RACCOONS Identification and Description Exceedingly clever and intelligent animals, raccoons are known to be mischievous and will eat almost anything. Also frequently called a coon, raccoons are sturdy, solid mammals about 2 to 3 feet long, and they weigh anywhere from 10 to 30 pounds (though there have been reported cases of raccoons being up to 40 or 50 pounds). Distinctively marked with a prominent heavily furred, ringed tail and a dark mask over the eyes, raccoons are commonly salt-and-pepper gray, however there are some that are actually yellow. Excluding higher elevations in the mountains and some areas in the Southwest, raccoons are found all over the United States. They prefer to make their homes in hardwood forests, particularly those nearby bodies of water, but raccoons are highly adaptable and can also be found in human living areas such as farms, gardens, orchards, and suburban neighborhoods. They create homes in abandoned buildings, haystacks, hollow trees, barns and chimneys. Since they are primarily active at night, raccoons can be present in an area for quite some time before they are detected. Without proper understanding of their feeding tendencies and damage potential, raccoon control may be difficult. Damage Potential Raccoons become a nuisance and create destruction in several ways. While it's true it's possible that they will go undetected because of their nocturnal nature, raccoons are fairly easy to identify once tracks are observed. Raccoon damage can be extensive, and if it isn't dealt with, can be costly. As compared to the damage that they will do to a house or building, garden damage is relatively minor, although they have been known to look for grubs and worms by actually rolling up freshly laid sod. When they are searching for den sites for their babies, mother raccoons will often take off roof shingles and even air conditioning ducts to locate shelter in an attic or crawl space. They will look for shelter and refuge in buildings and homes especially in attics or chimneys and in areas where a garbage can be raided for food. In many urban and suburban communities, raccoons have adapted to make chimneys acceptable substitutes for conventional hollow trees. When the animals begin using specific areas in a building as a bathroom, ceilings below will sometimes hold a displeasing odor and become stained. Identified recently as a significant rabies host in wild life, reports of disease ridden animals have dramatically gone up in the last three decades. The majority of the upsurge in reports is related directly to an advancement in raccoon populations in eastern United States. Diet and Feeding Tendencies Because raccoons are omnivorous, they adapt to places where food access is available. When they begin coming into human territory, they gravitate toward places where there is pet food or garbage left outside. They've been known to eat poultry and other birds when that food is accessible, along with their eggs. In farming and gardening areas, raccoons consume produce such as vegetables, backyard nuts, corn, and watermelon. When raccoons become a control problem in your area, it's crucial that experts are located that are experienced and educated in safely removing them. See http://www.birdandanimalcontrol.com for help to find a company to handle your animal control problem and raccoon removal in a safe and efficient manner.