Known for their distinctive bandit-like facial markings and mischievous nature, Raccoons frequently find their way into homes throughout the Houston area. These nocturnal mammals are highly adaptable and drawn to human dwellings as prime denning sites. But sharing your space with raccoons poses risks of property damage and health hazards. This guide covers raccoon behaviors, signs of infestation, professional raccoon removal in Houston procedures, and tips to raccoon-proof your Houston home.

Understand Raccoon Behavior

To remove raccoons effectively, it’s important to understand some key raccoon behaviors and traits:

Excellent climbers

Raccoons are very dexterous and can scale fences, trees, and walls to access roofs, attics, and chimneys. Mothers use their climbing abilities to teach young kits.

Omnivorous appetites

Raccoons will eat almost anything, from human garbage to bird eggs. They frequently raid trash cans and agricultural crops.

Denning in cavities

Raccoons look for sheltered cavities to birth and raise young, and consider attics ideal den sites.

Intelligent and determined

Solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles comes naturally to raccoons. Their intelligence and persistence make them difficult pests to permanently evict.

Nocturnal nature

Raccoons are primarily active at night. Daytime sightings usually indicate a nesting female with kits.

Understanding how stubborn, strategic, and motivated raccoons can be makes it clear removal is best left to professional wildlife control experts, not DIY mitigation.

Signs of a Raccoon Infestation

Raccoons are sneaky intruders that often go undetected for a time. Watch for these common signs that raccoons have made themselves at home in your Houston home:

Strange noises in walls or attic

Chattering, scratching, or movement noises, particularly at night, indicate active raccoons.

Torn insulation

Raccoons will rip through insulation to access denning cavities or find an entry point.

Footprints on rooftops

Greasy-looking paw prints on roofs, ledges, or decks suggest raccoons passing through.

Scattered trash

Tipped trash cans and strewn garbage point to nighttime raccoon scavenging.

Odors

A foul stench emanates from dens containing raccoon droppings and urine.

Chimney soot on roofs

Soot marks around the chimney indicate a commonly used raccoon route.

Pet doors or openings

Any openings, even those for pets, may be exploited by raccoons.

If you suspect raccoons based on these signs, waste no time contacting professional raccoon control services for removal. Delaying action allows more damage and lets raccoons grow more comfortable and harder to evict from your home.

Why DIY Removal is Dangerous

Understandably, your first instinct when discovering raccoons on your property may be to take matters into your own hands. But well-meaning DIY measures like lighting firecrackers, using mothballs, or spraying ammonia rarely work and often backfire with raccoons:

Health hazards

Raccoon droppings contain roundworms and bacteria that can infect humans. Improper exposure without protective gear risks disease.

Ineffective eviction

Quick fixes only temporarily chase away raccoons rather than fully excluding them. Raccoons persistently return and easily find new ways back in.

Risk of retaliation

Cornered raccoons will fight back fiercely to defend dens and kits. Well-intentioned residents risk getting bitten.

Orphaned young

Evicting a mother raccoon may cause dependent kits hidden in the den to be abandoned and die.

Illegal deterrents

In Texas, it’s illegal for anyone lacking a permit to trap and relocate raccoons due to disease risks.

For safe, legal and lasting removal, a professional wildlife control service is the only surefire option to eliminate raccoons from a home or property.

Professional Raccoon Removal Process

Reputable wildlife companies use a strategic multi-step process:

Inspection

Technicians conduct a thorough assessment to pinpoint all raccoon entry points and den locations. This also identifies any structural repairs needed.

Eviction

One-way exclusion devices are installed to allow raccoons to exit but not re-enter. Once the den is empty, the last exit is sealed off.

Trapping

If needed, live traps or snare poles safely capture stubborn stragglers not leaving voluntarily. Trapping follows strict humane protocols.

Sanitization

Contaminated areas are deep-cleaned and decontaminated to eliminate roundworm eggs and pathogens left behind in droppings.

Proofing & exclusion

All entry holes are sealed shut with heavy-duty materials once raccoons are removed. This prevents re-entry and deters other wildlife.

Follow-up monitoring

Remote cameras or additional inspections ensure raccoons haven’t found new access points. Any attempted re-entries prompt further proofing measures.

This systematic approach by trained professionals provides the most effective and lasting solution to evict unwelcome raccoons and repair damage caused by the destructive critters.

Preventing Future Raccoon Invasions

While professional removal is the best cure for existing raccoon problems, Houston homeowners can also take key steps to avoid issues proactively:

• Keep trash cans sealed tight and only put curbside on pickup days. Secure lids with bungee cords.
• Eliminate pet food or bird seed outdoors.
• Seal openings under porches, decks, or sheds where raccoons like to den.
• Close off access to chimneys using chimney caps or spark arrestors.
• Trim overhanging tree branches to prevent access to roofs.
• Replace loose soffits or roof vent screens raccoons can pry open.
• Install flashing at roof peaks and caulk around roof vents to exclude raccoons.

With some diligence, Houston homeowners can mitigate many of the factors that draw opportunistic raccoons onto their properties. But if these masked bandits do make themselves at home where they don’t belong, never hesitate to call in professional removal experts to swiftly evict them.

Conclusion

Raccoons frequently exploit homes in the Houston area as convenient dens to raise young and source food. While they may seem cute, raccoons cause extensive damage and expose residents to health risks from roundworms in droppings. Rather than attempting DIY raccoon removal, Houstonians should always turn to licensed wildlife control companies for safe, legal and effective raccoon eviction and exclusion services. With professional help and preventative exclusion work, homeowners can reclaim their dwellings from these pesky creatures.

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