Raccoon Removal and Facts

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are a very common sight throughout all of California. These little "bandits" have been known to weigh in from 12 - 48 pounds and can be 24 - 32 inches long. They are well known to our San Francisco Bay Area with their black mask, salt and pepper fur and bushy ringed tail. Their hindprint can be 3¼ - 4¼ long and looks quite like a human footprint with long toes. The foreprint is shorter at about 3 inches long and just about as wide with 5 toes and claws. Raccoons can use these paws almost as well as a monkey and their fingers turn doorknobs and open garbage cans in California cities from San Rafael to Napa, from Vacaville to Danville.

BIOLOGY

Raccoons breed with their mates from the months of January through March of each year. Sometimes the male will remain with the female for a week or so before leaving to mate again with another female. Their young are born from April through May after a gestation period of about 63 days. Raccoons can have between 1 - 8 young in their litter. Raccoons can give birth earlier or later at times. The young are weaned in about 2 - 4 months and open their eyes in about three weeks. Often the raccoon young will disperse in autumn. Raccoons are omnivorous, often eating grapes in Napa Valley vineyards. They love nuts, berries, cherries and other fruits found in backyards throughout the counties of Marin, Napa, Solano and Contra Costa. Raccoons eat birds, mice, squirrels and other small animals. In our local streams raccoons are found eating crayfish and frogs. Raccoons do serious damage to lawns while searching for grubs. They tear large holes in the grass and "roll" back sod like carpet. Raccoons are active at night which is known as being nocturnal. Raccoons are also very territorial. Males can occupy 1 - 20 square miles and females from 1 - 6 square miles.

HABITAT

Raccoons in the wild have a wide range in wooded and wetland areas which one might think is the only areas raccoons might be found. This is far from the case. We receive calls each day from urban areas such as Vacaville, CA to country clubs located in Danville, CA and Alamo, CA where raccoons have become an issue in regards to safety and damage. Raccoons climb trees and tear into rooftops and areas where one part of a roof overlaps another. Once inside they have a comfy new home, yours. They rip off the foundation vent screens from below and enter the under floors. Once in these spaces they will use the insulation for bedding or crawl up pipes to live in the hollow area of your bathtub. They often choose your chimney to raise their young.

SAFETY ISSUES

Raccoons are a very dangerous animal, especially when cornered or protecting their young. They should never be approached! Our company has responded to countless calls where cats and dogs have been attacked by marauding raccoons. In the city of Dixon, CA there was four dog attacks in a three month period.

CALIFORNIA LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Raccoons are not threatened or endangered in California. They are listed as furbearers by the Department of Fish & Game. To trap wild animals it is always best to obey the law and hire a nuisance wildlife person licensed with the State of California. Any person licensed to do this work must also check their traps each day per Fish & Game regulations. We use only humane traps that turn into a cage once the animal is caught inside. We have received many awards for our humane rescues of wildlife.