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Living With
Raccoons in Dupage County
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 Although raccoons prefer woodlands near water, cities and suburbs provide both adequate food and shelter. They are easily identified by their bandit’s mask and ringed tailed even if they are not frequently seen due to their nocturnal habits. By nature they are shy, but often become bolder when living in close proximity to humans. They are very dexterous and intelligent, which often leads to what people perceive as mischief. Raccoons are valuable scavengers and help maintain ecological balance. Here are some humane solutions to unwanted raccoon situations.
Preventing Problems With Raccoons
- Do not encourage raccoons by feeding them.
- Keep pet food and watering dishes inside, especially at night.
- Do not allow spillage to accumulate outside bird feeders.
- Keep grills and barbecues clean. Even the smallest food scraps may attract raccoons.
- Trim tree limbs that provide easy access to your roof.
- Repair broken, weak, or rotted areas on your roof, soffet and fascia.
- Install & maintain chimney caps before animals move into your chimney.
- Do not keep garbage cans outside if possible.
- Use welded wire to exclude animals from underneath decks. Use on the inside of attic vents to deny access to the attic if the vent cover is removed. Form hardware cloth around the outside dryer vent to prevent birds from nesting.
Raccoons Living in Your Yard
Raccoon dens are made above ground in tree cavities, chimneys, attics, garages, and underground in old woodchuck burrows, under decks, storm sewers or crawl spaces under buildings. Raccoons do not hibernate during the winter, although they will stay in their dens for prolonged periods of time especially in inclement weather. Raccoons use their dens for bearing young, winter sleep, and temporary shelter. Communal denning is common-up to 23 raccoons have been reported in a single den with usually only one adult male present. Most animals only use our homes temporarily during March through August to raise their young. If at all possible, consider “living with them” until the young leave the nest at 8 – 10 weeks of age.
Recommended Deterrent Techniques:
- Wrap a 4’-6’ wide piece of aluminum flashing around tree trunks so that the raccoons cannot get a foothold on the bark. Make sure the aluminum flashing is a minimum height of 4’ from the ground. This will deny raccoons access to the tree and your roof. This technique provides an immediate solution, however it is recommended to leave the flashing up for 5 to 7 days.
- Grease downspouts with a mixture of petroleum jelly and crushed red pepper. The raccoons will be unable to climb the downspout due to the slippery surface. This technique provides an immediate solution, however it is recommended to keep the downspouts greased for 5 to 7 days.
- Place lighting (such as bright flashlights, flood lamp, blinking strands of holiday lights, etc.) in their den. It is best to leave the lights on 24 hours a day. If this is not possible, the lights must be on during the day to disturb the animal’s sleep.
- Play a radio (portable alarm clock, noisy children’s toy, anything that plays music or makes noise repeatedly) either in or near their den. It is best to leave the radio on 24 hours a day. If this is not possible, the lights must be on during the day to disturb the animal’s sleep.
- Place rags soaked in ammonia in the den area for one week. Ammonia has an irritating smell. Over time the ammonia will dissipate and it is important to re-soak the rags on a daily basis. *VERY IMPORTANT* We do not recommend using ammonia soaked rags during baby season (March – August). It may injure infant wildlife, which are too young to escape.
- If a den site has been established in a chimney (usually on the smoke shelf in the fireplace flue) use the same techniques listed above. Lower a light down into the chimney, place a bowl of ammonia on the fireplace grate and place a radio inside the fireplace as well. Do not try to “smoke out” the animal. They can be overcome with smoke and then you will be faced with physically removing them yourself.
- Deterrent techniques should be used for at least 7 – 10 days and it is important to use all the techniques at the same time in order for the deterrents to be successful.
- To determine if the animal has left the den site, wad up newspaper and pack it into the den entrance. If the raccoon is still using the den, the newspaper will be pulled out. If after a few days the newspaper has not been disturbed, securely repair any access openings. Failure to do so may result in the raccoon or another animal moving in.
Raccoons Visiting Your Yard
Raiding your garbage cans:
- The simplest solution is to bring the cans inside where raccoons cannot reach them. If this is not possible, pour 1 cup of ammonia inside the garbage can or sprinkle black pepper on the top bag inside the garbage can. Another deterrent is to place rags soaked in ammonia over the top of the garbage can lid and secure with bungee cords. Use the techniques for a 5 to 7 day period or use when putting garbage out for your weekly pick up.
Grubs:
- Raccoons and skunks may tear up lawns in search of grubs. Cayenne pepper and rags soaked in ammonia can be placed in the area that is affected. Another option is to mix 8 oz. Dawn Dish Soap ®, a handful of chewing tobacco and water in a lawn sprayer and spray on the affected grass area. We can’t tell you with 100% certainty that these techniques work, but they are worth trying. Contact the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Illinois at (630) 653-4114 for additional advice.
Communal bathroom area:
- Clean up feces and place ammonia rags around the area. Do not handle feces with bare hands, use gloves or a shovel. Re-soak the rags in ammonia daily and continue to use for one week.
Gardens:
- Exclusion is always the best technique. Build a 4’ high chicken wire fence around the garden leaving the top 12” to 18” unattached to any support and bent outward. The raccoon’s weight will pull the fence downward, landing him right back where he started. Taste deterrents will work also, however they will need to be reapplied after a heavy dew or rain. Recommended taste deterrents are; mixing 2 tablespoons of hot sauce with 1 gallon of water, make a garlic puree and spray onto plants, sprinkle baby powder on the entire plant or check with your local nursery or home center for commercial products.
Public Health Concerns
- Raccoons may become aggressive if they feel threatened by humans or other animals such as cats and dogs. Never attempt direct contact with a wild animal.
- Canine distemper is a common disease amongst raccoons. Your pet’s vaccinations should always be current. They also may harbor transmittable parasites and will commonly carry roundworm. Although harmless to the raccoon, it is very dangerous and potentially fatal for other animals including humans. Transmission occurs through the nematode’s microscopic eggs found in the raccoon’s feces. Raccoons may be carriers of rabies, although there have been no rabid raccoons found in DuPage County in recent years.
What Not To Do
- Please remember that it is illegal to keep wild animals even for a very short time and that they have specialized nutritional, housing, and handling needs that you are unlikely to be able to provide. Inexperienced individuals who attempt to raise/treat them inevitably produce an unhealthy, tame animal that cannot survive in its natural habitat
- Trapping and removing raccoons is illegal without the proper permits and is not always the solution to the problem. Removing the animal creates an open space for another animal. Trapped adults may be leaving young behind to die of starvation in an inaccessible area. Focus on removing the attraction, not the animal.
- Never move young from the nest. Contact Willowbrook Wildlife Center for advice at (630) 942-6200.
- Do not use poisons. They are inhumane and may be illegal. They can result in secondary poisoning of raptors, wild scavengers and neighborhood pets.
When to Contact Willowbrook Wildlife Center
- If you come across a wild animal and are concerned, leave it alone. Call Willowbrook Wildlife Center at (630) 942-6200 for advice. Young wild animals are not like human babies. Their parents do not constantly watch them, and they spend large amounts of time alone or with brothers and sisters.
- Willowbrook is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- If you find an animal with visible wounds and it is after Willowbrook’s business hours, please follow the instructions below:
- Place the animal in a box or animal carrier using heavy gloves, a broom or shovel.
- Keep in a dark quiet space, away from people & pets.
- Place a heating pad on low underneath ½ of the box/carrier.
- Do not feed. Improper food or drink can harm them.
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