Raccoons

Raccoons are found throughout Pennsylvania and are one of the most common species causing nuisance wildlife problems. Raccoons are a medium sized mammal weighing from 10-30 pounds, most recognized by their black masked face and ringed tail. They are a nocturnal animal with an excellent sense of hearing, sight, and smell. They are adapt climbers often entering chimneys, attics, and soffits to nest and raise their young. Breeding takes place in January and February. Following a 2 month gestation period, 3-5 young are born in March and April.

Raccoons make a variety of sounds including barks, hisses, growls, and the unmistakable purring sounds of a young litter. Raccoons can be bold and take advantage of any opportunity in their search for food, often times raiding garbage cans, bird feeders, and pet food left outside. Once they have found a suitable place to live and a steady food source raccoons will not just go away, trapping and exclusion may be needed to solve the problem.

Health concerns:
Raccoons can be carriers of rabies. Any animal displaying abnormal behavior such as daytime activity, aggression, or seeming tame should be reported. Raccoons may also carry distemper which can be passed along to family pets. Another concern caused by raccoons is a disease called Baylisascaris (raccoon roundworm).