Outsmarting Raccoons: Your Ultimate Guide to Raccoon Control

Posted on July 27, 2023 by smokywildlife

Raccoons, those masked marauders of the night, can be quite the nuisance. Known for their dexterity and intelligence, they often rummage through garbage cans and invade homes, causing a significant amount of trouble for homeowners. While they may seem cute and harmless, raccoons can spread diseases and cause substantial property damage.

In this blog post, we will explore effective strategies for raccoon control, from preventative measures, like using raccoon repellents, to proactive solutions like expert raccoon removal. Join us as we unravel the secrets to outsmarting these clever critters, ensuring your home remains a raccoon-free zone.

Call 615-610-0962 For Raccoon Control in Nashville Tennessee

Prevention Strategies: How to Keep Raccoons Away

The best way to deal with raccoons is to prevent their presence in the first place. Here are some tips for keeping raccoons away from your home and property:

Secure garbage containers, as these creatures are drawn to food sources. Make sure all lids are properly sealed and that the cans are placed away from structures like decks or sheds.

Keep pet food dishes indoors, as raccoons will devour whatever they can get their hands on.

Trim back trees and shrubs since these provide excellent hideouts for raccoons.

If you have a pool, make sure to cover it when not in use to prevent raccoons from venturing into the water.

Install motion sensor lights or other deterrents (such as ultrasonic sound emitters) around your property to scare away any unwanted visitors.

Use a natural raccoon repellent, such as ammonia, putrescent egg, menthol oil, capsaicin oil, or predator urine, to send a message that this area is off-limits.

When Prevention Fails: Professional Raccoon Removal

If prevention strategies fail, it may be time to enlist the help of a professional Richmond TN raccoon removal service. These experts will come to your home and use humane methods to safely remove any unwanted guests from your property. They are also knowledgeable about local laws and regulations, so you can rest assured that your raccoons will be removed in an ethical manner.

Raccoon Proof Your Home: Steps to Take After Removal

Once the raccoon removal process is complete, it’s important to take steps to ensure they don’t come back. Here are some tips for creating a raccoon-proof home:

Repair any areas of your home that may have been damaged by the raccoons, such as holes in roofs, chimneys, or walls.

Install heavy-duty mesh screens on windows and vents to prevent future intrusions.

Secure outdoor garbage cans with locks or clasps to make sure they can’t be opened.

Trim back overhanging branches from trees near your property to eliminate any potential access points.

Seal up any cracks or crevices in your home with caulk or expanding foam insulation, as these can be used by raccoons to gain entrance into your house.

Outsmarting raccoons takes time, effort, and patience, but it is possible to keep them away from your home and property. By implementing preventative measures, using natural repellents, and enlisting the help of a professional raccoon removal service when needed, you can ensure your home remains raccoon-free.

Frequently Asked Questions about Raccoon Control

Below are some common commonly asked questions and answers that homeowners have about dealing with nuisance raccoons:

Q: Are raccoons dangerous?
A: While raccoons may seem harmless, they can carry diseases like rabies and roundworm. They can also cause significant property damage if they gain access to your home. It’s important to be cautious when dealing with these creatures, as they are wild animals.

Q: Can I use poison to get rid of raccoons?
A: Poison is not a recommended approach if you want to get rid of raccoons, as it can be hazardous to other animals and even people if ingested. It’s best to use prevention methods or hire a professional raccoon removal service instead.

Q: How long does it take to get rid of raccoons?
A: This will depend on the severity of the infestation and how proactive you are in dealing with it. The process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the situation.

Conclusion

Raccoons can be quite pesky if not dealt with correctly. However, by using these tips for raccoon control and staying vigilant, you can keep these crafty critters away from your home and property. Remember to use preventative measures, employ natural repellents, and hire a professional raccoon removal service if needed. With the right strategies in place, you can outsmart the raccoons and enjoy a peaceful, pest-free living environment.

We hope this blog post has been helpful and given you the confidence to take charge of your coon issue. For licensed and insured raccoon removal and control in Nashville, Tennessee, don’t hesitate to contact Smoky Wildlife Control today. We also serve the Clarksville, TN area and surrounding counties, plus provide free estimates and advice.

3 Effective Strategies For Keeping Raccoons Out of Your Trashcans

Posted on August 17, 2022 by smokywildlife

Raccoons are omnivores, which means they eat anything that we do, plus some more! So, it is no surprise that trashcans are a common target for raccoon pillaging. Raccoons see garbage as an all-you-can-eat buffet, and they can sniff out a good trashcan or receptacle from a mile away. If your garbage cans have been tampered with by raccoons or other types of wildlife, it is time to take action and make a plan for defense.

Continue reading to learn 3 simple and cheap ways to keep raccoons out of your trashcans for good, plus a bonus tip on how to protect the entirety of your property from wildlife damages.

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Raccoon Control for Garbage Cans

Raccoons have highly dexterous paws that are human-like, giving them the ability to grip and grasp trashcan lids with acute manipulation. Raccoons are also excellent climbers, which gives them the ability to access areas of a property that other animals cannot. So, while you think your trashcans are protected against wildlife tampering, raccoons might still be able to get to them because of their unique physical abilities.

For this reason, it is necessary to implement strategic raccoon control for garbage cans. Fortunately, there are three highly effective and affordable ways you can do this: Christmas lights, ammonia, and/or bungee cords.

Christmas Lights

If you really want a unique approach to garbage can, raccoon control, consider stringing Christmas lights around your trashcans. The blinking lights will divert their interest because they are bright and reduce their privacy. Simply turn them on at night and flick them off in the morning. You can even set them up on a timer that does this for you.

Ammonia

Not only will ammonia keep raccoons away, but it will also thwart several other species of wildlife from tampering with your garbage, including stray dogs and coyotes. You can purchase ammonia in the local department store or through your trusted online retailer for as little as three dollars a pack. Simply sprinkle some inside your trashcan or on the trash bags themselves before putting them inside.

Bungee Cords

If you are not confident that Christmas lights in ammonia will keep raccoons out of your trash, get yourself some bungee cords and secure the trashcan lids down manually. Although raccoons have dexterous paws, they do not have super strength. So long as you secure the trashcan lids down well enough, raccoons won’t be able to lift the lids and gain access to the scraps inside.

Use an Animal Repellent to Keep All Critters Away

You can make your own non-toxic animal repellent to keep all nuisance critters off of your property. You will need capsaicin oil, putrescent egg, water, and a large spray bottle. Simply mix all the ingredients together and spray the perimeter of your property. Because of the capsaicin oil, be sure to keep young children and pets away from any treated area, as the spice can irritate their eyes, nose, mouth, lungs, and ears. If this happens, contact a doctor immediately.

For full on protection against nuisance wildlife like raccoons, you need a professional to develop and initiate an effective critter control plan for your property. Contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for prompt and professional raccoon removal and control services in Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee. We serve both residential and commercial clients of the most competitive rates around.

Essential Facts About Nuisance Raccoons

Posted on July 20, 2022 by smokywildlife

Raccoons can cause a lot of trouble for both home and business owners. Their high level of intelligence gives them an advantage in the scavenger world, while their dexterous, human-like paws give them the ability to grip, grasp, pry, and pull. These attributes make them the perfect storm in terms of residential and commercial pests.

If you are currently dealing with a nuisance raccoon problem or have noticed in increase in raccoon visits on your property or in your community, it is important to take the right precautions and implement the most responsible protections.

Continue reading to learn some basic facts about raccoons that will help you better understand their behaviors and give you the tools necessary to raccoon-proof your property against tampering and intrusions.

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Information About Raccoon Pests

What They Look Like

Raccoons come in all different sizes, shapes, colors, and more, depending on which region of the world they are from. Here in the Smoky Mountain region, the Common raccoon is usually a combination of muted colors, including gray, brown, white, and black. They have large, furry tails that are striped with black rings. Aside from their ringed tails, their most distinguishable trait is a black patch of fur around their eyes that resembles a burglar’s mask. Raccoon offspring are born without ring tails and black mask, as these traits develop as they get older. At full maturity, an adult raccoon is similar in size to a large house cat and weighs between 15 to 40 pounds.

Where They Live

Raccoons, like most mammals in Tennessee, prefer to live near water sources and forested areas. They will make their dens inside hollow trees or brush piles, or simply use dens that were previously dug by other animals. In populated areas, raccoons are known to use residential and commercial properties as a means of shelter. Attics, basements, garages, porches, crawl spaces, and roofs are some common areas where raccoons are found. They can cause an extreme amount of damage, which is why this behavior has classified them as a nuisance animal in these areas.

How They Behave

To each other, raccoons will chirp, purr, and grunt as a means of communication. In situations where raccoons feel threatened or scared, they will often hiss, snort, and growl. Many people assume raccoons in Tennessee are dangerous, but they will not attack unless they are sick, nursing young, or provoked in some way. In everyday life, raccoons are nocturnal, so they are only active at night. During active hours, they often hunt for food, but certain times of the year, they will also be on the lookout for warmer shelters. As mentioned earlier, they have highly dexterous paws and sharp claws, which gives them amazing climbing abilities. You will often spot raccoons high up in trees, on roofs, and more.

What They Eat

Raccoons are omnivores just like us. They eat animals, plants, legumes, and more. The most common foods eaten by raccoons in Tennessee include eggs, clams, fish, snails, beetles, insects, larva, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and even small birds and amphibians. In populated areas, raccoons are known to love pet food and garbage, so be careful leaving your trashcans out overnight. If you watch a raccoon eating near a body of water, it will look as though they are “washing” their meal, but really, they are just using their highly sensitive paws to better identify whatever it is they are about to eat.

When They Breed

Raccoons generally mate in the early spring, so you can expect late spring and early summer births. Female raccoons have a short gestation period, around 60 days, and can birth anywhere from one to five pups at a time. Raccoon babies are called “kits”, or more informally, “pups.” Pups stay with their mothers until the next spring, in which time they have learned to climb, feed, and care for themselves.

Why They are a Nuisance

Because of their high intelligence, climbing skills, and human-like paws that can grab hold of anything, raccoons are consequently a highly-destructive animal. They are known to dig up lawns in search of grubs, pillage chicken coops, destroy gardens and potted plants, pry open porch boards for access below, rip off roof shingles and siding, and much more. But above all else, they are most notorious for causing a large mess out of trashcans and dumpster containers. They will even eat pet food and livestock feed. These raccoon damages are more than just structural and costly, they are also a safety and health risk.

How to Get Rid of Them

If you have a nuisance raccoon problem in the Tennessee or Smoky Mountain regions, act now and hire a professional operator for safe critter control assistance. Contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for affordable raccoon removal services in Nashville, Tennessee and its surrounding counties. We provide residential and commercial work.

The Physical Characteristics of Tennessee Raccoons

Posted on December 30, 2021 by smokywildlife

Everyone has seen a raccoon in Tennessee before, but it can be difficult getting an up close look at them. After all, raccoons are nocturnal and therefore, only active from dusk to dawn when we are usually asleep. Also, they are quick on their feet, allowing them to run fast and promptly climb high into the trees. Although sometimes considered a nuisance critter, raccoons are clever and fascinating creatures that are fun to learn about. They are also fun to watch from a safe distance, as their behaviors are silly and adorable.

For that up close view you’ve always wanted, continue reading to learn what a raccoon looks likes and acts like in Tennessee.

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What a Raccoon Looks Like in Tennessee

Here in Tennessee, we are home to the Common Raccoon (Procyon Lotor). Although there are various species of coon, some of which with drastically opposing physical features, Tennessee raccoons are mostly identified by their black “bandit-like” masks across their visual cortex (eye area) and their dual-striped, bushy tails.

Their main coats are dense fur, and their colors can range from an amber brown to a dark gray or black color. Adult males can weigh up to 30 pounds in some regions. The average weight of adult raccoons can range anywhere from 4 to 30pounds. Males are generally 20% heavier than female raccoons.

Raccoons also have two legs, two arms, and very dexterous paws. Their paws almost resemble human hands, having five appendages, and include long sharp claws on each. Raccoons can stand on their hind legs and use their paws just as we do our hands. All this allows them to have impressive climbing and grasping abilities.

What Raccoons Act Like in Tennessee

As for behavior, raccoons evince clever and resourceful attitudes and mannerisms. They are loving and protective mothers and share similar gestation qualities as humans and other mammals. Raccoons retain acute senses that allow them to seek out food sources almost anywhere.

Raccoons have an incredible sense of touch and a notable memory span too. They are omnivores, meaning they meat, fruits, and vegetables, including nuts, insects, berries, small birds, and small invertebrates like frogs and crayfish. They basically eat what they can find, which is why they are a common nuisance in areas with dumpsters and trashcans.

Raccoons have been known to find their way into residential and commercial properties in over developed areas or neighborhoods near wooded lots. This makes them unpopular animals because they have proven to be a source of structural destruction, disease, and overpopulation. Nonetheless, they remain quite an exquisite species in nature.

If you are having trouble with nuisance raccoons around your Tennessee home or office building, act now before they can cause any structural damage or pose any health risks. Contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for raccoon removal and control service in Nashville and its surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial properties.

Smoky Wildlife Control Nashville Tennessee 615-610-0962

Make This Non-Lethal Animal Repellent Recipe to Get Rid of Raccoons

Posted on July 17, 2021 by smokywildlife

Nuisance raccoons can be quite the destructive visitors to have night after night. From overturned garbage cans and ransacked pet food bags, to pried roof shingles, pet conflicts, and more, raccoons can create a large amount of damage in a short amount of time, and even pose safety and health threats against us and our pets.

Fortunately, there are some effective methods of wildlife deterrence that work to prevent raccoon activity and subsequent damages. One of these methods of raccoon prevention is using a repellent around your property. Not only is this method safe and humane, it is inexpensive and easy to do right from your home.

Continue reading to learn an Eco-friendly and humane raccoon repellent recipe that can be made using simple household ingredients.

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Safety Tips for Using a Homemade Raccoon Repellent

After you make your homemade raccoon repellent solution, it is important to know how to use it properly. And be sure to wear protective gloves to avoid minor skin irritations. Once the recipe is complete, pour the solution into a clean spray bottle, large enough to hold about two liters.

Administer generously around the perimeter of your property, as well as, in areas where the raccoons have been frequenting the most (i.e. garage, trashcans, under the porch, tree house, etc.).

Repeat this process every three to four days, or until raccoon activity diminishes completely. Since the solution contains some ingredients that can be harmful to children, be sure to keep it out of reach when it’s not being used. As for the solution itself, check out the recipe below!

Safe and Humane Raccoon Repellent Recipe

GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES:

▷ Large Spray Bottle (Cleaned & Rinsed)
▷ Fresh Water
▷ Mild Dish Detergent
▷ Ground Cinnamon
▷ Ground Cayenne Pepper
▷ 1 Bottle Tabasco Sauce

How to Make a Homemade Raccoon Repellent Spray

Mix one teaspoon of mild dish detergent with two quarts of water. Add the entire bottle of Tabasco sauce, followed by one small container of ground cinnamon and one small container ground cayenne pepper. The dish detergent, especially at such a small amount, will not have an adverse effect on plants and grass.

Instead, it helps the solution adhere to them, keeping your perimeter intact longer. Allow the solution to sit for a day or two, allowing the spices to merry. This will make the solution stronger. Be sure to not touch your eyes or other vulnerable areas since the recipe calls for heavy pepper sauce. Wear protective gloves and perhaps eye gear as well.

Contact a Nashville Raccoon Control Service if the Repellent Does Not Work

If you are still having a raccoon problem after using your homemade solution for a few weeks, it is in the best interest of your property to call a licensed Nashville TN wildlife control company for professional raccoon removal assistance. They retain the proper tools and training to provide safe and humane raccoon removal services at affordable prices.

Are you ready to get rid of raccoons that have taken over your property? Contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for affordable and prompt 24 hour raccoon removal service in Nashville, Tennessee and its surrounding counties. We provide residential and commercial animal control.

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What You Need to Know About Raccoons in the Attic

Posted on April 20, 2021 by smokywildlife

Raccoons are clever and sneaky critters we must control. They are intelligent and agile, which makes them especially good at breaking into our homes, particularly the attic. Attics provide warmth, privacy, and ease of access, which is why they are a common target for raccoons and even other types of wildlife, such as bats, squirrels, and chipmunks. If you have tall trees near your roof, live in a one-level home, or located near forests or wooded areas, your property is certainly on the list of potential raccoon activity.

For this reason, you do not want to let your attic become a raccoon den. It is important to stay on top of attic inspections to ensure it is pest-free. Not only will raccoons cause immediate damage to your house, but the longer they are in your attic, the worse those damages get, and thus, more costly and invasive to repair.

Continue reading to learn what to do if you discover or suspect that you have raccoons in your attic, as well as who you can trust with prompt and professional raccoon removal and infestation cleanup service in Nashville, Tennessee.

Don’t Let Nuisance Raccoons Destroy Your Valuable Attic Space

You Do Not Want Raccoons in the Attic

Raccoons typically dwell within dens or hollow trees, where they hibernate for the winter and breed in the spring. They feed and nest their young and use these spaces as their homes. Due to over-construction and new development, raccoons are being forced to find shelter among our residential and commercial neighborhoods. This is why raccoons are being discovered in garages, sheds, crawl spaces, and attics all over the U.S. They can squeeze through tiny openings in rooftops, siding, and cellars. Raccoons use these entrances to gain access to the dark, isolated, cozy spots within our homes; the most popular space being the attic.

Raccoons are a very serious problem to have because they create huge messes that lead to costly repairs and restorations for homeowners. They chew through electrical wiring, rip down insulation, saturate the area with urine and feces, and much more. The degree of damages depends on the length of time they were living in the attic. Sometimes, the attic dry wall and insulation can become so saturated that it can begin to leak through the ceilings in the main living spaces of the home. It is also known to create unpleasant odors in these same areas.

Hire a Professional Nashville Animal Removal Service

If you notice signs that you may have raccoons living in your attic, then contact a professional Nashville critter control company for emergency raccoon removal services. Common signs of raccoons in the attic include squeaking and scratching noises, lingering indoor odors, wall and ceiling stains, animal scat around the outside of the house, rummaged gardens or trashcans, and related pest infestations like lice, fleas, and ants. You see, a licensed Nashville critter control company can get rid of raccoons in the attic, clean up and decontaminate the mess, and then restore any structural damages they left behind.

Do you think you might have a nuisance raccoon problem in or around your place? Contact Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for prompt and professional emergency raccoon removal in Nashville, Tennessee. We serve both residential and commercial clients.

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The Top 4 Methods to Get Rid of Raccoons

Posted on January 27, 2021 by smokywildlife

Local raccoon populations are not really Eco-beneficial like so many other native Tennessee species. For instance, bats play a major role in our surrounding Eco-system and even our local economies, as they help farmers fertilize and sell their crops, which stimulates the economy. Plus, bats are excellent pest control because they eat hundreds of thousands of insects, like mosquitos, every night! This also protects our crops and gardens, and boosts our outdoor comfort.

But when it comes to raccoons, they are not so great to have around. They have a lot of characteristics and abilities that set them apart from other nuisance animals in the state, including their high intelligence. If you are spotting raccoons in or around your Nashville, Tennessee property on a routine basis, you need to take back control. Get rid of raccoons before they can cost you time, money, stress, or worse, ailment.

Continue reading to learn the top 4 methods that are most effective for getting rid of nuisance raccoons, and how to get started on the task as soon as tonight!

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Why Raccoons are Bad News

Raccoons are very intelligent, and they have excellent memories. They will remember the location of a reliable source of shelter or food, and return there night after night, until the resources are depleted or no longer available. Their intelligence allows them to be creative and clever when attempting to enter buildings and structures. This is why raccoons are often successful at such, and often infest areas like attics, crawl spaces, wall voids, garages, sheds, barns, tree houses, and similar hidden areas of commercial and residential edifices.

In addition to their high intelligence and cleverness, you have to consider their anatomical features. Raccoons have long, sharp claws, but what’s more advantageous for them is the fact that they have dexterous paws, almost human-like, allowing them to do all sorts of things. They use their paws to open windows, tear through screens, turn doorknobs, pry off roof shingles and siding, and so much more. They are also known to dig up lawns in search of juicy grubs and earthworms, and pillage gardens and flowerbeds for all they have to offer.

If ever to gain access to your property, for instance the attic, raccoons create a massive mess that is highly unsanitary and structurally damaging. If this type of damage is not covered under your homeowners’ insurance policy, you might be paying for the cleanup and repair yourself. Then worst of all, raccoons are known carriers of several infectious diseases and parasites, including the Rabies virus, Distemper, Roundworm, lice, and more. These illnesses can be transmitted to both people and pets, making local raccoons a threat, full-circle.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Nashville

The wrong way to get rid of raccoons in Nashville would be to use any method that is unsafe, toxic, or harmful to raccoons and other animals. This includes shooting raccoons, or attempting to poison them with pest control products and chemicals. Not only are these against the law in most jurisdictions, it is very dangerous to both people and nature. Instead, here are the industry-accepted, best practices for Nashville raccoon control, in accordance with all local and Tennessee regulations that govern wildlife:

Environmental Modification

This phrase simply means changing your surrounding environment to divert raccoons away from your property. You see, raccoons are coming around because there is something, or perhaps a few things, that they are attracted to. If you remove or deny access to these things, you can thwart their interest and encourage them to move onto another territory. Remove all food and water sources, including pet food storage, pet food dishes, bird baths, and even squirrel feeders for the time being. Add chicken wire around your gardens, and cut down tree limbs that allow access to your roof. You can also apply a non-toxic raccoon repellent made from water, cayenne, menthol, spearmint, and cinnamon. Just be careful using this around areas where small children or pets play.

Giving Them a Scare

One of the safest and easiest ways to get rid of raccoons in Nashville is to scare them off. Try installing motion-sensed lights around the areas you’ve been spotting them, or even automatic sprinklers set to night mode. You can also place a talk radio outside, or a recording of dogs barking that goes off when it detects motion, like the new Alexa Guard feature on Amazon Echo devices. All of these things will make them think humans are around, and will frighten them away.

Trapping and Exclusion

To protect your home from nuisance raccoons, you will need to first block off all entry points to holes or hideaways that might allow raccoons entry. Then you will have to make any other necessary structural adjustments or modifications, such as tree trimming or removing a pet door, to ensure full security against raccoon intrusions. In addition to raccoon exclusion, you might also need to trap raccoons and remove them from your property in the case that you have raccoons in the attic. This is usually carried out using innovative supplies like cage traps, foothold traps, and body-gripping traps. Both raccoon exclusion (forcing them and keeping them out) and raccoon extraction (raccoon removal) are jobs that are best left in the hands of licensed and trained professionals who are properly equipped to do the job, safely and humanely.

Certified Raccoon Removal Service in Nashville, Tennessee Any Time or Day

Call Smoky Wildlife Control at 615-610-0962 for safe and affordable raccoon removal service in Nashville, Tennessee and all surrounding counties in the Greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee areas. We are a licensed and insured critter control company with hands-on experience in the wildlife trapping and removal industry. Not only do we offer a wide range of animal removal services, including cleanup and repair for animal damages caused by raccoons, but we also offer 24 hour emergency raccoon removal, property inspections, post-service follow ups, and free estimates. Just looking for some quick advice? We gladly provide that too, free of charge! Request a free quote, today.