Raccoons

Fact Vs. Fiction: Raccoons In The Wild

Raccoons are one of the most commonly recognized mammals in the United States, making them a well-known fixture in everyday life. They’re often presented as curious and charming creatures rummaging through your trash and even as a hopeful pet for many animal enthusiasts. Though there is some truth to their inquisitive and endearing portrayal, they are still wild animals that can cause more harm than movies, TV shows, and pop culture would have you believe. Responsible for numerous diseases, property damage, and even physical harm, raccoons can quickly become a fearsome nuisance that may require professional removal.

What Are Raccoons Exactly?

Many different types of mammals may work their way onto your property, but none are as unmistakable as the raccoon. They are mid-sized animals with stocky builds, salt and pepper fur, and their trademark bandit mask fur coloring across their eyes. Though they are widely recognized, they are rarely seen due to their nocturnal habits.

They are adaptable and opportunistic, giving them the ability to thrive in many kinds of environments; from deep in the forest to your local suburbs, making them difficult to control and deter. Part of this adaptability is their diet. As omnivores, raccoons feed on plants, fruits, insects, and smaller animals such as mice, but they are not shy when it comes to digging through your trash for last night’s leftovers.

On-Screen Pets, Off-Screen Dangers

Whether it’s Meeko from Disney’s classic Pocahontas or Bright Heart Raccoon from the hit children’s TV series Care Bears, on-screen portrayals of these nocturnal robbers are overwhelmingly positive, even downright adorable. They are our pets, sidekicks, and our comic relief, but is this image correct? Or have these pudgy burglars mastered the art of public relations? What you see on your television is not entirely accurate.

Raccoons are inquisitive, curious, and exciting, but they are still wild animals with serious risks involved if encountered. While not all carry the rabies virus, they are major hosts of the virus in the United States, which can be transmitted to you or your pets if bitten or scratched. (https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/human_rabies.html) They also carry other harmful diseases such as roundworm, an intestinal parasite that can cause liver enlargement, and muscle control loss. (https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/Health-Topics/raccoon-roundworm-infection-baylisascaris-procyonis/)

A Destructive Reputation

Raccoons are notorious for property damage as well. Though some may find their ingenuity endearing, it can also guide this wild animal into your attic, garage, or chimney by removing shingles and siding to gain access to areas they find suitable for their next den. This can cause thousands of dollar’s-worth of property damage to homes, just like the Sullivan family’s in Milton, Massachusetts.

Remove Them Humanely

Though they can be dangerous to us, no one wants to harm wildlife for doing what they are naturally designed to do. There are many ways to humanely keep raccoons at bay, such as keeping trash out of reach or fixing old and broken entryways, but these methods are not always successful or feasible for homeowners. If you begin finding signs of a raccoon infestation, it’s time to get simple, humane, and effective help from a licensed wildlife removal professional. Over-A-Cheever Pest Control is North Port’s #1 family-owned and operated pest control company with years of experience in the industry, devoted to bringing you extensive corporation pest control experience without the large corporation price.