Tips for Preventing Raccoon Infestations in Your Raleigh Home Attic & Crawl Space

Did you wake up in the middle of the night to the cacophony of something banging around and making strange noises above your head? You’ve most likely got a raccoon living in your attic! Among the most persistent wildlife intruders in the Raleigh area, raccoons frequently force their way into attics and crawl spaces of local homes. Having a raccoon move into your home is unsafe and unsanitary, but following these helpful tips can help you to avoid this unpleasant situation.

3 Ways to Keep Raccoons Out of Your House

1. Get Rid of Attractants – Like all wild animals, raccoons are motivated by the search for food, water and shelter. Usually, raccoons will not immediately try to take shelter in your Raleigh home. First, they’ll rely on your yard as a source of water and food, then they’ll decide to move in. The best known raccoon attractant is garbage. Make sure any outdoor garbage bins are securely covered and, if you start having a raccoon problem, consider moving them into your garage or tying down the lids of your cans. You should also avoid leaving any pet food outdoors. If you have a source of water in your yard, like a pond or a swimming pool, cover it up so it doesn’t become local raccoons’ favorite drinking spot.
2. Eliminate Entry Points – One of the worst parts about raccoon infestations in Raleigh is that these feisty critters are strong enough to break through materials like roof shingles to enter your home. However, like all wildlife, they tend to choose the path of least resistance, and you can deter them by preventing easy access to your attic and crawl space. Make sure any vents leading to your attic or crawl space are properly covered and if you find exterior damage that a raccoon could exploit, repair it quickly.
3. Install Deterrents – Raccoons have sensitive ears and noses, which you can use to your advantage to repel them from your home in Raleigh. Spraying predator urine around the foundation of your home might trick raccoons into thinking it’s coyote territory. If you don’t like the sound of that, natural solutions made from such things as cayenne, garlic and vinegar may ward off raccoons. You can even try directly spraying these into your attic or crawl space if you think you have an invader. It’s a more costly option but you could also purchase an ultrasonic repellent to drive raccoons away from your property.

We Can Keep Raccoons Out of Your Attic & Crawl Space

These prevention methods will reduce the likelihood of a raccoon infestation but, unfortunately, none of them are 100% effective. If you want your house in Raleigh to be securely fortified against raccoons by wildlife control professionals, give Southern Wildlife & Land Management a call today!