Vancouver, with its abundant green spaces and urban environment, offers a home to a diverse array of wildlife. Among them, raccoons have established themselves as adaptable and resourceful creatures. While their presence near residential areas can sometimes pose challenges, it’s possible to peacefully coexist with these furry neighbours. Whether you own a home or rent a place in Vancouver, understanding raccoons, and implementing preventive measures will help protect your property from damage. In this blog post, we’ll explore what homeowners and renters should know about raccoons in Vancouver and how to foster a harmonious relationship with these fascinating creatures.
Table of Contents
1. Understanding Raccoon Behaviour
Raccoons are primarily nocturnal animals known for their intelligence and dexterity. They possess keen problem-solving skills, allowing them to explore various food sources. To avoid property damage, it’s important to understand their behaviour. Raccoons are attracted to easily accessible food, such as unsecured garbage cans, pet food left outside, or fallen fruit in your yard. By eliminating these temptations, you can reduce the likelihood of raccoons causing trouble on your property.
2. Securing Food Sources
One of the most effective ways to peacefully coexist with raccoons is to secure potential food sources. Ensure that your garbage cans have tight-fitting lids or store them in a secure location. Don’t leave pet food outdoors overnight and consider installing motion-activated sprinklers or lights to deter raccoons from your yard. By removing these food incentives, raccoons are more likely to move on to other areas.
3. Protecting Your Garden
If you have a garden, you know how much effort goes into nurturing your plants and flowers. Raccoons may see your garden as a buffet, but there are measures you can take to protect it. Use fencing or netting around vulnerable areas, like vegetable patches or fruit trees. Raccoons are excellent climbers, so ensure the fencing is tall and secure. You can also use deterrents like motion-activated lights, sound devices, or even natural repellents like cayenne pepper. (Although this often doesn’t work as well as we’d hope!)
4. Securing Entry Points
To prevent raccoons from entering your home or causing damage to your property, it’s important to secure potential entry points. Seal any openings in your attic, basement, or crawl spaces, and inspect your roof for loose or damaged shingles. Keep windows and doors closed, especially during nighttime hours when raccoons are most active. A well-maintained property with limited access points will make it less enticing for raccoons to seek shelter or establish dens.
5. Seek Professional Help
If you find yourself dealing with persistent raccoon issues or suspect a den on your property, it’s best to seek professional help. Contact Atlas Pest, we can assess the situation, provide guidance, and safely remove raccoons if necessary. It’s crucial to handle raccoon-related issues in a humane and responsible manner.
6. Community Efforts
Remember, your efforts to peacefully coexist with raccoons extend beyond your property. Encourage your neighbours to follow preventive measures as well. Engage in community discussions about raccoon-related challenges and explore local resources, such as wildlife organizations or municipal services, that provide guidance on managing raccoon populations.
Conclusion
Living alongside raccoons in Vancouver requires understanding, patience, and preventive measures. By comprehending raccoon behaviour, securing food sources, protecting your garden, and safeguarding entry points, you can peacefully coexist without sacrificing the integrity of your property. Remember, it’s essential to respect wildlife and promote responsible practices within your community.