2005 Year in Review

Raccoons Causing Increased Problems This Year

Source: Robert W. Frazee, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management, rfrazee@uiuc.edu

If while driving down the highway this summer, you think you are seeing increased amounts of "raccoon roadkill", you are probably not just imagining it, reports Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator. This summer, raccoons are appearing in greater numbers in backyards, on highways, and in other areas where humans live, because they are experiencing greater difficulty getting their normal supply of food and water. Raccoons can cause considerable damage to garden and truck crops, destroy bird nests, cause damage around houses and outbuildings, and tear up grass in lawns looking for grubs and earthworms. Raccoons are seldom seen during the day because of their nocturnal habits.

Last spring's late freeze occurred while many trees and shrubs, growing in the wild, were blooming. This resulted in very poor production of berries from many mulberry, wild cherry and other trees, as well as wild raspberries, which serve as an important food source for raccoons. The drought, which has occurred throughout Illinois the past two months, has also resulted in less available natural watering sources such as creeks and springs. Consequently, Frazee reports that many raccoons are venturing into neighborhoods and backyards, looking for food and water that they may find left in open garbage containers, in bird seed feeders, in lawns and gardens, and in pet bowls left outside.

What can a homeowner do if he is experiencing damage from raccoons? According to Frazee, raccoons are protected furbearers in Illinois, although there is an established season for hunting and trapping. Many homeowners may wish to check the yellow pages of their telephone book, and look for "Animal Removal Service" or "Wildlife Removal" to obtain the services of a nuisance wildlife control professional.

For those individuals wishing to attempt to control the raccoons on their own, Frazee emphasizes that the first step is to contact the nearest District Wildlife Biologist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (look in telephone book under State of Illinois) and obtain a Nuisance Permit, which is required by State Law. Lethal control of raccoons is usually recommended. Shooting of raccoons is effective; although in most towns and cities shooting is prohibited. Raccoons are also relatively easy to catch in traps, but it takes a sturdy trap to hold one.

According to Frazee, exclusion is usually the best method of coping with raccoon damage. Damage to vegetable garden and sweet corn patches can often be stopped by use of a "hot wire" from a livestock electric fence charger hooked to an electric fence. Storing garbage in metal or tough plastic containers with tight fitting lids will discourage raccoons from raiding garbage cans. Excluding the raccoons by covering doors and windows on buildings with mesh-wire fencing is also effective.

Although several techniques have been used to frighten away raccoons, particularly in sweet corn patches, none has been proven to be effective over a long period of time. These techniques have included the use of radios, dogs, scarecrows, plastic or cloth streamers, aluminum pie pans, lights, and plastic windmills. Raccoon problems will quickly diminish for most homeowners once field corn in our area reaches the "milk" stage as it will provide an excellent food source. However, in Frazee's opinion, the best long-term control of raccoons is usually achieved by hunting and trapping for them during the legal seasons.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
July 19, 2005