Raccoons are one of the most common species of wildlife found in North America. These furry mammals have adapted to be able to survive in a variety of different settings, such as urban, suburban and rural areas. No matter where you live, there is a chance raccoons are close to your property. Homeowners should take steps to learn about common raccoon behaviors to keep them from becoming pests. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we offer strategies in humane raccoon removal to keep your property from being invaded by these clever creatures.

One of the biggest challenges homeowners have with raccoons is the fact that they are excellent climbers. Raccoons have been known to ascend residential homes and other structures in order to get to food and shelter. Raccoons have an amazing sense of smell and a constant desire to get food, so their climbing is motivated by feeding. Raccoons have long digits, dexterous paws and sharp claws, making it easier for them to scale tall structures and easily climb down like squirrels. They can also rotate their feet to make climbing up and down much more feasible. Additionally, raccoons are incredibly intelligent and can figure out how to get food even in the most challenging circumstances. Working with a skilled wildlife control company can help homeowners outsmart these intelligent animals.

Amazing Raccoon Climbing Stories

With the popularity of smartphones and viral videos that have captured amazing feats, more people are seeing firsthand some astonishing stories of fearless raccoon climbers. These stories demonstrate the ingenuity of these animals and show why it’s necessary to take steps to keep them out of your garbage and pet areas.

In June 2018, video of an adventurous raccoon spread like wildfire across the internet. The raccoon was spotted scaling a 23-story building in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. When the raccoon ended up on the roof of the building, animal control staff needed to come up and trap the animal to get it back to safety. Experts speculate that the raccoon may have been trying to hide from humans by climbing up the building.

Another example of one of these climbing critters happened in September 2018 in Ocean City, New Jersey. In the viral video, a raccoon climbed up a nine-story concrete building and then launched itself off into the soft sand down below. It then ran off unharmed from the fall.

Raccoon Removal Strategies for These Natural Climbers

This natural, instinctive behaviour that causes raccoons to climb could impact homeowners. There have been some stories of homeowners being surprised by a family of raccoons living in their ceilings or attic. In these situations, the raccoons were looking for a safe, hidden spot high up in a structure to get away from predators and people.

Homeowners must take steps to keep these creatures off of their properties. While they look cute and fuzzy, it’s possible that some raccoons could be carrying diseases that could be dangerous to pets or your family. The first step to deterring raccoons from making a home out of your property is to secure trash. Raccoons have figured out ways to get into trash cans that aren’t completely closed off, so you may need to be creative with your trash solution.

Bird feeders and outdoor pet food containers should also be secured so that raccoons don’t make these spots a feeding frenzy. Some homeowners have also installed barriers around their chimneys and devices along the exterior walls of their homes to keep raccoons from climbing up.

Raccoon removal is possible with a humane, ethical approach that solves the problem using the animal’s natural behaviours as a guide. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to schedule an appointment and learn more about steps to take to keep raccoons from becoming a nuisance in your area.