Raccoon Control
In areas where raccoons do not live, people have a hard time thinking of the creatures as pests. Let’s face it; raccoons are very cute, look cuddly, don’t seem all that creepy, and are also very amusing. Their natural curiosity, their survival skills, and their intelligence all add up to make one big super pest in areas where they are found in abundance.
When it comes to controlling a pest raccoon population, least toxic approaches have always been the most successful. Raccoons are smart enough to avoid most kinds of poisons, so pest control officers and home owners tend towards more active methods of control. Let’s take a look at some of the least toxic ways to deal with a raccoon problem.
* Dogs. Most wild animals have an inbred fear of dogs, possibly due to the recognition of a powerful predator. Dogs will also serve to alert humans that something is amiss and raccoons tend to figure this out, so when a dog starts barking raccoons may run away. We say may, because in some cases raccoons get used to dogs and aren’t very intimidated by their reactions. In fact some raccoons, especially big boars, may actually attack dogs if they feel threatened (and don’t count on the dog winning, either!).
* Trapping. Probably the most effective way to control raccoon numbers is through trapping. Both live traps and traps designed to kill when sprung can be used to catch raccoons in urban and rural areas. The problem with kill traps, of course, is that they pose a threat not just to raccoons but also to cats, dogs, and even children. Live traps are best handled by pest control experts, who will know how to dispose of the raccoon once it is in the trap. As with dogs, raccoons may not always fall for traps, being wily and naturally evasive. Even when they are caught, the trapped individual may escape through natural ingenuity or the help of family members.
* Shooting. Property owners in rural areas still shoot raccoons on a regular basis in order to control their numbers. Of course, shooting is a very dangerous way to control the population and is best left to pest control experts well versed in integrated pest control as they have the skills and the equipment that is suitable to the task. City dwellers are prohibited from discharging firearms at raccoons within city limits. And of course, shooting raccoons is difficult due to their nocturnal habits! Still, raccoons will often learn to stay away from any area where they have lost a family member or two.
* Remove the “lead” animal. Raccoons learn from each other, so a great way to help make some of the control measures more effective is to take out the smartest raccoon in the pack. If you can catch him or her, the others will have no one to look to when it comes to dealing with other control measures. Of course this is a difficult proposition, given that this animal is already the smartest one around and will likely prove to be very evasive!
As you can see from the methods we listed above, there are not too many effective ways to deal with raccoons, whether toxic or not. In most cases the natural evolution of this animal has caused it to be resistant to all pest control measures. The best way to ensure raccoon numbers stay low is through preventative measures, although as we see in the article on raccoon prevention even these measures may be defeated when you are up against a particularly sagacious animal.