Raccoons thrive across the Minneapolis-St. Paul. They have adapted to urban and suburban environments by using houses for shelter. During the winter, they will enter through soffits to escape the harsh weather inside an attic. Homeowners in the Twin Cities typically experience raccoon infestations from mid-May to early June. It's at this time raccoons are either showing signs of bearing young or giving birth.
If you suspect a raccoon infestation, these are the most common areas.
Raccoons on the Roof
Raccoons are excellent climbers. One of the preferred natural denning locations is the tree hollows. Raccoons can live on a roof if there is adequate shelter, but it is more likely they are using the roof to get to a den inside your attic or chimney
You will most likely find raccoon activity at night. The critters are nocturnal and forage for food at night. Female raccoons with kits also move about in the daytime to search for food.
Problems with Raccoons on the Roof
Raccoons on roofs cause significant damage. Once a raccoon creates or enlarges a hole in the rooftop, it becomes an easy pathway to the attic. Females are known to destroy soffits, fascia boards, shingles, vents, and insulation to establish denning sites. Since they like to keep their latrines separate from their nests, they will use leaves and pine needles to make a place on the roof for their droppings.
Raccoons can easily rip a hole in your roof to set up a den in the attic. Attics are attractive to raccoons because they supply them with safe shelter from the weather and predators. If you see raccoons on your roof, it’s important to seek professional raccoon removal quickly so they don’t have the opportunity to get into your home.
Raccoons in Chimneys
Raccoons in chimneys are a common occurrence. While most chimneys have caps to prevent this infestation, raccoons can gain entry by removing them manually. Raccoons can twist, turn, unsnap, and pop off chimney caps.
A raccoon in the fireplace or chimney is there for the following reasons:
- It's warm
- It's safe from predators
- They need a place to give birth to their young
- They want to stay close to a nearby food source
Raccoons in chimneys may decide to leave on their own after they give birth or when they run out of a food source. However, this is not always the case since raccoons travel six or more miles every night searching for food before returning to their den. Please don't wait for a raccoon to leave on its own. While waiting, the raccoon could create even more damage to your property.
Problems with Raccoons in the Chimney
Raccoons are a nuisance inside a chimney. They’re loud. Raccoon noises in the chimney can sound like squeaking, purring, rustling, whining, chattering, scratching, and rustling. Raccoon pups make noises like crying, shuffling, mewing, and whimpering.
Raccoons cause damage that ranges from minor and low cost to significant, costly repairs. The can damage chimney caps, shingles, and siding.
Raccoon in the Attic
An attic is one of the most attractive places for a raccoon. They provide shelter from the elements, and materials to create nests for their young.
Because they are fairly large animals, signs of raccoons in the attic can be easy to spot. Because of their size and weight, the sound of them lumbering around your attic is most likely the first sign you’ll experience.
Problems with Raccoons in the Attic
Raccoons cause considerable and costly damage in your attic during the process of building their den and creating a latrine site. In addition to dragging in leaves and twigs, they will tear up insulation and cardboard boxes and use materials stored in your attic, such as blankets or clothing. Raccoon damage in the attic can include:
- Water damage is caused by rain and snow getting into your attic from the hole created to gain access to your attic.
- An unsanitary mess caused by their urine and feces. This produces not only a foul smell and damaged drywall but also health risks from parasites such as raccoon roundworm and leptospirosis.
- Damaged beams and electrical wires from their gnawing.
Raccoons in Walls
If a raccoon is in your attic, it has access to get behind your walls. The tight space behind a wall is similar to the natural denning sites for raccoons giving birth.
Problems with Raccoons in the Walls
Raccoons are loud. They will cause a ruckus living and moving inside the walls. Their urine and feces will stain the walls and create unpleasant odors. They will also cause damage to moving, clawing, and chewing. A raccoon can thrive in your wall for weeks or even months if left undisturbed, especially if it has ample access to food and water nearby. If the raccoon falls or gets trapped inside the wall without access to food or water, it will die. That creates another problem—a dead raccoon in the wall—requiring professional attention, given that removal can be a health hazard.
Raccoons Under the House
Raccoons are proficient diggers in addition to excellent climbers. While they prefer to be higher up to avoid predators, shelters under your deck or inside your crawlspace or basement are just as attractive. Raccoons can get inside a crawlspace or a basement by squeezing through gaps in the foundation or unsecured vents or using pet doors and windows.
Problems with Raccoons in a Crawlspace or Basement
Depending on what you store in your basement, raccoons will likely rummage through and scatter it. If raccoons live under your house they can damage insulation, drywall, pipes, plumbing, ductwork, and electrical wires.
Raccoon Removal in Minneapolis, MN
The professionals at Wildlife Management Services have been trained in the most effective methods of removing raccoons from any place in your house. They use only humane raccoon trapping techniques that are environmentally friendly and ecologically safe to remove raccoons from attics. Once the raccoons in the attic have been removed, our professionals can identify the point of entry and repair this area to ensure you will never have raccoons in your attic again.
If you have been hearing scratching sounds from your attic and think you may have raccoons in the attic, Wildlife Management Services can help! Contact Wildlife Management Services for professional services to remove squirrels from your attic today at 763.233.6895.
Wildlife Management of Minneapolis Service Area
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maple Grove, Champlin, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Apple Valley, Eagan, St. Louis Park, Stillwater, Woodbury, Mound, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, White Bear Lake, Plymouth, Wayzata, Burnsville, and Their Surrounding Areas
This franchise is independently licensed and operated by Wildlife Management Services, Inc