burrows dug by other animals, rock crevices, brush piles, fallen trees and even sheds, garages and attics. Why do they choose human dwellings to give birth? Because they can. Raccoons can enter your attic or other structures through ventilation openings on the outside of your house. Any warping or tears in house siding is another easy way. Structural problems in things like trim boards and dormer junctions can provide easy access as well. In early spring you should check your buildings for any damages or structural issues. Get them repaired now— birthing season is upon us.
If you find you have an unwanted guest, your first reaction may be to call an exterminator. For several hundred dollars, they’ ll set a trap to catch the mom. What do they do with her and what about the babies? That’ s the million-dollar question. There are some ethical companies out there who will do their best to save the mom and babies but there are also many unethical ones whose only goal is to take your money with no regard for the lives of the animals. Rather than spend your hard-earned money on an exterminator, let me share a method to strongly encourage Mom to move out and take her kits with her.
The most effective way to evict your raccoon mama is to make it unpleasant for her to stay. You must“ attack” her three senses— sight, sound and smell. Since raccoons are nocturnal, they don’ t like lights. If you know how she’ s getting in, put a light at the entry point or in the attic where she’ s living. If you use the entry point, be sure you don’ t block it or she won’ t be able to leave. Leave the light on 24 hours a day. Now place a radio in the attic tuned to talk radio and play it loudly. Raccoons don’ t like the sound of the human voice. The third step is smell. There are commercial repellants you can buy from Amazon or a big box store. One of them is called Repels- All. Better yet, purchase fox or coyote urine at Academy or from Amazon and soak several rags with it. Put the rags in a plastic tub with no lid and then place it in the attic. If animal urine grosses you out, you can try peppermint oil or vinegar. By doing these three things, she will move her babies out of your attic to a more suitable location. She may move out immediately or it may take a few days. Be patient.
Don’ t try to trap her! When a mom is separated from her babies, she will severely injure herself trying to get to them. I’ ve personally witnessed a mama raccoon, driven by maternal instinct, suffer self-inflicted limb trauma attempting to escape the cage.
If you’ re willing to wait, mama will leave on her own when her kits are about 8 to 10 weeks old. This is an option that won’ t cost you anything but a little patience.
The most important thing in this whole process is to repair any holes or damaged areas on your house, garage or shed once the family moves out. If you don’ t find the entry point and repair it, you’ ll be going through this again.
Remember to be kind and humane. Our responsibility is to learn how to coexist peacefully with the wildlife we share our planet with. We need to change our mindset from viewing them as threats to recognizing their value and to find solutions to conflicts that benefit both humans and wildlife.
6 WWW. FIRSTCOLONY. ORG