Raccoons: How To Know If They Are Living In Your Attic?
Raccoons prefer to reside in attics because they are warm, dry and, offer protection from predators and other elements. Females prefer to nurture their children in enclosed spaces. Food sources, like trash cans and pet food, are frequently found in attics. Raccoons choose locations for feeding, giving birth, and caring for their young once they’ve entered an attic.
There are only a few species of wildlife you could be dealing with if you hear noises coming from your attic. Raccoons are one of the most prevalent and complex creatures to deal with. They are not only vast and mobile, but they are also more likely to have babies if they have broken into an attic. As a result, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with a lot of baby raccoons. Raccoon removal and prevention is one of the more delicate tasks we confront. The newborn raccoons are defenseless and must be manually retrieved and cared for until the mother is successfully expelled. You may look at your local raccoon removal services to handle these things.
What Are The Signs That There Is A Raccoon In Your Attic?
Many raccoons try to get access to homes’ attics because they provide a warm and dry environment. Female raccoons, in particular, are known for sneaking into attics to raise their young. If you believe you have a raccoon or, worse yet, numerous raccoons residing in your attic, you must take quick action. Pay attention to these warning signs that indicate you may have raccoons in your attic right now:
- Raccoons can be heard moving around in the attic. Because raccoons are large creatures, you will most likely hear pounding noises or raccoons walking. Raccoons are nocturnal, so you’ll most often listen to them at night. When they leave after nightfall and return during the night, you’ll most likely hear them. You may listen to babies crying and whining if there are any present.
- Raccoons are seen entering and exiting your attic. During the day, raccoons in attics may be active. During the day, you might witness the mother leave the house in search of food. They’ll have to depart at some time to acquire food. You might notice them up near your rooftop when they do. It will assist you in determining how they got into your house in the first place. It will also alert you to the fact that you should seek expert assistance as soon as feasible.
- In your attic, you notice droppings and smell urine. Raccoons living in your attic for a long time may leave droppings and pee all over the place. If you look up in the attic and smell the urine, you’ll typically see the droppings. Because raccoon droppings and urine can spread diseases, you should never touch or clean them up yourself. They can also harm attic insulation, support beams, and other structures.
- Debris has been discovered in your attic. Evidence of debris in the attic is one obvious sign of their presence. If you have access to your attic and can take a quick look up there, you’ll be able to tell if raccoons are residing there. They’ll very certainly have caused a mess getting into and out of the attic. Gentle houseguests are familiar with them. In preparation for mating season, they will frequently explore through your attic for nesting supplies. Finally, they are clumsy eaters. You’ll most certainly come upon old food, such as bones, all over the area. Raccoons utilize twigs, leaves, and insulation to make their nests, so you’ll probably find twigs, leaves, or insulation strewn around your attic.
- You got some roof damage. A mouse, bat, or squirrel can enter your home through a tiny aperture the size of a cent, but a raccoon will need a significantly wider entrance. Because of their size and less-than-subtle approach, their entry site is generally visible from ground level. To get entry, they frequently rip off a roof vent or bend back siding. If you suspect a raccoon has taken up residence in your attic, take a short walk around the property and look for any signs of the entrance. It can be challenging to see all of your roof vents up close, so going onto a neighbor’s property to obtain a better perspective of your roof may be beneficial. If you have raccoons in your attic, there will very certainly be proof of their access visible to the human eye; it’s just a matter of taking the time to look for it.
What Damages Does A Raccoon Do To An Attic?
Raccoons may swiftly wreak havoc on your home, particularly if they’re in your attic. They have razor-sharp teeth and claws, and they will gnaw through timber support beams, roofing tiles, and drywall. When inspecting your attic space, look for any visible indicators of damage to your property’s walls, floor, and ceiling.
When raccoons start living in your attic, they have the potential to do significant property damage. The damage raccoons cause to get access to your attic is frequently the tip of the iceberg compared to what they do once inside. A family of raccoons can ruin your insulation and fill your attic with hazardous and odorous pee and excrement in a short amount of time. The following are some examples of raccoon damage to your attic:
- Roof Insulation. With a weight of 25-30 lb (11-14 kg), a raccoon may easily trample and compress attic insulation just by strolling around. Once they’ve gained access to the attic, raccoons will follow well-worn paths through the insulation. The insulation will be compressed to a noticeable degree. There will be evidence of trails. The trails of raccoons are substantially wider than those of other animals.
- Electrical Wiring. Raccoons have a penchant for getting into everything. Electrical problems caused by raccoons who prefer to eat cables are a severe issue for homeowners. Curiosity and teething adolescent raccoons nibble on anything that relieves their sore gums. If the wiring in your attic becomes chewed, you’ll notice light flickering in your home on occasion. There’s a chance that electrical outlets will cease working, and there’s a risk of fire.
- HVAC system. Raccoons can take apart drywall, insulation, and pipe insulation, as well as tear holes in air ducts and even dwell inside the HVAC system. Significant heating and air-conditioning problems are caused by damaged insulation. Take a peek in your attic for signs of raccoons if your house isn’t keeping the temperature the thermostat says it should. If you discover signs of raccoons, contact your local pest control firm right away.
- Other Structural Damage. Raccoons are powerful animals that may easily pull open a soffit board or eat through your fascia to get access to your attic. Your attic will be exposed to the outdoors if a raccoon chewed a hole in your roof, and moisture will begin to flow in. Your attic’s insulation initially will absorb a lot of moisture, but ultimately it will be too much, and water stains will appear on your ceiling. Raccoons can cause your attic to flood by digging holes in your roof. A flooded attic may harm everything in it, including your valuables, attic insulation, and drywall, as well as degrade the overall structure of your attic.