topic Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid in Community Chat

I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 04:22:44 GMT

I was trying to feed kitties and then 3 nights ago a raccoon came and ate the food. The next night he came back with 3 buddies and destroyed my porch with broken dishes, flowers and flower pots. It was a disaster. This morning they were in my front yard at 7am.

Tonight 6 of them came back and are swarming all over the porch and there is nothing out there. I have made noise and they are trying to get in my house. Throwing themselves at the door, putting their fingers under it and looking through the windows. They are under my truck too. I called 911 because I am petrified and they couldn't help. I thought I heard a shingle coming off the house. I don't have any weapons.

I don't know what to do and my dog doesn't understand why she can't go outside and she needs to go. There is no way I am opening any door, there are too many of them.

Any ideas other than calling animal control in the morning? I tried to call some wildlife companies but they don't answer.

I quite feeding the cats days ago so there is no food out there. More and more are coming every night. It's been an hour and they are still out there.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

Snowpuppy — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 04:34:51 GMT

Have you washed/hosed off your porch area where the food was?

Another treatment is ammonia. They hate it. Wash the area with some diluted ammonia and water.

If the food fell below the porch or deck boards, they still smell it. Same with trash, etc. Make it as absolutely clean as possible.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 04:41:10 GMT

On 7/24/2014 Snowpuppy said:
Have you washed/hosed off your porch area where the food was?

Another treatment is ammonia. They hate it. Wash the area with some diluted ammonia and water.

If the food fell below the porch or deck boards, they still smell it. Same with trash, etc. Make it as absolutely clean as possible.

Yes, swept and hosed off the porch and threw everything away two days ago. Someone mentioned ammonia but I have never bought any, darn it. They are still out there...More come every night.

I'm even afraid to go out in the day since they are still here in the morning. This is the weirdest thing ever. They are hiding under my truck, I hope they don't mess with it, there's no food in the garage, truck or outside. My dog doesn't understand why she can't go outside. They are bigger than she is.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 04:56:51 GMT

Call Animal Control and let us know what they say .......

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 05:15:38 GMT

On 7/24/2014 Tinkrbl44 said:
Call Animal Control and let us know what they say .......

I will in the morning (hopefully they don't break in before then) that's how scared I am. They will probably just pick up dead ones and I will have to pay a wildlife co to come trap them. I don't understand why they keep coming back and bringing more bandits.

Is there anything else that might have ammonia in it? I am trying not to move too much because Teddy wants to go out. I feel like I am in a movie where they are waiting for me around the corner. First time I ever had raccoons. I live in a big residential area. A lot of new neighbors who I don't know so I don't have anyone to call to bring me some ammonia.

I just remembered windex but I don't want to open the door.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

beauty junkie — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 05:45:52 GMT

We had that same issue here in Fl. We had to stop leaving food and water out for out 2 ferals and now we sit with then while they say then bring the food back in. We had racoond and possums and a big mess. once the food was no longer out they stopped coming by. We had to bungie our garbage pails,we had many of them. I wish you luck. we called animal control and were told we would have to pay to have them trapped..Since we no longer leave out food they went away. Our ferals have learned to trust us as its been 5 years of feeding them so they eat while we sit with them.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 05:59:38 GMT

On 7/24/2014 beauty junkie said:
We had that same issue here in Fl. We had to stop leaving food and water out for out 2 ferals and now we sit with then while they say then bring the food back in. We had racoond and possums and a big mess. once the food was no longer out they stopped coming by. We had to bungie our garbage pails,we had many of them. I wish you luck. we called animal control and were told we would have to pay to have them trapped..Since we no longer leave out food they went away. Our ferals have learned to trust us as its been 5 years of feeding them so they eat while we sit with them.

That's what I wanted and for 4 days I had kitties galore come but never at the same time. I was hoping to get to that point like I did with Indy. He would let me know he was there. I had so many mama's and babies coming and then one raccoon started showing up earlier and earlier and ate all the food. Then 4 came and now 6 tonight. It's been 3 nights and there was not that much food out there to begin with. It makes me sick I can't feed the cats anymore. Do you know what they charged to trap the raccoons?

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

beauty junkie — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 06:11:00 GMT

No sorry my husband didn't ask but call and see what they say. Its awful cause they make a big mess and we had some really big ones who hurt our male feral. I am so glad we haven't seen them anymore.The raccoons here had gotten so brazen they would come to our door an look in and in the daytime too.It was getting to the point my hubby was going to get a BB gun but luckily when we stopped with the food they gave up.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:38:02 GMT

I called animal control and they won't do anything. I have tried to find a pest control company but so far nothing.

I can't believe they made another mess last night and knocked over all my pots again and my glass table. There's dirt everywhere. Kitty let me know they were still out there this morning after daylight. A neighbor told me he found a possum that had crawled through the dryer vent and went into his basement. Luckily I don't have a basement but I worry about the attic.

I hope I can find someone to help me this is ridiculous to be homebound and scared in your own home.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

rustysmom — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:16:58 GMT

I am so sorry you are going through this. I live in a mobile home park but it is in a very rural area with fields around it so there is a lot of wildlife around. I was putting dry food out for Ms. Kitty but when the skunks started coming I stopped leaving it out. Plus we got letters in our mailboxes stating that those caught feeding the strays would be fined 25.00 per incident. I don't want to get caught but if I do, I do. My heart will not allow me to not feed her. I have been feeding her for almost a year now. I only feed her when I can sit out on the porch with her. She comes up and loves all over me and lets me pet her and I feed her on the steps. Have not seen any skunks since I quit leaving food out. Raccoons should not be out during the day. Don't mean to scare you further but I have always heard that they only come out in the day (they are nocturnal) if they are sick. Don't know if that is true or not. I wish I could give you some advice about the kitties, it would break my heart if I could not feed Miss Kitty and there is also a black one now that comes around, not every day but quite a bit, that I also feed. When we get home from work about 5:30 in the evening, they are usually sitting on the steps waiting for dinner. Maybe once they realize there will be not food, they will leave just as the skunks have at my house.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:51:09 GMT

On 7/25/2014 Rustys mom said:
I am so sorry you are going through this. I live in a mobile home park but it is in a very rural area with fields around it so there is a lot of wildlife around. I was putting dry food out for Ms. Kitty but when the skunks started coming I stopped leaving it out. Plus we got letters in our mailboxes stating that those caught feeding the strays would be fined 25.00 per incident. I don't want to get caught but if I do, I do. My heart will not allow me to not feed her. I have been feeding her for almost a year now. I only feed her when I can sit out on the porch with her. She comes up and loves all over me and lets me pet her and I feed her on the steps. Have not seen any skunks since I quit leaving food out. Raccoons should not be out during the day. Don't mean to scare you further but I have always heard that they only come out in the day (they are nocturnal) if they are sick. Don't know if that is true or not. I wish I could give you some advice about the kitties, it would break my heart if I could not feed Miss Kitty and there is also a black one now that comes around, not every day but quite a bit, that I also feed. When we get home from work about 5:30 in the evening, they are usually sitting on the steps waiting for dinner. Maybe once they realize there will be not food, they will leave just as the skunks have at my house.

It's very upsetting. I talked to two companies this morning and they don't charge for an inspection but they do to trap and fix any holes.

I keep thinking they will stop coming since I don't have any food out there but last night was bad. I have someone that will bring me some ammonia tonight after work and see if that helps.

I was getting to the point where I had two kitties that came pretty early but they don't talk like my kitty did and then the raccoons started coming earlier and earlier. If they all come back tonight I will lose it. My poor dog held it all night because she will not go inside and I am not opening the door late. If the ammonia doesn't work I guess I will have to hire someone. I just watched a 20 minute video on a raccoon trapped in a garage where they shut the power off so he couldn't get out. It took this raccoon 20 minutes to lift up the door and get out. Then he came back to eat the food in the cage they had out there and he didn't set the cage off but got the food. Yikes.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

RedTop — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:01:55 GMT

The raccoons will continue to come as long as there is any hope of finding food, and they will continue to bring more of their clan with them. They continue to smell food on the porch and around your vehicle, which is why they keep coming back. It is wise to be afraid of raccoons, because they are not cute and cuddly creatures, especially when they are hungry---they can be extremely vicious animals. The raccoons will kill the cats to get to the cat food, so they will take over one way or the other. Please do not raise any house windows or glass on screen doors, as raccoons will slice through the screens and be inside your house in no time. If you do not have a gun or the ability to kill these animals, you absolutely must find someone to get rid of them for you---even popping them with a pellet gun is enough to scare them away for good. Not all pest control companies are able to deal with wildlife. I suggest calling your local Department of Natural Resources and trying to get state assistance in getting rid of the raccoons.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:15:32 GMT

I don't it's not legal to shoot them but I didn't know If I could use a pellet gun? I hate the fact that I can't open my windows right now, they are always staring in through the window and hissing and growling. I wish I knew if my dog would be safe, she is old and deaf now.

I had a call from a guy this morning but he doesn't have a license in KS and he said ammonia didn't work. He said once they find food they keep coming back for about 2 weeks. I don't think my nerves could take two more weeks. I keep thinking they can smell the dog and cat food inside my house and want in.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

ive been framed — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:31:17 GMT

Can you try and leave bright lights on outside and close to the house, and set a radio out with music or talk station as loud as you can without disturbing your neighbors?

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

depglass — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:46:40 GMT

I hate to say this but perhaps you should stop feeding ferals. Even if you get rid of this bunch of raccoons, more will invade in the future. I have a friend who gets them on her deck by just cooking a steak inside the house. DH wants to put bird and hummingbird feeders out on the trees. I said absolutely not because of the animal issue, including bears.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:57:34 GMT

On 7/25/2014 depglass said:
I hate to say this but perhaps you should stop feeding ferals. Even if you get rid of this bunch of raccoons, more will invade in the future. I have a friend who gets them on her deck by just cooking a steak inside the house. DH wants to put bird and hummingbird feeders out on the trees. I said absolutely not because of the animal issue, including bears.

Believe me I did stop feeding them three days ago. I also keep all the lights on outside but they don't care. Noise does not bother them at all. I closed all my windows and storms today just in case. I didn't have one raccoon when I caught Indy but now. I don't use bird food or anything.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

RedTop — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:57:41 GMT

What I like about using a pellet gun is the ability to control the force of the pellet, and being able to deliver a quick sting for scare purposes, to something a bit more firm and meaningful, to even killing the animal. There is a difference between killing animals out of season as in hunting, and killing nuisance animals that are trying to invade your home. That is why you need to call the DNR, and get a Game Warden to come to your home. My family has had problems with nuisance deer in the past, and with assistance from a local Game Warden, we were able to kill the deer.

Your dog is not safe around these raccoons; being old and deaf, she would be a target for their attack, and likely unable to fight off that many adult raccoons. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, so they do their prowling and foraging at night. It is not unusual for them to be on the move in the daytime, but they are not usually so bold as to be out in open areas around people. A really sick raccoon usually exhibits odd and very strange behavior, such as running and stumbling, staggering, or charging into a parked vehicle, along with the fact they are drooling excessively, foaming at the mouth, and look sickly, such as being thin, or changes to their fur. I sincerely hope you are able to find a way to get rid of the raccoons, and understand that based on where you live, you likely have challenges that prevent you from taking matters into your own hands.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

luvmyteddy4 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:10:13 GMT

On 7/25/2014 RedTop said:
What I like about using a pellet gun is the ability to control the force of the pellet, and being able to deliver a quick sting for scare purposes, to something a bit more firm and meaningful, to even killing the animal. There is a difference between killing animals out of season as in hunting, and killing nuisance animals that are trying to invade your home. That is why you need to call the DNR, and get a Game Warden to come to your home. My family has had problems with nuisance deer in the past, and with assistance from a local Game Warden, we were able to kill the deer.

Your dog is not safe around these raccoons; being old and deaf, she would be a target for their attack, and likely unable to fight off that many adult raccoons. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, so they do their prowling and foraging at night. It is not unusual for them to be on the move in the daytime, but they are not usually so bold as to be out in open areas around people. A really sick raccoon usually exhibits odd and very strange behavior, such as running and stumbling, staggering, or charging into a parked vehicle, along with the fact they are drooling excessively, foaming at the mouth, and look sickly, such as being thin, or changes to their fur. I sincerely hope you are able to find a way to get rid of the raccoons, and understand that based on where you live, you likely have challenges that prevent you from taking matters into your own hands.

What's the DNR? Where can I buy a pellet gun? I don't want to open my door because they swarm the door and put their fingers on the bottom to pull it. What do I do with Teddy? It's going to get darker and darker before long and there is no way she will go in the house. At this point I wouldn't care but she held it for 14 hours last night.

If there are more than 6 tonight I will go crazy. After watching them open a garage door on the video I hate to pull the trash container in the garage but all it has in it is broken glass and dirt, plus the mess I have to clean up today. There is no food left.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

RedTop — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:42:47 GMT

You can buy a pellet gun and pellets @ WalMart in the hunting section; no license needed. I buy the premium grade .177 caliber pointed pellets, because they can be used to sting like crazy, or kill, depending on what animal I'm shooting at that time.

The DNR, or Department of Natural Resources is the state office that your local Game Warden works through. The number is usually listed in the government pages of your phone book. In my West Virginia phone book, the Wildlife Resources offices are listed by district. If I had a problem, I would call the district office serving my county, and the complaint would be forwarded to a Game Warden in my county for investigation. In West Virginia, all counties have Game Wardens who enforce state regulations for hunting, fishing, wildlife management, etc. The problem you are having with nuisance raccoons falls into the duties of a Game Warden.

I would be sure to take the dog outside often throughout the daylight hours, once again right before dusk, then limit her water intake until morning, or perhaps work with her "to go" in the garage until the raccoons are gone. My husband installed and set our garage doors to be opened only with the remote, or by the control panel inside the garage. As long as the power is on, you absolutely cannot open our garage door manually from the inside, or the outside. If the power goes off, we have to flip the control latch near the electric opener, in order to manually open the door. I seriously doubt a raccoon would be able to lift my solid vinyl insulated doors to get in or out of my garage, period, even if they were set for manual open.

Hungry raccoons who have had their food source disturbed, are not discouraged by bright lights, the smell of ammonia, mothballs, a radio, etc. Their goal is to get to the food, and they don't care what, or who, they tear up to get to it. Raccoons are aggressive enought to stand up on their hind legs to challenge people or other animals, they will lunge at people or other animals in their quest for food, and the hissing, scratching, and biting is an absolute given. You don't mess with a raccoon, and you don't tolerate them hanging around your home. Raccoons make the rounds to all of their food spots about the same time every night; when a food source dries up, they will eventually stop going there, but for now they continue to smell food at luvmyteddy's house---both inside the house, and around her vehicle. In my opinion, the raccoons need to be dealt with now, instead of waiting for them to make the decision to move on. I have never tolerated nuisance wildlife around my home, and there's no question what I would've done by now. However, luvmyteddy's situation is different from mine, and she must find the alternative that will work for her in getting rid of these wild, hungry raccoons. Trust me, the raccoons are not afraid of her, nor her dog, and they will not run from her because they know there is food inside that house.

Here in southern WV we have several local Coon Hunters, who would be glad to take their dogs on a coon hunt, and take care of those nuisance raccoons. Within the last year, we found 2 coon dogs milling around our dogs, who apparently got lost from the pack during a hunt. We tie them up to the light pole in our front yard, give them food and water and a rug to lay on, and then wait for their owner to drive by and see them. We've had one particular dog show up twice.

Re: I Am Being Invaded by Raccoons and Very Afraid

kcladyz — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 18:38:19 GMT

I would think once they realize there is no food they will stop coming but if it persists call animal control. they would probably be more scared of you then you are of them, also do not leave trash out for a while