Showing posts with label raccoons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label raccoons. Show all posts

What do Raccoons and clean cars have in common?

Friday, September 23, 2011

Photo courtesy PAWS
What do Raccoons and clean cars have in common?
The answer: both are in PAWS’ Raccoon Quiz.

But you have to hurry. Take the quiz now and get entered to win free Brown Bear Car Washes. Offer ends October 1.

Late summer is primetime for clashes between raccoons and people. PAWS’ Raccoon Quiz can help to solve any Raccoon conflicts.



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Concerned about raccoons? PAWS can help

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Photo courtesy PAWS
From the PAWS Wildlife staff

Take our Raccoon Quiz and learn how to keep your home, pets and family free from Raccoon conflicts.

Photo courtesy PAWS
Summertime brings longer, warmer days, luscious blooming gardens…and Raccoons! 

During the summer months our phone lines at PAWS Wildlife Center are ringing with questions and complaints about Raccoons. 

Whether you love their cute “bandit mask” or you hate that they may be knocking over your garbage cans or frightening your pets, it is possible for us to co-exist with them. 

The best way to deal with Raccoons is to learn more about them so that you may alleviate conflicts and prevent them from recurring.

Take our Raccoon Quiz, not only to learn when and how Raccoon behavior can impact you, but also to learn how to Raccoon-proof your home. 

Visit our Raccoon page and download a brochure, which includes a detailed chart on how to prevent conflicts with Raccoons throughout the year. 

You’ll also learn about the effects of feeding wildlife, why relocating wildlife is not ideal, and seven tips on choosing a humane wildlife control company.

PAWS Wildlife Center - 425-412-4040


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Shoreline Area Wildlife: Raccoons

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

PAWS will be providing a weekly post about wild animals commonly found in the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park area. Each post will give facts on the species’ natural behavior, as well as how to avoid and resolve common problems with the animals.

Raccoons are found in every neighborhood of Shoreline and all over heavily-wooded Lake Forest Park.

Photo by Sonya Reasor in her Shoreline back yard
 Natural behavior

Historically found in forests, wetlands and along river and stream corridors the highly adaptable Raccoon has learned to thrive in close proximity to humans. Now you can find commonly Raccoons in suburbs and even busy cities.

Though they are primarily nocturnal, Raccoons can be active during the day. They make dens in hollow trees, rock crevices, or burrows dug by other animals, and in storm sewers, crawl spaces, chimneys and attics.

Except during extreme weather or when a mother is denned with her young, Raccoons do not occupy a den for more than one or two days. Females who are disturbed will often move their young to new dens. Raccoons do not hibernate, but they do live off stored body fat when food is scarce during the winter.

Raccoons are omnivorous. They eat fruit, vegetables, nuts, insects, and small animals, including crayfish, crabs, frogs, and fish. They will also readily take advantage of improperly stored garbage and pet food.

Breeding season extends from late winter through early spring. Females generally giving birth between April and June to an average litter of three or four babies called kits. The kits remain in their birth den until they are about seven weeks old, at which point their mother moves them to a series of alternate dens. In some parts of the country, young Raccoons spend their first winter with their mothers. In Western Washington, many disperse from their mothers in the fall.

Solving and preventing conflicts

Once habituated to people, Raccoons can become bold and their presence, especially in large numbers, can pose problems for home and landowners. The most effective way to deal with Raccoons is to modify your property so that they will not be attracted to sources of food and shelter you have created.

Photo by Sonya Reasor in her Shoreline back yard
Never feed Raccoons-intentionally or unintentionally
  • Dispose of food scraps and trash in a metal can with a tight lid. Use a trash can with locking handle clasps, or secure it with a bungee cord or chain.
  • It is best not to feed cats and dogs outdoors. If you have no choice, pick up food and water bowls, as well as leftovers and spilled food as soon as your pets have finished eating. Do not leave bowls or food scraps outside at night.
  • Raccoons sometimes raid gardens for fruits and vegetables, particularly grapes and corn. By using bright lights, especially those activated by motion, or by creating noise disturbances when Raccoons are present, you may be able to deter them until crops are ready to harvest.

Keep them out of your house

Sometimes female Raccoons may use chimneys as dens to give birth and care for their young. Prevent this from happening by capping all chimney openings. If you suspect Raccoons are present, do not try to smoke them out.

Raccoons may also seek shelter under porches, in crawl spaces, or in attics where they can gain access through loose boards or large holes. If you think there are Raccoons living in these spaces, assume there are young in there from early spring through summer. Wait until the babies are old enough for their mother to move them before you take any steps to force them out.

Photo by Sonya Reasor in her Shoreline back yard
Once you are positive there are no young present, drive Raccoons away by putting up bright, flashing lights, turning on a radio set to a talk station, and hanging mesh bags filled with moth balls or soaked in ammonia. When you think the animals have left, tack a sheet of plastic over the entry and check later to see if animals have broken through it. Be sure to leave the light and radio on until there is no sign of activity, then seal the entry permanently.

Occasionally, Raccoons will venture into houses through pet doors when they smell food on the other side. Stay calm, close surrounding interior doors, leave the room and let the animal find his way out of the pet door or out of an open door or window. Lock pet doors at night or install a door that is electronically activated by a collar your pet wears. Never leave pet food near the opening.

If you or a neighbor have questions or a current problem with Raccoons, please call the staff at PAWS Wildlife Center at 425-412-4040.  PAWS not only helps resolve conflicts with wild animals, but also rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife found by the public.


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Concerned about Raccoons? PAWS can help

Monday, November 1, 2010


Photo courtesy PAWS
PAWS volunteers have been hanging door hangers on Shoreline doors to help educate the neighborhood about how to reduce conflicts with Raccoons. Look for the colorful hanger on your door, or follow this link for more info.

Test your knowledge of raccoons with the six-question quiz at this link

  • Learn about keeping your home, pets and family safe from Raccoon encounters.
  • Find out the best time to Raccoon-proof your home.
  • Find out how you score on knowledge of Raccoons.
Read the PAWS Blog.


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Late Summer Wildlife Tips from PAWS

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Shoreline Raccoon. Photo by Sonya Reasor.
Even though summer is winding down, wild animals are still active as they prepare for the long winter. This time of year, Raccoon populations are highest as young ones venture out with mom to forage for food. That means encounters may increase, particularly for your pets. What should you do?
  • Feed your pets inside. If that's not possible, then pick up leftover food and dishes when your pet is finished eating and drinking. Raccoons are attracted to pet food and even its remnants on the dishes.
  • Before you let pets outside at night, check your yard. Even if your pets don't mean any harm to Raccoons, they, especially the mom, will act defensively.
  • Do not let your cats roam freely around the neighborhood, especially at night.
  • Close and lock pet doors, as Raccoons may be curious enough to follow the smell of food inside.
Raccoon in bushes
While most wild babies have left the nest, many squirrels are now raising their second litter this year. That means some mother squirrels may have made dens in unlikely places like attics or crawlspaces. Squirrels and other animals will take advantage of warm, safe places to raise their young. If you discover a squirrel has a made a den in your house, read these tips on encouraging her to move on and to prevent her from moving in again.

To get answers to any of your wildlife questions, you can call PAWS Wildlife Center at 425-412-4040.

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