One of the most adaptable animals in the world, raccoons have long been making their way out of their natural habitats and into commercial and residential areas. In addition to ransacking garbage cans, the mischievous critters are known for ruining fruit trees and gardens and breaking into kitchens to access food. To avoid costly damage to your property, be on the lookout for the following signs of a growing raccoon problem.
Signs of Invasive Raccoons
- Tracks – One of the most obvious signs of raccoons, tracks are a sure-fire way to tell if there has been raccoon activity on your property. Their footprints actually look very similar to those of humans, but only 3 or 4 inches long. If you believe you may have raccoons on your property, check for tracks on your car’s windshield, the fence around your home, or in the soft soil of your yard, garden, or flower beds.
- Droppings – Raccoon waste is another good indicator of activity on your property. Though their droppings may resemble those of other animals, raccoons generally mark their territory at the base of tree trunks or on wood piles. Finding droppings in these areas means there’s a good chance you have a raccoon problem on your hands.
- Scattered Trash – Sometimes the warning signs of raccoons will go unnoticed until you walk outside to see your garbage can tipped over and trash littered about your yard. Raccoons are attracted to dumpsters and trash cans as they provide easy access to food, and their dexterous paws allow them to open nearly any unlocked can. To prevent a midnight raccoon feast on your front lawn, store your cans inside until morning pickup or invest in trash cans with tightly sealed, lockable lids.
Raccoons are intelligent creatures that can be very difficult to remove. If you’ve discovered signs of raccoon activity on your property, we recommend contacting the wildlife professionals at Critter Control® of Tampa for help.
Tampa’s Raccoon Removal Experts
The animal removal experts at Critter Control® of Tampa have over thirty years of experience in keeping homes and families safe from nuisance critters like raccoons. Our licensed and trained technicians are equipped to handle nuisance raccoon infestations of all sizes. After ensuring all nuisance raccoons are removed, our team will repair any damages and clean up any messes the critters left behind. For more information on our raccoon removal services or to schedule an inspection and receive a free estimate, call Critter Control® of Tampa today at (813) 328-6646.
