Raccoons are one of the most commonly dealt with nuisance animals. They have adapted to living with humans. They have learned that garbage cans and dumpsters are excellent sources of food, and that houses are excellent habitat. A mother raccoon will often tear a hole in a roof to access an attic if needed, where they will make quite a mess.
Damage and Risk from Their Presence
Typically, raccoons come during the early spring when the females are pregnant. Females have learned that human dwellings are a great place to raise their young. They will destroy soffits, tear off shingles, remove siding and chimney caps and take off mushroom vent caps just to gain access to your home. Once inside, they will destroy insulation and wires to modify your house to their liking. Loose-fill insulation will become matted and compressed, allowing heated air to escape into the attic in the winter, while hot air can enter the home during the summertime.
Raccoon droppings pose another threat altogether, as they may contain raccoon roundworm, a parasitic worm. Treat raccoon feces as biohazard and make sure to disinfect and deodorize the area as well.
Raccoon Removal, Exclusion and Attic restoration
Raccoon trapping, removal and exclusion are the only options to rid your attic of raccoons. First, raccoons must be removed; only then can all entrance points be sealed. After the raccoons are removed, the feces should be thoroughly cleaned up only by professionals.