Raccoon Alert!

A Falcon Heights resident shares what she found out about raccoons on her property. Please read this!

Dear Neighbor,

Much to my dismay, I recently learned that raccoons are using the recently re-shingled roof (2½ years old) of my house as a toileting area. Here's what led to the discovery. On August 1, I called the folks at American Animal Control (AAC) to get the squirrels out of my attic. I'd heard sounds from the top of the house during the night. The sounds are not unlike a person walking across the roof, except they are more of a shuffling, rolling sound rather than crisper, more distinct sounds. Among other sounds, I hear metal being scratched.

In addition to working with the folks at AAC to divert the raccoons, I called the trapper whose name was provided by City Hall. The trapper can't come out because he is recovering from surgery. I also talked to someone at the DNR who said the following are deterrents: ammonia, human hair, and moth balls. I hope these deterrents soon work at my house, which means the raccoons could move to yours.

It appears our collective best shot at getting the raccoons out of our neighborhood is to limit their desire for the neighborhood. To that end, please eliminate any food sources. Secure garbage in metal or plastic containers (might need to secure the lid), and don't leave dog or cat food out at night. Check around your property for anything that might be considered food to a raccoon. See the web sites listed below for additional information.

In my search for solutions, I've run across a few more tidbits of information that were news to me. You'll have to “check with your people” to decide what weight you want to give any item.

Both the trapper and the folks at AAC said that if the raccoons decide to get into my house, they will. I believe them.
The technician from AAC said that whoever removes excrement should wear rubber gloves and place the material into a heavy plastic bag. The bag should be closed in a secure manner, and the gloves thrown out. Raccoon excrement has been found to contain the eggs of roundworms, which apparently are difficult to “eradicate.” (See the CDC web site listed below.)
The CDC and DNR web sites listed below provide more information about raccoons, their habits, and roundworms. Apparently raccoons can carry other diseases, too, but I'm not sure that is common.
According to the CDC web site (below), serious infection with the intestinal roundworm found in raccoons is rarely diagnosed. According to first of the DNR web sites listed below, “the greatest potential for problems is for people who may come into close contact with areas contaminated with raccoon fecal material, particularly small children who may place dirty hands or objects in their mouths.”
Here are three of the many available sites:

If you have other questions about raccoons in our neighborhood, I suggest you contact City Hall (Heather Worthington at 651-792-7611). May the raccoons soon find a new home in a locale far from this area.

Regards,

A., Falcon Heights

Heres an additional tip!

Eliminate brush-and-branch piles in your yard. These provide attractive nesting areas to raccoons, rats, and other undesirable wildlife.

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