Hearing noises in your attic? Finding tracks around your property? Noticing raccoon droppings?
Raccoons can cause serious property damage and pose health risks. Whether they’ve entered your home, are rummaging through your trash, or are tearing up your lawn, Critter Control near you has been the trusted source for professional raccoon removal for over 40 years.
Signs of Raccoon Infestation
What Sounds Do Raccoons Make?
Raccoons are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night.
Common sounds include:
- Scratching or thumping in the attic or walls
- Chirping, chattering, or growling noises
- Heavy movement sounds near ceilings or crawl spaces
How to Identify Raccoon Tracks and Droppings
Raccoons leave behind distinct hand-shaped footprints and dark, tube-like droppings that can indicate an infestation.
- Tracks found near walls, attics, and entry points
- Droppings clustered in one area, often near nests
Why are Raccoons Causing a Problem?
Raccoons are on your property (either in your yard or your house) in search of food and shelter. Easily available food often attracts raccoons to your yard. Raccoons are omnivorous, eating both plants and animals. Plant foods include fruits, berries, nuts, acorns, corn, and other types of grain.
The natural habitat for raccoons is wooded areas close to water. Hollow trees are the natural den sites for raccoons. But they have adapted to the urban and suburban habitats in Illinois. Raccoons will den in the space under a porch or deck, inside sheds, climb into chimneys, or in your attic.
Female raccoons may destroy and enter parts of your home, especially your attic, in order to create a suitable place to raise their young. Raccoons usually mate between late January and mid-March. Chicago homeowners start to notice a raccoon litter in April or May.
Raccoon Problems
Raccoons don’t just cause a mess or disrupt your sleep. They can damage property and spread diseases.
Fire Hazard
Chewed electrical wires can create serious risks.
Health Risks
They carry diseases like rabies and raccoon round worm.
Structural Damage
Raccoons tear insulation, rip vents, and weaken roofs.
Fleas & Ticks
Their presence can introduce other pests into your home.
How Critter Control of Chicago Gets Rid of Raccoons
Critter Control has been providing raccoon removal near you for decades. Our technicians have the experience and training to recognize all potential raccoon entry points and damage caused by a raccoon. Based on the comprehensive inspection, our raccoon removal process safely traps and removes the animal and repairs all damage.
Raccoon Trapping
At Critter Control, we provide professional and humane raccoon trapping services to safely remove these nuisance animals from your property. Our experts use cage traps, the most effective and humane method for capturing raccoons. We ensure that at least 12 inches around the trap remain clear, as raccoons are highly dexterous and capable of causing significant damage when confined.
To maximize success, our specialists strategically place traps in areas showing signs of raccoon activity. Indoors, we look for tracks, paw prints, and droppings, while outside, we inspect for dens, animal runways, and additional evidence of raccoon presence. Deploying multiple traps along their pathways increases the likelihood of successful capture.
Safety is our priority. When setting traps on roofs, we take extra precautions to stabilize them, ensuring the safety of both the raccoon and your property. We also use traps with coverings to shield the trapped animal from the elements. To minimize the capture of non-target species, we bait traps with sweet foods that attract raccoons, such as cherries, grapes, marshmallows, jelly, or specially formulated sweet pastes.
Because raccoons are a rabies vector species, direct capture is not commonly used. If relocation is permitted by law, healthy raccoons are moved to a suitable location with written permission. When baby raccoons are removed from attics, our wildlife specialists coordinate with local wildlife rehabilitation centers to ensure they receive proper care.
For safe and effective raccoon removal near you, trust the experts at Critter Control. Contact us today to schedule an inspection.
Raccoon Control & Exclusion
Preventative exclusion services are the most effective raccoon control. After raccoon removal near you, it is imperative to seal all entry points to prevent future entry. Ensuring you don’t create a home for raccoons outside your property will also help prevent attracting raccoons. However, habitat modification will become very important for prevention after dealing with a raccoon invasion. Repellents offer temporary solutions. Raccoons grow accustomed to frightening devices, and there are no toxicants regulated for raccoons.
How can I tell if I have raccoons on my property?
Signs of raccoons include loud noises in the attic or walls, overturned trash cans, scattered debris, claw marks, raccoon droppings, or noticeable damage to roofing, siding, or vents.
Are raccoons dangerous to humans or pets?
Yes, raccoons can be dangerous as they may carry diseases like rabies, leptospirosis, or raccoon roundworm. They can also be aggressive if cornered or threatened.
Can I remove raccoons myself?
While DIY removal might seem appealing, it’s safer and more effective to hire professionals. They have the knowledge, tools, and permits required to handle raccoons humanely and in compliance with local laws.
Who should I call for raccoon removal near me?
Call Critter Control near you! If you’re dealing with raccoon issues in Chicago, you should call a professional wildlife control operator and not a pest control company or exterminator. You can reach Critter Control of Chicago at 1-800-274-8837 or visit their website to find the office nearest to your location.
How can I prevent raccoon infestation in Chicago?
Prevention steps include securing trash cans, sealing entry points to attics or crawlspaces, trimming tree branches near the roof, and removing food sources like pet food or birdseed from outdoor areas.
