At first glance, raccoons simply come off as hungry little rascals just looking for a bite to eat out of your trash cans. Unfortunately, there is a much greater threat hidden beneath the surface. Raccoons can find their way into your home undetected, and when that happens, the damages and dangers are substantial. Raccoons can cause physical damage to your home as they seek food and shelter, but they also run the risk of infecting you with diseases.

Raccoon Facts

The natural habitat for raccoons is usually heavily wooded areas, but due to rampant urbanization, they tend to show up wherever food and water are plentiful. Regrettably, this is typically where humans reside as well. Raccoons breed in the fall, which is when you have a higher likelihood of running into them as they seek a safe place to birth their young. One of the more fascinating aspects of these creatures is their hands, which have phenomenal dexterity. They have such an impressive control within their hands that they can easily open doors and latches.

Warning Signs

The last thing you want is a raccoon infestation in your home so you should be aware of how to spot a problem before it gets out of hand. Because raccoons are nocturnal, it is easy for these warning signs to go undetected:

• Loud plodding as they walk around in your attic
• Foul odor of their waste soaking into your drywall
• Destroyed insulation
• Droppings found around your home, especially the attic or garage
• Trash bins knocked over and garbage strewn about

Raccoons can become violent when provoked, so it is not recommended that you attempt to handle them yourself. If any of these signs become present, you should not hesitate to contact Critter Control of Sarasota. We have over 30 years of experience, which we will put, forth to remove any unwanted critters from your home safely and effectively. For more information, call us at 941-355-9511 to receive your free consultation today.