Why should I hire a professional to set raccoon traps?

Trapping a raccoon may seem like an easy, effective and cost-saving way to remove it from your home's attic, under your deck or from your business. Although tempting, there are many reasons why you should not attempt this on your own. The best way to safely and humanely remove a raccoon is to hire a professional. Here are the reasons why:  

 

raccoons in tree freeimages

  1. You can get seriously injured. Have you ever seen an angry or defensive raccoon? They can be extremely vicious, causing a serious and likely risk of bites, scratches and other injuries. When you finally stop bleeding, you will have to get rabies shots, even if it's the smallest of scratches. Rabies is fatal for humans if not treated immediately. You can't until any symptoms appear to get treated, once the symptoms appear, it is too late and is fatal. Learn more about the risk of raccoon rabies in humans.

  2. Professionals know what kind of bait to use in a raccoon trap. Raccoons will eat almost anything, but they are clever and won't eat just anything when it's in a trap!

  3. You cannot place the trap in just any location. If you put a trap in the wrong location, you can spook the raccoon, making it even harder to trap. A licensed professional will know the best location for the trap, what kind of trap to use, and if the raccoon has become trap-shy, they can figure out why.

  4. There are strict laws against trapping and moving wild animals including raccoons in Toronto and across Ontario. A licensed professional knows the law and will adhere to it.

  5. You may want to trap the raccoon and drop it off at a nearby natural area. This is against the law. A licensed raccoon removal professional understands the legal requirements of where to relocate a trapped raccoon, as well as how to do so in a manner that is humane for the raccoon and will prevent it from coming back. You do NOT want to get caught moving a raccoon, especially in the current climate with the racoon rabies outbreak. In addition, when homeowners attempt to remove raccoons themselves, it often results in unnecessary stress, suffering and even death for the raccoon.

  6. Raccoon removal professionals take precautions to humanely treat a trapped raccoon during the trapping, relocation and removal stages.

  7. Trapping a raccoon on your own could inadvertently leave young behind to starve to death. Professionals know how to tell the sex of the animal, if it has recently had babies and if it is still feeding them. 

You may want to save some money by taking care of a problem raccoon on your own, but it is not worth it. Please do not put yourself and your family at risk and contact a licensed Raccoon Removal Professional to get the job done properly and permanently.

 

 trapped raccoon

At Hawkeye, our Wildlife Control Technicians will also:

  • Check traps regularly to ensure the health of trapped raccoons
  • Know how to reduce the likelihood of trapping pets or non-target animals, like your neighbours dog or cat!
  • Guarantee permanent and safe raccoon removal

 

 

Loading...

Request a call-back

 

In Ontario, Hawkeye offers Bird control, Animal control, Wildlife removal services and products in: