Long Island's Guide To Raccoon Prevention

Raccoons are a concern for any Long Island home, causing damage and spreading illnesses. These pests enjoy living among people, finding several places to den on your property. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep these dangerous mammals away from your home. Read on to learn more about raccoons and how Long Island pest control professionals can help.

Raccoons Just Love Having Us For Neighbors

Raccoons are comfortable living among people, commonly residing in urban and suburban environments. They can den almost anywhere, often using hollow trees in the wild. However, they have to find other options when living around people.

Some places you might find raccoon dens on your property include:

• Backyards
• Under decks
• Outdoor structures
• Attics
• Chimneys

These mammals sometimes prefer to live with people instead of in the wild because of the lack of predators. Cougars, bobcats, and coyotes are among those that prey on raccoons, making them more vulnerable out in the open.

Raccoons might also invade your home for food. They eat plants and animals, often consuming fruits, nuts, and vegetables found in yards or gardens. They'll scavenge for scraps in garbage cans and compost piles or eat from bird feeders. When you see these pests on your property, call a raccoon control service for help.

Are Raccoons Dangerous?

Raccoons can cause damage to your house and spread illnesses to people. When searching for a place to den, these pests might rip off shingles, fascia boards, or rooftop ventilators to get into your attic. After gaining access to your home, they'll tear up the insulation in walls and heating and air conditioning ducts.

In addition to causing damage to your house, some raccoons can spread diseases and parasites if they get inside your home.

Some of the illnesses caused by raccoons include:

• Baylisascaris (roundworm)
• Leptospirosis
• Giardiasis
• Salmonellosis
• E. coli infection
• Rabies

Most raccoons won't attack people unprovoked, but they might bite if they feel threatened. These bites are painful and could spread illnesses. To ensure your safety, call professional raccoon pest control when you see raccoons on your property.

Effective Tips To Deter Raccoons Around Your Home

Once raccoons get onto your property, they'll begin to cause damage and create a health hazard inside your home. The best way to avoid this situation is to deter raccoons from coming around.

Some tips to keep raccoons away from your Long Island home include:

• Seal entry points. Repair broken vents or loose siding and install mesh or caps on chimneys to keep raccoons out.
• Use tight-fitting, animal-proof lids on trash cans. Garbage cans with straps will keep raccoons from lifting the lid and scavenging for food.
• Remove piles of brush, leaves, or debris. Raccoons can den anywhere, and brush, leaves, or debris make excellent hiding areas.

These tips will help deter raccoons from staying on your property, but since they can den almost anywhere, you still might end up with an infestation. Since these Long Island pests can be dangerous, call a local pest control company for help.

What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Raccoons On My Property?

Raccoons are hard to eliminate because they're excellent hiders and bite when they feel threatened. Approaching a raccoon can be dangerous and might not result in them leaving your property. At EM Pest Control, our service professionals will inspect your home to ensure raccoons haven't caused any damage and find where they might be hiding. We use state-of-the-art raccoon control methods around your house and create a protective barrier to prevent future infestations. Call us today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Long Island.