Raccoon Removal in Canton, GA

Raccoons in your Canton home

People who have had a raccoon in the attic describe the same thing: it sounds like a dog is up there. Raccoons are big and strong, and they don't need an existing hole. They pull open a soft corner of soffit, lift shingles at the roof edge, bend a vent, or climb down an old chimney with no cap. If there are babies, you may also hear a high chattering sound.

Canton gives raccoons plenty of reasons to stay. The Etowah River and its creeks supply water and food, restaurants and dumpsters along I-575 add more, and the town's sloped lots provide shelter. A tall deck on the downhill side of a house, or the space beside a walkout basement, makes a dry den. From there it is a short climb to the roof. Here is how a licensed Cherokee County pro handles it.

Why a raccoon can't be moved to the woods

In Georgia the raccoon is a rabies-vector species, along with the skunk, fox, bobcat and coyote. Georgia's statute on these animals, O.C.G.A. 27-2-10, means the raccoon pulled out of a Canton attic is removed, not carried up toward the foothills and turned loose. Relocation carries rabies and distemper into new territory, and a raccoon dropped somewhere unfamiliar rarely lasts. Staying inside that law is a large part of why the work belongs with a licensed operator.

Finding the babies before anything else

Raccoons in Georgia usually have their young from late winter into spring. A female in the attic in those months probably has a litter tucked into the insulation or a wall cavity. Pros often use cameras to find the kits. Usually the mother is removed first and the young are taken out by hand right after, unless the whole family can be removed together. If the mother is shut out and the babies are missed, they die inside the house.

Decks and walkout basements on sloped lots

Many Canton homes sit on hillsides. The downhill side often has a deck standing well off the ground or a walkout basement with a patio underneath. That sheltered, dry space is exactly what a raccoon looks for. If you see one going under the deck, or hear movement below the floor, it is worth calling then. A raccoon that is comfortable underneath will often move up into a wall or the attic, especially a female getting ready to have young.

The latrine they leave behind

Raccoons use the same spot as a toilet over and over, and in an attic that spot can soak the insulation and stain the ceiling below. Raccoon droppings can carry Baylisascaris roundworm, whose eggs stay infectious for a long time and are dangerous to people, especially children. So the droppings and the soiled material need to be removed carefully and the area disinfected. That cleanup is often a big part of a raccoon job.

Cutting off the food

Raccoons go where food is easy. Around Canton that means trash cans left open, pet food on the porch, bird feeders, and the leftovers around commercial areas near the interstate. Near the Etowah and its creeks they also have crayfish and frogs. Taking away the easy food at your house doesn't remove a raccoon that is already inside, but it makes your property less attractive to the next one.

What the pro does

The pro finds the entry, confirms whether there are young, and removes the raccoons, using trapping or a one-way door depending on the situation. Once the attic or crawlspace is empty, the opening is closed with heavy-gauge metal, because a raccoon will pull at a weak patch to get back in. Chimneys get a proper cap. Then the latrine and damaged insulation are cleaned out. Ask whether the repairs come with a warranty, and get it in writing.