Need help re: raccoon in attic

[Lorien]

I have many raccoons that hang out on my property at night; since I live in a very urban environment where many of my neighbors have dogs, it's sort of a little safe haven for them. Now one has moved into the attic over a small addition. It wouldn't be such a problem if she wasn't tearing up the soffits and the walls up there, plus she has nested right on top if some electrical cords! I can't get into that part of the attic without cutting a larger hole into one of my walls. Today I went up into the main attic because I heard a loud racket. I peered into the addition attic with a flashlight, and there she was, trying to pull apart the dividing wall between her and the main attic (where all my stuff is). I yelled at her and she just walked over to me, sat there looking at me sheepishly (nearly nose to nose), then walked back to her nesting corner and curled up in a ball.

Now I'm wondering if there's any "pest control" companies out there with a heart; I want her safely trapped (havaheart sort of trapped) and removed, and the entry holes boarded up, but I don't want ANY harm to come to her in the process. She's obviously not aggressive or very afraid of humans. I haven't heard any babies up there, nor does she look pregnant, so that's not a problem. Any suggestions?

[smbolisnch]

1. You could always call around

to your local wildlife agency etc. and ask. Here is a link with some info you can dig around in. I ope you find a solution for the little guy! People keep them as pets you know ;)


http://www.wildlife-international.org/EN/public/emergency/faqs/faqframeset.cfm?dest=WS
By using some basic detective skills and a little patience, one can achieve a more lasting, and humane, solution to the problem. Most mammals are active during early morning and early evening hours. Depending on whether you are a "lark" or a "night-owl," take some time to find out where the animal is entering and exiting the building. Once it has left, investigate what materials and skills will be needed to repair the area and close off the entry. Then spend a day or so tracking the movements of the unwanted tenant and plan a time to make the repairs after it has left for the day or evening

[Lorien]

7. Thanks for the link!

:hi:

[SiouxJ]

2. I had the same situation once

well, my parents did. Mothballs will keep them out but I don't know if they'll leave once they are already there. If she's pregnant she probably won't go. Ours had babies so we had to call someone to come get them. It was a pest control company but they took them live and said they would set them free somewhere (who knows if they really did but I believed them). I suppose you can call Animal Control and ask them about it.

You really have to get them out of the attic though as there's the matter of urine too. It will make you house stink eventually.

Once you get her out, try the mothballs. It really did seem to work. Ours never came back.

[Lorien]

3. Hey, I have a big unused box of mothballs, too!

She'll leave tonight to look for food, so I think I'll go up there and toss the mothballs into the smaller attic (assuming I can fit my hand through the opening up there). Thanks so much Sioux!

:hi:

[SiouxJ]

4. Use a bunch!

The whole box. Later you can remove some if you want but I think if you really want to deter her, the whole box is needed.

Hope it works!

:hi:

[CrispyQ]

5. I read that rags soaked in ammonia will drive them away.

Or you could try to trap her yourself with a humane trap. Most rental places have them. I don't know what you would use for bait, tho or where you would release her.

I don't trust pest control companies, although I'm sure there are good ones out there. If you go that route, I'd definitely ask a local animal organization if they know about the company. A few years ago a local place set a bunch of humane traps at a business park & didn't go back to check the traps. Several animals died a horrible, cruel death. I could easily commit violence against people like this.

[Lorien]

6. I own a havaheart raccoon trap

I trapped several sick raccoons in it a few years ago. I took them to a rehab center, but none could be saved. They had been poisoned by someone in the neighborhood. :-(

I used a tin of cat food for bait. Worked like a charm; I'd catch a raccooon within ten minutes of setting out the trap! The thing is, I can't get the trap into the smaller attic, and the raccoon can't get into the larger attic to be caught in the trap. I also have about a dozen other raccoons on my property, and I don't want to catch a random raccoon. But I will try both the mothballs and the ammonia soaked rags as a backup. Thanks!

:hi:

[AlienGirl]

8. Put a radio up there, too

Put a radio up there tuned to a talk station. The raccoon will be so creeped-out by the human voices near her nest that she'll relocate! Then, once she's moved, seal up her access hole.

Tucker

[CrispyQ]

9. LOL! Put it on Rush's station & she'll be gone 5 minutes into the show!

I never thought of a radio. Good idea!

[SiouxJ]

10. Hey! This is supposed to be the Animal Rights Group!

forcing an animal to listen to Oxyrush is torture!