It’s the middle of the night. You suddenly hear a bang and some shuffling outside. You grab your flashlight and shuffle out the front door, and that’s when you see it: a two-foot-tall masked bandit standing on its hind legs, hands full of trash from the garbage you brought out last night. If it weren’t for the mess and how hard it is to make these critters leave you alone for good, you would almost think they were cute.

One of the most distinctive features of raccoons is their dexterous, hand-like front paws, which they put to good use in opening doors and food containers and tearing through whatever they need to get to their next meal. Their name is from the Powhatan word “aroughcun,” which translates to “animal that scratches with its hands.” These aptly named masters of stealth are famous for their scavenging ability. They mostly sleep during the day and spend their nights eating just about anything they can get their hands on.

They are brilliant and based on an experiment in the early 1900s; if you place a difficult puzzle in front of them, and there is food involved, they more than likely can figure it out given enough time. They are well-known for getting into places and things they’re not supposed to, and once they’ve learned a particular place is easy pickings, it’s practically impossible to get rid of them by yourself.

Raccoons typically wait until the sun goes down and remain active until about an hour after sunrise. In urban environments, they are experts at finding food, and homeowners have paid the price. While some may be tempted to feed the cuddly-looking critter, this is a terrible idea. Once a raccoon loses its fear of humans or becomes dependent on them for food, it becomes more difficult for them to live out in nature. Leaving pet food out also encourages them to remain in an area. Freshly laid sod has also been found rolled or torn up in their search for bugs and other little bits they can eat.

Raccoons come in various sizes, with body lengths between 16 and 28 inches, and typically weigh around 35 pounds. The largest raccoon on record was an incredible 55 inches, tipping the scales at 62.6 pounds. They are known carriers of diseases; commonly contracted conditions include leptospirosis, listeriosis, tularemia, and more. They can also transmit viruses like rabies, pseudorabies, canine distemper, and infectious hepatitis. Toxoplasmosis is also commonly found and can cause several conditions in humans if contact is made with infected feces.

It takes an experienced hand to handle creatures as wily as raccoons, especially when they’ve made themselves at home. Luckily for residents of the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and the surrounding areas, Patriot Wildlife is the answer for your wildlife removal needs. From stinky skunks to clever raccoons, we have experts on standby to provide solutions to your nuisance wildlife issues. Contact us today for a free estimate and to discuss what we can do for you.