Avoid feeding, touching, or trying to relocate raccoons yourself, as it can spread disease, cause injury, and make the problem harder to solve. Always call a professional for safe removal.
Raccoons might look like adorable masked bandits, but treating them like neighborhood pets is a fast track to trouble. These clever critters can cause serious property damage, spread dangerous diseases, and turn a minor backyard visit into a full-blown infestation.
Before you try to feed, touch, or “help” one, it’s worth knowing the biggest homeowner mistakes that invite chaos straight to your doorstep.
Core Risks You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Raccoons are crafty, curious, and more than capable of turning a small mistake into a costly problem. Some homeowner habits make these animals bolder, harder to remove, and far more dangerous than they already are.
If you want to keep your property and family safe, start by avoiding these all-too-common blunders.
Don’t pick up baby raccoons or try to relocate them yourself
It’s easy to assume a baby raccoon alone in your yard needs rescuing, but moving it can separate it from its mother and doom its chances of survival. In many states, it’s also illegal without proper permits, and you risk exposing yourself to rabies, parasites, or other diseases. The safest option is to keep your distance and call a licensed wildlife removal service.
Never feed raccoons, intentionally or accidentally
Handouts might seem harmless, but food encourages raccoons to linger, breed nearby, and lose their natural fear of humans. Once they see your porch as a buffet, they’ll start scouting for attics, chimneys, and crawl spaces to set up camp. Remove outdoor pet food, secure garbage bins, and skip the late-night snack sharing.
Avoid touching or disturbing raccoon latrines
Raccoon droppings can contain roundworm eggs that survive in the environment for years and cause serious illness in people and pets. Cleaning them requires gloves, protective gear, and the right sanitizing methods to avoid spreading contamination. If you find a latrine, treat it as a biohazard and let professionals handle the cleanup.
Unexpected Health Risks to Pets and People
Raccoons aren’t just a nuisance for your property, they can also put your pets and loved ones in harm’s way. From spreading parasites to carrying dangerous viruses, these animals can silently turn your backyard into a health hazard. Knowing the most overlooked risks will help you react quickly and keep everyone safe.
Don’t keep raccoons as pets or allow them near your animals
Even if they seem tame, raccoons are still wild animals with sharp teeth, unpredictable behavior, and a knack for transmitting diseases. They can pass parasites like raccoon roundworm to dogs, cats, and even birds. Keeping them as “pets” is not only risky but also illegal in many areas.
Don’t ignore strange raccoon behavior
If a raccoon is stumbling, circling, or acting unusually bold in daylight, it could be showing signs of distemper or rabies. Both diseases are deadly to pets and dangerous to humans. Keep everyone inside, secure your animals, and contact a wildlife professional immediately instead of trying to chase it away yourself.
Don’t overlook indirect contamination risks
Even without direct contact, pets and children can be exposed to raccoon parasites through contaminated soil, water, or outdoor toys. Roundworm eggs and other pathogens can linger for months in areas raccoons frequent. Regular yard checks, secure pet food storage, and prompt cleanup of droppings can greatly reduce the chance of illness.
DIY Mistakes That Escalate the Mess
Trying to handle a raccoon problem yourself can feel like a money-saving shortcut, but in most cases, it only makes things worse. Well-intentioned fixes can trap animals, damage your property, or even put you at risk of injury or disease. Avoid these common missteps if you want the problem solved for good.
Don’t seal entry points without confirming all raccoons are gone
Closing up holes, vents, or gaps before every raccoon has left can trap animals inside your home. This leads to frantic scratching, foul odors from waste or dead animals, and possible structural damage. Always have a professional inspect and confirm a space is empty before sealing it off.
Don’t rely solely on repellents
From predator urine to store-bought sprays, most raccoon repellents provide only short-term relief, if any. Raccoons quickly adapt and will return as soon as the scent fades or the noise stops. Lasting prevention comes from exclusion work like sealing gaps, securing trash, and removing attractants.
Don’t attempt risky captures without training
Catching a raccoon with a trap or by hand exposes you to bites, scratches, and diseases. Mishandled traps can injure the animal or lead to legal trouble if used improperly. Wildlife control experts have the right equipment and know-how to remove raccoons humanely and in compliance with local regulations.
What AAAC Wildlife Removal Does Differently
Raccoon problems aren’t a one-size-fits-all situation, and treating them that way is why so many DIY fixes fail. At AAAC Wildlife Removal, every job begins with a full property assessment that considers the layout of your home, nearby food sources, and the specific raccoon behavior at play.
This lets us create a safe, humane plan that solves the problem without creating new ones. Here’s how we handle it:
- Thorough inspection and humane removal – We locate every entry point, nesting area, and attractant before starting. Our humane methods protect the animals while ensuring no babies are left behind, so you’re not surprised by noise in the attic days later.
- Secure exclusion and prevention – Every potential access point gets sealed with durable materials that raccoons can’t chew or claw through. This keeps them out without affecting ventilation or the structure of your home.
- Comprehensive cleanup and sanitation – We remove droppings, nests, and debris while disinfecting to eliminate parasites, odors, and biohazards that could attract other wildlife. This leaves your property clean, safe, and far less likely to face another invasion.
Keeping Your Property Raccoon-Free Moving Forward
Getting rid of raccoons is only half the battle, keeping them away for good takes consistent prevention. The key is removing anything that might tempt them back while making your home as inaccessible as possible. A few smart habits can go a long way toward avoiding another wildlife showdown.
- Secure trash and compost – Use raccoon-proof lids and avoid putting food scraps outside overnight.
- Limit outdoor feeding – Bring pet food bowls indoors after meals and clean up fallen birdseed promptly.
- Trim trees and shrubs – Keep branches at least 6–8 feet from your roofline to prevent easy climbing access.
- Inspect and maintain barriers – Regularly check vents, chimneys, and crawl space doors for damage or gaps.
- Stay alert for signs – Listen for scratching in walls or ceilings, watch for droppings, and act quickly before a small problem becomes a costly repair.
Handle Raccoons the Smart Way
Raccoons may look harmless with their curious eyes and nimble paws, but mishandling them can lead to property damage, health risks, and expensive repairs. The safest approach is to steer clear of risky DIY tactics and avoid the common mistakes that make them harder to remove.
Partnering with a professional wildlife removal team ensures the problem is handled humanely, thoroughly, and with long-term prevention in mind. By staying proactive and avoiding the “what not to do” list, you can keep your home raccoon-free and your sanity intact.
Call AAAC Wildlife Removal Today!
If raccoons are making themselves at home on your property, don’t give them the chance to cause more trouble. Our team at AAAC Wildlife Removal is ready to inspect, remove, and protect your home using safe, effective, and humane methods.
Call us now or request a quote online to schedule your raccoon removal service. Let’s kick those masked bandits out for good, and keep them from coming back.
