Rats are those upsetting animals that can interrupt in your home without being invited and transform everything into garbage. If you do spot any rats or mice in your home please call a professional for assistance and have the rats removed from your home. For survival, rats require shelter, water, and enough nourishment. Also, if your home gives these three things, it would be an extreme undertaking to get rid of these rodents. The most ordinarily discovered types of rats are Norway rats and Roof rats, which get effectively pulled in to junk, pet food, compost canisters, food droppings or leafy foods. What’s more, they convey illness, and this could be truly unsafe. In spite of the fact that you keep your abode clean, these fuzzy intruders discover their approach to enter. They focus on some of their most loved spots like attics, sacks, pipelines, kitchen cupboard, bushes, and barn.
There are animals that hibernate and go on to sleep that lasts nearly the whole of winter. In this hibernation period, their body temperature drops and their breathing slows down along with their heart rate.
The animals that hibernate help conserve energy. The main reason behind the animals hibernating is the unavailability of food, and these animals hibernate until food becomes available again. The amount of time an animal hibernates depends on the specific animal, climate, and many other factors.
HOW DO RACCOON’S ADAPT DURING WINTER?
Raccoons don’t actually hibernate. They do hunker down, however, when it gets cold. But before the winter sets in, they eat as much as they can to accumulate fat and their coats get thicker to withstand the cold weather.
Raccoons can be especially pestiferous as they hunt for food. They tend to turn over garbage cans and dig up lawns looking for grubs. This can be a good time to track down raccoons in your yard, before they settle into their dens and before young are born.
WHERE DO RACCOONS HIBERNATE DURING WINTER?
In the extent to the seriousness of the winter raccoons in colder atmospheres develop thicker layers. The mix of physical adjustments and behavioral changes help raccoons flourish. Raccoons fill out for the winter on oak seeds throughout the fall. Raccoons lose around 50% of their weight before the end of hibernation. Raccoons have clumps of peculiar trees where they like to rest and they go to an alternate one consistently. Once in awhile, they take advantage of the ground tunnels of different creatures to rest in winter. They don’t generally rest alone, however, have others with them.
RACCOON’S SLEEPING HABITS
Raccoons’ sleeping habits are paradoxical to that of humans’. Raccoons are nocturnal and are active at night when we are sleeping tight. So our chances of tracking their movements are not that great. But if there is a forest or a bush near your house, that is most likely where raccoons go before sunrise to find a suitable place to sleep.
To capture the exact location where a raccoon sleeps is not an easy task. When it comes to making a den, raccoons are a real slouch. These brutes are not in the habit of building their own dens. They find it more conducive to use dens made by other animals or any kind of hole or shelter they may find in nature. They are quite opportunistic and can quickly adapt to any environment.
Raccoons may be found snoozing in arched trees, caves, cloven rock, burrows of other animals, abandoned nests, piles of wood, shaft underneath houses or decks, shed, relinquished cars, abandoned buildings and so on. When the weather is milder they may sleep in large forks in trees or even on the ground. And it’s not unconventional for a raccoon to switch their dwelling almost every night.
Behavioral Adaptations
During the winter when food is sparse, the raccoon does not hibernate but slumber for extended periods when the weather is unfavorable. The animals live on fat reserves and lose up to half their body weight during this period. Raccoons are adaptable when it comes to finding a home and will live anywhere such as tree stump hollows, caves, woodchuck burrows, deserted buildings or attics of deserted buildings.
Dietary Adaptations
The key reason for the animal’s success in burgeoning is the flexibility of their diet. Using their dexterous paws, the raccoon is an adroit fisherman, snatching small fish and crayfish from rivers and streams. It is an opportunistic eater and will eat whatever is bountiful in its spectrum. In some areas, fruit and plant material makes up the bulk of the animal’s diet. In others, small mammals, amphibians, and insects are more common food. In downtown areas, where wild food is less trivial, the animals turn to humans for food, often raiding trash cans. Size of the animal and its adroit fingers mean it can pull over the cans and even pull off the lids in search of food.
Predator Defense
Raccoons can hold against some meat eaters and are able enough to fight off animals almost twice their size with brutal grit. The main defense the animal has in avoiding most predators is its nocturnal lifestyle. The ability to climb quickly also helps to escape ground-dwelling carnivores. The animals do fall prey to a range of predators.
Increase In Activity
Mating season begins January through February for raccoons. Homeowners often complain that they hear animals fighting in their attic, and while that is a possibility, it is much more likely this pandemonium is caused by breeding raccoons. Kits usually take about 9 months to mature to adulthood, so come November or December, litters born early in the year are ready to venture out to look for den sites and start families of their own. This means that there is a rise in the number of adult raccoons seeking shelter just as the cold season begins. If you know there are raccoon in your attic please do not remove them yourself, there are strict laws by the city of Toronto against you removing baby raccoons from your home. If you do find raccoons during baby season call your local raccoon removal professionals for assistance and advice.
Raccoon Removal
If you notice any bizarre activity on your property, notably footprints in the snow on your roof, catastrophe to the exterior of your house, or thumping noises on the ceiling, there’s a possibility your attic has become home to raccoons. Between tearing holes in your roof, destroying insulation, urinating and defecating, and carrying any number of diseases, these animals are capable of causing a great deal of bereavement. While it’s understandable that raccoons are just trying to make it through until the spring, they pose a danger to your home. Your health and safety are far too prized to ignore. Contact a licensed raccoon removal company right away if you experience any of the above gauges.
Overall – Do Raccoons Hibernate?
So, when the question asked “Do raccoons hibernate?” the quick answer is No. However, their behavior is tremendously inveigled by outside temperatures so depending on where you live you may or may not spot them in the winters.
By now you’ve probably seen all the reports on the news about the impending West Nile Virus breakout coming to Ontario. It’s a serious issue and we believe the best way to combat it is through knowledge and awareness.
In case you’ve been out of the loop enjoying the summer here’s a report from CBC News that will get you up to speed:
What is the West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus is an infection of the brain, known as encephalitis which was first identified in Uganda in 1937. It’s common in Africa, West Asia and the Middle East. West Nile is commonly spread by mosquitoes. There is currently no evidence that states that West Nile can be spread from person to person.
What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus?
The problem with West Nile is that symptoms are usually mild and end up going untreated. Some symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Body aches
Skin rash
Swollen lymph nodes
Symptoms of severe cases include:
Stiff neck
Sleepinesss
Disorientation
Coma
Tremors
Convulsions
Paralysis
Severe cases only affect about 1% of sufferers.
How do people get West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and their bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on birds that are also infected. West Nile can also be spread by birds , which can amplify the spread of the disease when mosquitoes feed on the infected birds. Crows are most commonly infected, although more than 200 bird species have been confirmed carriers of the virus.
Mosquitoes spread the disease when they bite and suck blood from people and animals. The incubation period (the time from infection to development of symptoms is five to 15 days.
As mentioned above West Nile virus is not contagious between humans, one cannot get the virus from touching or kissing an infected person
What kinds if treatments are available for the West Nile Virus?
Diagnosis of West Nile virus is confirmed with a blood or cerebrospinal fluid test. There is not specific treatment available at the time. Most treatment is directed towrd relief efforts and complications of brain infections. Over the counter medication can be used in milder cases to help relieve pain such as Advil or Aspirin.
In more severe cases anti-inflammatory medications, intravenous fluids and intensive medical monitoring may be prescribed.
What can you do to prevent West Nile Virus in your community?
Here’s what we recommend to help prevent catching West Nile virus:
Try to stay indoors at dawn, dusk and the early evening, this is when mosquitoes usually come out to feed
Wear long sleeved shirts and pants to prevent getting bit
Apply insect replant to any exposed skin. An effective repelant contains 20%-30% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET concentrations higher than 30% may cause side effects especially with children and babies. Avoid applying repelant to very young children as they may get in their mouths and eyes.
Spray thin clothing with repellent containing perminthirin or DEET to prevent mosquitoes from biting through thin clothing.
Install or secure door and window screens, use air conditioning and remove any standing water.
If you find a dead bird make sure you have it removed as soon as possible to prevent mosquitoes from gathering around it and picking up the virus.
Here’s what you can do for your neighborhood
Remove any standing water from your block. This can be close to drains, bird baths and inside gutters.
Take note of the bird population in your area. If you see an increase, make sure to take extra personal precautions as they can easilr5y become new virus spreaders.
Birds are usually classified as pests when they make their nests people’s properties They tend to foul everything they land on with their droppings, which may lead to health hazards. Therefore, there is the need to remove them from our homes without causing harm to them.In Ontario most birds, including their nests and eggs are protected under law – The Migratory Bird Treaty. However there are three birds indigenous to North America that are considered nuisance pests and are not protected under law. They are the Sparrow, Starling and Pigeon. They are over populated in Toronto and the GTA, however they must be humanely removed.
Call today toll-free 1-800-981-0330 to schedule humane bird removal.
Have you ever woken up in the morning only to find your garbage can knocked over and its contents sprawled all over your yard? Having to clean the unnecessary mess can be irritating, especially if it has become a part of your morning routine. If this is the case, a raccoon is most likely to be the culprit behind the mess of the scene. If you see a raccoon do not go near it, instead you should call a professional and have the raccoon removed from the property. Raccoon can be dangerous and carries disease like rabies which can make you and your family extremely sick.
Raccoon Lifestyle
Raccoons primarily spend their time venturing outside in the dead of the night and by being nocturnal animals, foraging and feeding keeps them busy after dark. However, spotting a raccoon up and eating during the day is not uncommon. Raccoons will be drawn to almost anything they can get their paws on, ranging from homegrown crops to gardens and especially what our garbage cans hold. For this reason, they can be quite pesky.
Just like humans, raccoons are also omnivores. With 40 strong and incredibly sharp teeth, raccoons are able to chew through all sorts of plants and meats. In fact, these furry animals have four sharp-edged canines at the front of their mouths that puncture through their food, followed by premolars and molars that further line the rest of their mouths. This set of teeth serves to finely ground their meal until they are able to be swallowed.
Fun fact: Raccoons are notorious for their tendency to wash food at a nearby water source! (This however, does not prevent them from eating if water is not present.)
Raccoons in the wild can be spotted eating a diversified group of foods. By being able to skillfully use their paws, they can easily catch fish in nearby streams, collect nuts, steal eggs and even climb up to pick fresh fruit. In addition to fish, other animals that are prey to raccoons include rats, squirrels and insects. Slower organisms such as worms are an easy catch and a snack on-the-go. Plants that raccoons are likely to be caught eating include berries and corn.
To their misfortune, city-bound raccoons do not have the same luxury of plentiful food sources as raccoons in the wild. The foods that they would generally gravitate towards may be difficult to find in heavily populated areas like the city. With this being said, raccoons are forced to scavenge through our garbage bins and gardens, leaving a displeasing mess behind. By being opportunistic feeders, they will eat whatever they can, at any given point in time. Therefore, adapting to the city lifestyle has not been too tricky for these animals and more and more trash continues to be tipped over.
Raccoon Paws
Alongside humans and other dexterous animals, raccoons have extremely nimble and skillful fingers located on both of their front paws. With a total of four paws and a combination of proficient fingers and toes, raccoons are able to do a lot more than just hunt and dig for their food. Their larger back feet provide added power, stability and balance while running and climbing up fences along with other structures. But most importantly, the dexterity of raccoon fingers allows them to grasp onto things, untie knots and even open lids.
Being practical with their paws leaves raccoons with endless opportunities for food searching. In addition to freshly grown flowers, fruits and vegetables, possible leftovers from dinner and other forms of garbage have become viable meal options for these animals. In favour of the raccoon’s dexterous paws, opening trash bins and tearing through garbage bags has not been a problem whatsoever. For this reason, trash cans are often found on the ground with their contents torn to shreds while homeowners across North America are left dealing with the messes left behind.
If you are interested in learning a few tips and tricks on how to keep your property mess free and pesky raccoons away from your yard, continue reading!
Raccoons are not always held responsible for tearing through garbage bags and bins, seeing as there are other animals and factors that may have been involved instead. Determining the identity of your garbage bandit will help provide an insight on how to deal with the animal and situation at hand and there are a few raccoon features to watch out for if a pest is spotted in your yard.
Raccoon characteristics:
Black “mask” of fur surrounding their eyes with an outline of white fur
Large fluffy tail with five to ten rings
Walks on all fours and has a hunched back (hind legs are longer than front legs)
Grey-brown fur coat with white detailing
Average length of 25 to 38 inches
White whiskers
Keeping Your Trash Safe From Pests
Once a raccoon finds a tasty treat from within your trash can or trash bag, the chances of it returning the following night and more on are high. If a raccoon senses a steady source of food linked directly to your garbage, then be sure to expect its company again.
With keeping this in mind, there are a few tips and tricks you can try at home to prevent pesky raccoons from messing with your trash and to stop them from re-visiting your home.
The easiest tip to follow is to keep your garbage bags and bins in a place that is out of the raccoons’ reach. Storing them in a confined space similar to a garage, shed or garbage can enclosure will not only prevent animals from tearing through your trash but will also block out foul odours and keep your yard looking tidy. Garbage can enclosures can even be an added accessory to your yard!
Purchasing a garbage can strap or a lock will also do the trick! Raccoons are handy and smart, but not as handy and smart as they think they are. Using a lock or a tight fitting garbage can strap will leave raccoons and other intruders frustrated and will soon enough have them venturing away from the premises.
Using the element of sound is another simple pointer to take note of! Those who have reportedly left a radio on throughout the night by their trash, have claimed that it startles raccoons away. Having constant songs and voices radiate from the garbage area may be pleasing to our ears, but not to a raccoon’s.
If a stubborn raccoon remains persistent and continues to invade your yard, investing in a security system of lights and sensors is another option to consider. Having a system of sensors that trigger your lights to turn on will surely startle any unwanted visitor. The benefits of installing a security system include identifying the presence of pesky animals and intruders, alongside providing you and your family with motion-detecting lights to guide you through the night.
Unfortunately, raccoon control is not always as simple as it sounds. If none of the suggestions listed above seem to be effective, then putting the situation into the hands of trained professionals will be in your best interest. At SOS Wildlife Control, proper animal control methods (such as our live-trapping method) will be implemented to ensure that your property will be free of unwanted visitors while keeping the animal safe and unharmed!
For future prevention our technicians can do a thorough inspection of possible entry points and weak spots in your home.. After finding some major entry points and others areas that have the potential to become entry points, we give you options that take these problems, your property and the safety of the animal into account. We then seal off these entry points with galvanized steel mesh to prevent any re-entry.
To avoid encountering these issues and more, call a professional wildlife control technician at SOS Wildlife Control. For residential, commercial and industrial solutions, SOS Wildlife Control Inc. can be there to help you with your wildlife removal problem.
Raccoons are omnivores. They are drawn to almost anything, ranging from homegrown crops to gardens, and especially what garbage cans hold. They also eat fish, nuts, eggs, fruits, worms, and more.
Do Raccoons Have Paws?
Raccoons have four paws and extremely nimble and skilful fingers on their front paws. Their hind feet are larger and provide them with balance and stability while running and climbing.
What are the Special Features of a Raccoon?
Raccoons can be identified by the black mask of fur surrounding their eyes outlined by white fur. They have a large, fluffy tail, white whiskers, and grow up to an average length of 25 to 38 inches.
How to Keep Your Trash Safe from Raccoons?
The easiest way to keep raccoons out of your trash cans is to keep them in a confined space. You could also keep a radio near the bin because the noise can deter racoons from reaching it.
If having a raccoon on your property or in your home wasn’t bad enough, raccoons leaving their feces around your property can lead to a potentially deadly disease called “raccoon roundworm”. If you live in an urban area or a place where you see raccoons fairly often we suggest you get a pest control technician and talk to your health care provider to see how they can help you in the event of a racoon roundworm infection.
Raccoon Roundworm
Also known as “Baylisascaris procyonis” , is the common large roundworm found in the small intestinal tract of raccoons. Raccoon roundworm becomes a producer of dangerous diseases when the raccoon feces is exposed to air and a warm warmer temperature, making the roundworm eggs infected.
The egg ridden, infected feces can be ingested by other wild animals or even your own cats and dogs, making them a source of infection. Fecal matter can also travel though air, making the disease airborne.
Raccoons tend to use establish latrines on rooftops, in attics and around chimneys to defecate in. This becomes dangerous when these places accumulate in roundworm eggs which become a long term source of infections for both wild animals and humans.
Once the eggs get into your system , they hatch and turn into larvae. The larvae then travel through the brain and spine through the cerebrospinal fluid found in the spine and brain.
Who is most at risk?
Wild animals are most at risk for picking up raccoon roundworm, as mentioned earlier they tend to ingest the infect feces unknowingly and become hosts of roundworm infections themselves.
Children who play in the dirt, or outside in general, and like to get their hands dirty and put things in their mouths are at high risk as they may not be able to see the difference between dirt and feces and fecal matter.
The developmentally disabled need special attentions as well as they tend to behave the same as young children.
What are the symptoms of raccoon roundworm?
Racoon roundworm (Baylisascaris infection) symptoms can vary. It depends on how many eggs are ingested and where in the body the larvae travel to.
Eggs hatch into larvae once ingested and travel through the liver, brain and spinal cord.
A small amount of eggs being ingested may lead to no issues ,but a larger amount can lead too:
Nausea
Fatigue
Liver Enlargement
Lack of Coordination
Lack of attention
Loss of muscle control
Coma
Blindness
Some cases of infection have even led to death. Its easy to confuse these symptoms for something less serious so it’s especially important that children and the developmentally disabled are checked as soon as possible for potential roundworm infection.
Diseases that can develop from racoon roundworm
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is a swelling of the brain hat results from a viral infection. It usually starts abruptly and develops fast so it does require urgent care. It usually starts with a fever and headache and becomes as serious as seizures, confusion, drowsiness and loss of consciousness and even coma.
Feline panleukopenia
Feline panleukopenia is a disease that affects cats. Feline panleukopenia attacks growing cells like those in the bone marrow, intestines and any developing fetus. Its common in cats ages 3-5 and happens more often in warmer times of the year. Older cats are more immune than younger ones, so its important to be aware of symptoms of the younger ones. There is no cure for FP , only treatments to support the cats care.
Canine distemper
Canine distemper is a disease that impacts dogs and has no known cure yet. Its spread through the air and through direct contact with other infected animals. It attacks the tonsils and lymph nodes where it replicates itself for about one week. After that in attacks the urogenital , gastrointestinal and nervous system. Symptoms of canine distemper include high fever, reddened eyes and a watery discharge from the nose and eyes. Abnormal enlargements of the pads of the dogs feet is common with canine distemper as well.
Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex is a common virus is mostly seen as a cold sore or a fever blister. It can be nuisance. Some symptoms include blistering sores, pain during urination and itching. Some symptoms can be similar to a flu like fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, tiredness and lack of appetite. It’s usually spread through kissing, and sharing anything used around the mouth. There is no cure for the disease, but treatments are available to prevent further spread.
Parasitic disease
Also known as parasitosis, Parasitic disease affects any living organism. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, weight loss, increase appetite, bowel obstructions, diarrhea and vomiting which can lead to dehydration, sleeping problems, worms present in the vomit or stools, anomia, aching muscles or joints, general malaise, allergies, fatigue, nervousness. Parasitic disease is spread through feces or the inadequate disposal of feces. Parasitic disease is usually treated with antiparasitic drugs.
Raccoons can cause serious issues and even though some may appear cute and friendly and your kids want to keep a raccoon as a pet, its what they leave behind as they scavenge and squat that can cause major issues caused by raccoon roundworm . Click here for an in-depth article on raccoons on your property.
Don’t wait for the worst to happen, have your raccoon situation assessed!
After doing a situational analysis and discussing some of your concerns with the removal of the raccoons we begin our investigation on how the raccoon(s) have been entering your property. In many cases, their entry points will be either in the house, on the roof, underneath the house or under your deck/patio. We will also point out potential entry points that other raccoons may use in the future so we can address that immediately as well. We know that you would like to have the raccoon or raccoons nuisance removed as quickly as possible, but also in a way that is humane and ethical. We make sure that we discuss removal options with consideration to your preferences, your property and your time.
The usual process is called the “one-way door” method in which the raccoon’s entry/exit point is covered by the installation of a screen which allows the raccoon to leave the through the door but not re-enter. Eventually, for common reasons like gathering food from food sources outside of the property the raccoon will leave its dwelling as part of its regular routine. At that point the one way door is used and the raccoon is prevented from re-entering.
If the raccoon has babies, an alternative method is conducted for the safety of the animals. The one way method is not used as this would cause the babies to be separated from their mother leaving them abandoned. Instead the babies will be safely moved to an insulated box outside of their nesting area where they will remain until the mother comes and picks them up and relocates them to a new den.
While uncommon, if trapping is involved in the raccoon removal process, it is done so in a humane method where the raccoon is uninjured and are moved to a location at least 1 kilometer away, in accordance to Ontario law.
For future prevention our technicians can do a thorough inspection of possible entry points and weak spots in your home.. After finding some major entry points and others areas that have the potential to become entry points, we give you options that take these problems, your property and the safety of the animal into account. We then seal off these entry points with galvanized steel mesh to prevent any re-entry.
To avoid encountering these issues and more, call a professional wildlife control technician at SOS Wildlife Control. For residential, commercial and industrial solutions, SOS Wildlife Control Inc. can be there to help you with your wildlife removal problem.
Call 1-800-981-0330 today!
General FAQs
What Diseases Can Humans Get from Raccoons?
Baylisascaris procyonis, commonly known as raccoon roundworm, is a worm found in raccoons. It can infect people and other animals such as dogs. It can lead to a deadly disease.
Can Humans Get Raccoon Roundworm?
Raccoon roundworm can infect humans without symptoms, causing severe neurological problems. Although human infections are rare, individuals or children who are more likely to ingest mud or dirt have a higher risk of acquiring the disease.
Who is at Risk of Raccoon Roundworm?
Wild animals have the highest chances of picking up raccoon roundworm. Also, children, hunters, taxidermists, and wildlife rehabilitators may also be at risk if they handle raccoons or raccoon feces.
What are the Symptoms of Raccoon Roundworm?
The indications of raccoon roundworm include fatigue, nausea, lack of coordination, enlargement of the liver, lack of attention to surroundings and people, loss of muscle control, blindness, and coma. Some cases may also result in death.
