THE RACCOON IN ILLINOIS

Male Raccoons can reach weights of 30 pounds or more, while females tend to be smaller at 10 to 17 pounds.

REPRODUCTION

The raccoon breeding season occurs between January and February, though it is not unusual to be a bit earlier or later. The Raccoon gestation period is approximately 60 days. Typically most raccoon litters are born in April thru May, however it is not unusual for early or late litters depending on when breeding took place. There is only one litter consisting of 1 to 6 kittens. The average is usually 3 to 4 raccoon young. Raccoon mothers will nurse their young for about 2 months. The young raccoons will then be taught by the mother how to hunt and forage. By the time fall arrives, the young raccoons will typically leave the mother and set off on their own. It is not unusual for young raccoons to spend the winter with the mother raccoon.

RACCOON DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS:

Raccoons will get on homes & buildings by climbing trees that are too close or overhanging the roof line. Raccoons are also capable of climbing gutter down spouts or climbing up masonry. It’s not unusual for raccoons to climb up corners of homes or buildings depending on the type of siding on the structure.Raccoons will enter the attic spaces by tearing or pulling soffit panels down, raccoons will tear open static roof vents or enter through a powered attic fan .They do this by crawling under the mushroom shaped cap and bending the blades of the fan, often times completely disabling it. Raccoons will also tear up shingles and make holes in the plywood decking of roofs which can lead to expensive water and roof damage. If there is a masonry fireplace, raccoons will crawl down the chimney to the smoke shelf and make it their home. Many young raccoons and mothers have been safely and efficiently removed by Nuisance Wildlife Control through chimneys and fireplaces.

RACCOON DAMAGE TO ATTICS:

An attic is like a big warm hollow tree to a raccoon and a favorite spot for a mother raccoon to raise her kittens. Raccoons are capable of extensive damage in the attic space. They will pull and tear at just about everything including wires, pvc piping and destroy insulation. Once inside an attic, raccoons both young and old will urinate and defecate. This not only poses a significant health risk to humans and pets, but also destroys insulation and drywall in ceilings and walls.

RACCOON DAMAGE TO LAWNS:

Typically in late summer and early fall, raccoons will pull sod back and dig for Japanese beetle grubs causing extensive damage to lawns.

DISEASES & PARASITES RELATED TO RACCOONS

Rabies, raccoon round worm, Histoplasmosis, Leptospirosis, Salmonella, Giardia lamblia, Trypanosomacruziand Rickettssiarickettsii, Fleas-Lice-Mites-Ticks (Lyme Disease).

INSURANCE COVERAGE OF RACCOON DAMAGE:

Homeowners Insurance will not cover damage from birds, rodents or vermin. Interestingly, this does not pertain to raccoon damage . We have never experienced an insurance carrier that did not cover damages directly related to raccoon attic damage (raccoon attic remediation) or raccoon damage to roofs etc. Nuisance Wildlife Controle provides a comprehensive suite of services to remedy all raccoon damage to homes and buildings.

RACCOON REMEDIATION SERVICES:

Nuisance wildlife Control provides comprehensive remediation services from Raccoon intrusions. Our service would include removal and replacement of insulation and drywall per local building code requirements, deoderizing and decontamination of affected areas, tree trimming & removal, and installation of wire mesh and vent covers.

RACCOON REMOVAL SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPALITIES

Nuisance Wildlife Control and Removal provides trapping, removal and remediation services in the following Illinois cities and villages: Addison, Aurora, Bartlett, Batavia, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Chicago, Clarendon Hills, Coal Ciy, Crest Hill, Elburn, Elgin, South Elgin, Darien, DeKalb, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elmhurst, Frankfort, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Homer Glen, Hinsdale, Itasca, Joliet, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lemont, Lisle, Lockport, Lombard, Minooka, Montgomery, Morris, Naperville, New Lenox, North Aurora, Oakbrook, Orland Park, Oswego, Palos Park, Palos Hills, Plainfield, Plano, Romeoville, Roselle, Sandwich, Schaumburg, Shorewood, St. Charles, Sugar Grove, Prestbury, Tinley Park, Villa Park, Warrenville, Wayne, West Chicago, Westmont, Wheaton, Willowbrook, Winfield, Wood Dale, Woodridge and Yorkville.