WESTCHESTER COUNTY #
WESTCHESTER COUNTY #
Raccoons are one of the most common wildlife species that you might encounter in the suburbs of Westchester County. These intelligent, nocturnal critters are known to raid trash cans for food, nest inside your attic space, spread diseases, and leave waste behind everywhere. Raccoons are very adaptable, and the conditions of the suburbs are optimal for their survival. Understanding how and why raccoons are thriving in Westchester can help you understand how to keep them out. And if a raccoon has already made its way inside your attic space, you can call Westchester Wildlife for safe and humane trapping and removal services.
Raccoons love Westchester because of the abundant sources of food. Raccoons are omnivores that eat whatever they can get their paws on, but many man-made structures in the suburbs provide easier ways for a raccoon to score a quick meal. Trash cans, compost piles, gardens, birdfeeders, bowls of pet food left outside; all of these can feed a hungry raccoon. In addition to an abundance of food, raccoons in Westchester also have plenty of places to seek shelter, like inside attics, crawl spaces, and chimneys. If that weren’t enough, the suburbs also provide refuge from the raccoon’s natural predators, like coyotes, bobcats, and cougars.
Loud stomping and shuffling sounds coming from inside your attic space or walls, especially at night, are a common sign of a raccoon problem. If you notice torn shingles, soffits, or siding, this can mean raccoons have ripped their way into your home. If your outdoor trash cans or outdoor pet food bowls are tipped over and raided every night, a raccoon is probably living on your property. Raccoon droppings around your yard or attic space are a common sign as well, but use caution when cleaning it up (or wait for professionals), because raccoon droppings can spread raccoon roundworm.
Raccoons commonly nest inside your attic space, ripping through shingles, soffits, and siding to get inside. Once inside, raccoons will rip apart your insulation to add to their nests, often digging latrines within the insulation to deposit their waste. Raccoons will also chew through wires and tear through HVAC ducts. It’s not recommended that you try to remove raccoons yourself, as they might become aggressive when cornered (especially if accompanied by their young) and may lash out with their sharp claws and teeth. Not only can they seriously injure you, raccoon bites and scratches can also oftentimes spread the rabies virus.
Our first step when removing raccoons is to conduct a thorough inspection of your property, looking for raccoon nests inside attics and crawl spaces. We also check for entry points on roof vents, soffits, chimneys, and more. Then, we begin safely and humanely trapping and removing the raccoons, ensuring that we remove the mothers with their young. After the raccoons are gone, we perform exclusion work to make sure that they don’t come back, and then clean up any mess left behind.
Westchester Wildlife can remove raccoons from your property, and once they are gone, we will perform exclusion work to keep them out for good. Exclusion work is the process of locating and sealing off entry points like soffit holes, missing shingles, and missing siding. Exclusion work can also include installing vent guards and wildlife barriers, as well as performing crawl space repairs. Even if you don’t currently have a raccoon infestation, our team can perform exclusion work to ensure that your home doesn’t become a target.
In addition to exclusion work, you can take some additional steps to make your property less inviting to raccoons. Secure trash cans with a tightly-fitting lid and bring in bowls of pet food before bed every night. Trim tree branches that are too close to your home, as they can make it easier for raccoons to get on your roof. Removing food and water sources from your yard will go a long way in making your home less habitable to nuisance wildlife.
When DIY methods of prevention fail, and a raccoon has gotten inside your attic space or wall voids, it’s time to call a professional. Raccoons are unpredictable wild animals with sharp claws and teeth, so always leave raccoon removal to the experts. Westchester Wildlife can help, we offer the best raccoon trapping, removal, and exclusion services Get in touch with our team today to get started with a FREE estimate at (800) 273-6673!
Toll Free: 800.273.6673
Phone: (914) 760-5713
PO Box 579 Brewster,
NY 10509 USA
* Westchester Wildlife, LLC is not affiliated with the County. All services are fee based.
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