Raccoons are a common sight in much of Washington and are often drawn to your house by food supplied by humans. Raccoons can find a variety of suitable denning locations or resting spots in your house. While a raccoon in the attic is common, raccoons will also live under your house. Below are some recent examples from Critter Control of Olympia excluding raccoons from people’s homes.
Raccoon Entry Points to Get Under House
Common Areas Under House Where Raccoons Den
Raccoons adapt to various environments, including residential areas. Mother raccoons often nest under a house because it is a safe, warm, and dry place. They generally give birth and raise their kits from March through June. If you find a litter of baby raccoons in the space under your house, it is best to put off the eviction until they leave the nest. If you’ve noticed raccoons around your property, it’s essential to understand the common areas under the house where they may choose to den.
Raccoon in Crawlspaces
Crawl spaces are secluded areas of the home that raccoons often help themselves to. While raccoons commonly nest and raise their young in houses, they rarely do so below the house, opting instead to place the litter up in the attic or walls. A raccoon in your crawlspace, therefore, is likely a solitary adult looking for a resting spot.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Crawlspace
Trapping a raccoon is the best raccoon removal from the crawlspace technique. We set cage traps near signs of raccoon activity like tracks or paw prints, damage to insulation, and raccoon droppings. Bait the trap with sweet items to reduce non-target captures. Fruits like cherries or grapes, marshmallows or jelly work effectively as raccoon bait.
Raccoons Under Decks and Porches.
The spaces beneath decks or porches are especially inviting because they allow raccoons to remain near sources of food and water. Yet another area that raccoons frequent. Common signs that you have raccoons under your deck are rustling and thumping noises, a strong odor of feces or urine, and hand-looking footprints around the area.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons Under Porch
Generally, smell deterrents do not work for raccoon under porch removal. In this case, we tried it. When juveniles are present, raccoon eviction fluid might work. The female raccoon will smell the scent of a predator and vacate the area with her young. It did not work in this case. We set a trap at the only exit point for the raccoons. After we caught the raccoon, we relocated the juveniles to a wildlife rehabilitator in Olympia, WA.
Cleaning and Sanitizing the Area
Properly cleaning and sanitizing the affected area is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of your household after a raccoon infestation under your house. We follow these important steps:
- Removing raccoon droppings and nesting materials: Raccoon droppings can carry harmful bacteria and parasites, so handle them with caution. Wear protective gloves and a mask before starting the cleaning process. Use a shovel or scoop to collect the droppings and nesting materials. Dispose of them in a sealed plastic bag and place it in an outdoor trash bin.
- Disinfecting the affected area: After removing the droppings and nesting materials, thoroughly clean the area using a bleach solution. Mix one part bleach with nine parts water and apply it to the affected surfaces. Scrub the area with a brush to ensure proper disinfection. Allow the solution to sit for at least 10 minutes before rinsing with clean water.
Raccoon Under House Control
The most effective raccoon pest control in Olympia, WA is exclusions. Whether raccoons are living under your porch or in your crawlspace, the entry point must be blocked. Exclusion means changing your home and property, making it unlikely a raccoon will move in. Exclusion services are the most effective and immediate means of raccoon pest control. While do-it-yourself (DIY) methods are available, such as devices that use noises, lights, or predator scents, they are not long-term solutions.
Critter Control in Olympia specializes in raccoon removal and control. To remove and control a raccoon or family of raccoons on your property, we perform a thorough inspection that helps us develop a personalized raccoon removal plan. We build custom traps that are safe and humane but effectively remove the animal without putting you or your family in danger. We also seal all entry points to prevent future raccoon visits.