Raccoons — agitated in my backyard

[DonaLuisa]

I’ve tried to coexist with several raccoons for years. I’ve read the past forum postings about raccoons, and I’m curious if anyone has called a private exterminator or had success in getting raccoons to “move on.” In one of the posts someone recommended James Davis. Has anyone used his services and would they be willing to recommend him?

At times the racoons use one corner of my small backyard as a latrine. This weekend I dug up sod and added it to a pile in the fenced-in corner. Apparently I blocked or altered the passage the raccoons use. Highly agitated, they were squealing and jumping around all the trees and bushes in my backyard. They were riled up so that I was not comfortable taking out my garbage. They do not seem shy or concerned if we are in the yard when they pass through, and I’m am cautious about getting too close. We want our yard back!

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[hammerhead]

People or companies who “remove” have them killed and it is illegal to trap a racoon and move it somewhere else for some humans convenience. I have people ask me to borrow my traps just for that. So much for coexisting. Maybe you could reopen the pathway back up.

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[Cait]

I don’t think opening the path back up is what the OP was hoping for as a resolution as these raccoons seem to be very bold and could be violent. Raccoons can carry disease and can kill pets or injure small children. If there’s any way for them to move on without being killed, I think that’s what was being asked here.

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[MargL]

There’s a WSB/forum member, Jeff Savoie, who has replied in the past on the stories/posts about raccoons. It’s one of the issues like off-leash dogs that seems to come up regularly. :-)

He works for (runs?) a pest control business and seems pretty knowledgeable about this issue.

Here’s a link to one of his post with info about how to contact him, if he doesn’t seen this forum topic and reply himself… https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=12281#comment-591018

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[DonaLuisa]

Right, I cannot be sure that my sod pile from a yard project is was what had them so disturbed yesterday. I had piled it in the corner opposite from where they left their excrement during the winter months. Since then, we have adjusted the pile a bit with a pitchfork. So that now the gap in the corner where neighboring fences meet is more exposed. I’ve seen cats using a diagonal trail in my yard, maybe the raccoons use it too.

They were acting so weird that now I’m wondering if they have babies stashed somewhere out there.

To me, coexisting means that I should be able to step into my backyard without fear of encountering an agitated raccoon. If the raccoons wants to sleep in my trees at night, sure, but maybe we could get them to leave their possibly tainted droppings in a nearby vacant lot.

So that’s why I asked about the professionals — just what can they do — within legal bounds — to encourage the animals to leave their droppings elsewhere?

This site has been helpful in determing what is legal about trapping and removal. http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/raccoons.htm#trapping

…Hammerhead, what do you use your traps for?

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[hammerhead]

Raccoons will not harm children. I will not disagree with some diseases. Distemper: dogs can get that, if your dogs has not been vaccinated then there is a possibility. As for rabies we have not seen any reported cases since the 1920’s. You are more at risk of getting bit by a dog or attacked by a shark.

Jeez The babies are able t be on there own. The “dropping” are from an omnivore not bad for you or animals. They are NOT tainted. They are a wild animal just like the candian geese but hey we kill them because there are to many. (they are rounded up every year and gased).

I understand your problem. I have a group of raccoons and have no problems again I coexist. The guy mentioned above doesn’t agree with feeding or providing water that is his opinion I do both and have NO problems. I am just saying.

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[mrhineh]

We had a family make a nest in our back yard recently. We moved them on by connecting an old radio as close as we could and tuned in a talk radio station for a couple of days. Not very loud, but enough for them to hear the voices. Apparently, the humum interface is enough to encourage them to move on. It worked in about 72 hours. Get an outdoor rated extention cord and you’ll need to keep the radio dry unless you can find a water proof one. It was a very harmless way to eradicate them and not find dead babies afterwards.

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[mrhineh]

I’m not sure I am clear on your answer about “droppings” and if they are “tainted”. What does that mean?

From the Animal Control website: Note: Raccoon droppings may carry a parasite that can be fatal to humans. Do not handle or smell raccoon droppings and wash your hands if you touch any. (See “Public Health Concerns”.)

They have a nice, informative page on Raccoons:

http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/pdfs/LivingWithRaccoons.pdf

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[WSratsinacage]

from the pdf ..

DON’T FEED RACOONS! Feeding raccoons may create undesirable situations for you, your children, neighbors, pets,

and the raccoons themselves. Raccoons that are fed by people often lose their fear of humans and may become

aggressive when not fed as expected. Artificial feeding also tends to concentrate raccoons in a small area;

overcrowding can spread diseases and parasites. Finally, these hungry visitors might approach a neighbor who doesn’t share your appreciation of the animals. The neighbor might choose to remove these raccoons, or have

them removed.

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[DavidF]

Jeff Savoie can usually be reached at 206 914 9196. He has a great understanding of animals, and how to deal with them.

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[carrieann]

“Do not handle or smell raccoon droppings “

I’m just trying to figure out why one would ever *smell* the droppings. Is that like huffing paint or licking toads?

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[KBear]

Whenever I see raccoon droppings, I always think to myself, “I wonder what that feels and smells like?” I’m glad they’ve warned us not to handle or smell them!

more raccoons today:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2009252679_zhom23fixit.html

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[Cait]

Raccoon droppings are being harvested locally by Burt’s Bees for their spa face mask line. So I guess you never know…

…I kid incidentally.

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