Raccoons
What do raccoons look like?
Their bodies are stocky, round and covered in salt-and-pepper colored fur. Raccoons are known best for the “black mask” of fur around their eyes, also known as a “bandit mask,” and black rings around their furry tails. Raccoons are mid-sized animals that are about 2-3 feet long. Usually 5 to 35 lbs. but sometimes can reach close to 60 lbs.
Are raccoons dangerous?
These furry animals are nothing to mess with, they will attack if they feel threatened or cornered. While not all raccoons have rabies, raccoons in general are major hosts of rabies in the U.S. Just because a raccoon is active during the daytime, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s carrying rabies. However, there are some indicators that a raccoon could be infected with the rabies virus. Key symptoms of a late-stage rabid raccoon will include confusion and disorientation, leg paralysis or difficulty walking, wet and tangled hair, significant aggression, and production of very loud, unusual noises.
What do raccoons do?
The key signs of a raccoon infestation are both visual and audible. Damage to a home’s insulation, wood, shingles, electrical wiring, walls or other parts of the structure is a telltale sign that a raccoon has taken up residence inside. Another indication of a raccoon infestation is the presence of droppings, urine stains, or built-up materials from creating a nest. Raccoons often raid and can make a mess of contents in garbage cans while they are in search of food. Sometimes they will kill poultry, destroy bird nests, and damage gardens or crops.
What is the life cycle of raccoons?
Raccoons usually have one litter per year, which is usually born in late spring or early summer. One litter may contain between three and five young. Raccoons can live as long as 12 years in the wild. They do not hibernate but will attempt to establish den sites to become semi-dormant during severe winter weather.
Signs of raccoons around my home?
- Noise coming from the attic – especially at night.
- Time of day that you hear noises.
- Evidence of raccoons nesting in the attic, such as shredded insulation or chewed wires.
- Damage to your roof, vents, and eaves.
- Seeing raccoons around your home.
What should I do?
According to the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife it is illegal to relocate a raccoon over 2 miles away from where it was originally captured. It is highly discouraged for untrained individuals to handle these critters as they can be quite unpredictable especially if you attempt to get up close and personal with one. Always call the professionals.