Raccoons are mammals native to the United States and Canada. Unless you live in Alaska, you have probably seen a few raccoons around.

They are common everywhere except Alaska, where you cannot find a single raccoon. Raccoons often make an appearance at night. During the day, they stay hidden in their dens.

The creatures are actually known to be quite difficult to handle at times. They may carry diseases or bacteria that could be harmful to people.

What Can Raccoons Do?

Many people have had their garbage cans raided by raccoons during the night. Since raccoons are omnivorous and can eat anything from meat to vegetables, they don’t hesitate to look for food in odd places.

So, if you hear a disturbance in your trash in the dark, it is mostly a raccoon trying to find food.

Do Raccoons Attack People?

When it comes to wild animals, safety is the biggest concern for people. Since raccoons are so common in the United States, people wonder if they are aggressive animals or not.

If raccoons are aggressive, people will have to take steps to keep themselves and their children safe. Only a rabid raccoon would attack people out of nowhere.

Normally, raccoons are not aggressive toward humans at all. However, a mother raccoon can attack a human if she feels like the human is a threat to her baby. If you see a raccoon in a park or on the side of the road, as long as you let it be, it won’t attack you.

If you get bitten or scratched by a rabid raccoon, you should seek medical assistance immediately. If you spot a rabid raccoon, you should get in touch with animal control straightaway so they can come over and handle the situation.

Can a Raccoon Climb Trees?

Although raccoons can be found everywhere in the United States, there’s still a lot people don’t know about them.

Many people find raccoons cute, but they don’t know that these mammals are carriers of some pretty dangerous parasites. So, to keep yourself safe, you should make your property raccoon-proof.

One of the biggest questions people have about these mammals is can a raccoon climb trees and live in them? A raccoon can climb trees and it does so for a number of reasons.

Raccoons can easily hide in the dense foliage from their predators. Since raccoons like to live in dark and enclosed spaces, trees are their best option.

Raccoons cannot leap or jump, but they can use their claws to climb things. They know if they climb trees, they can access rooftops easily. They also climb trees so they can get to bird nests and steal bird eggs. Raccoons also eat baby birds sometimes directly from the nests.

Do Raccoons Live and Nest in Trees?

The best place for a raccoon to live is a dark and secluded space where they have enough room for their family. Since a tree offers plenty of dark places, raccoons often end up living in them.

Although you may not spot them during the day, if you look at the trees, you can tell from the scratches on the stem whether or not it has been climbed by raccoons.

Raccoons also consider a tree as one of the best places to raise their kids. Hollow trees that have their entrance high up the trunk often prove to be the best home for raccoons. They can easily stay away from predators and raise their kids in a safe environment.

Are Raccoons Dangerous?

Raccoon excrement is often full of dangerous parasites. If a child comes into contact with it, they can contract the parasite and become sick.

If a raccoon enters your house, it will also bring a number of diseases inside with it. Raccoons are also carriers of rabies. You never know if a raccoon is carrying this disease or not.

Although a lot of people find raccoons cute, they can be quite dangerous if you are not careful. They can not only cause diseases but also destroy your crops. If you have fruit trees, then you should make your garden raccoon-proof or they will attack all the peaches and apples.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons？

If you don’t want raccoons to destroy your crops or bring diseases to your property, you will have to take some necessary steps,even ask raccoon removal service for help to protect your family and your home. There are a number of ways through which you can keep raccoons away from your property.

• Traps

One of the best options is setting live traps and then releasing the animal a few miles away from your property.

Since raccoons eat almost everything, you can use anything from your kitchen as bait. However, there might be state laws involved when it comes to releasing these mammals. So, consult animal control before you take this step.

• Garlic and Chili Mixture

Another method is mixing equal parts garlic and chili powder and spreading it around your property. However, this isn’t a one-time solution.

You will have to make this recipe again and again and then spread it on your property frequently to keep the raccoons away.

• Add Lights

Since raccoons are sun-shy mammals, you can put bright lights in your garden to keep these mammals away. However, this may not always work as there will always be one corner covered in darkness that raccoons can use to enter your property.

What to Do If I Can’t Control the Raccoon Problem Myself?

Whether you have spotted a rabid raccoon or you are having trouble keeping raccoons away from your property, you can always ask the authorities for help. In most cases, you can call animal control and they will be able to help you. But in some states, it is wildlife organizations that take care of such things.

If you are not sure how things work in your state regarding raccoons, you can get in touch with animal control and ask them about it.

Once you know what course of action you should take, you can get rid of raccoons easily. After that, you won’t have to worry about your children catching diseases or your crops getting destroyed by raccoons.

Takeaways

No matter how cute you find raccoons, they are not good for your health. Children can easily get infected by the parasite in the excrement of raccoons.

In case you have ever wondered if a raccoon climb trees, the simple answer is, yes they do. The creatures can damage fresh crops on your property and spread different diseases.

So, it is best to keep safe. As soon as you learn of their presence, contact a wildlife organization to get them removed from your property.