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Raccoon Removal in the Birmingham, Alabama Area

Young raccoon in a cage trap looking toward the camera at the animal removal technician who trapped and removed the raccoon from a house.

Raccoons are medium-sized, stocky animals that are easily recognized by their "masked" appearance. They're primarily nocturnal; in fact, if you see adult raccoons during the daytime, there's a chance that they're sick.

A lot of folks believe that raccoons are rodents, but they're not. They're actually more closely related to pandas than to rodents. They also score very highly on scales of animal intelligence, and are able to figure out things like how to open gate latches or how to open the lids of "animal-resistant" garbage cans.

They also have occasionally been observed making use of rudimentary tools, such as using a stick to open a latch.

Raccoons also have excellent dexterity in their front paws. Although not fully opposable, their thumbs are dexterous enough to allow them to manipulate prey and objects, as well as to get into places where they're not exactly welcomed with open arms.

They also have nerve endings in their hands that become more sensitive when they are wet, which is why raccoons "wash" their food before eating it. When their hands are wet, they can more easily detect whether the food is fresh and edible.

Raccoon Behavior

Three raccoons in a tree

In nature, raccoons often live aloft, in high branches or hollow trees.

Raccoons are incredibly resourceful animals who are able to learn and remember the solutions to problems, making them a real challenge to control.

In nature, they prefer living in hollow trees (usually in the upper part of the tree); but when hollow trees are hard to find, they'll often take up residence in caves, burrows abandoned by other animals, and of course, human-occupied buildings. When they decide to move into a human home, raccoons may choose to live in the attic, the chimney, the crawl space, the roof soffits, or pretty much anywhere where there is sufficient space and they don't think they'll be disturbed.

In terns of diet, the raccoon is one of the most omnivorous of all animals. There are few things that they won't eat. In nature, they prefer invertebrates such as insects and earthworms, small vertebrates such as frogs and fish, and plant foods such as fruits, nuts, and berries.

As their natural habitat continues to shrink, however, raccoons have easily adapted to living among humans and eating our leftovers, frequently raiding our garbage cans and dumpsters.

Raccoons and Health

When raccoons get into homes, they create a health hazard. Like most other wild animals, raccoon droppings can harbor an assortment of insect pests, along with disease-causing fungi. Their parasites (fleas, lice, ticks, and mites) are also capable of transmitting diseases.

Raccoons also have fairly high incidences of rabies and distemper, and should be avoided when encountered in the wild. You should especially avoid raccoons that seem sluggish, unsteady, or "friendly." Any of these symptoms might mean the animal is infected with rabies.

Wild raccoons may also attack humans if they're cornered or surprised. Although raccoons will run away from humans most of the time, if they are trapped, cornered, surprised, or defending their young, they may attack -- and they are strong enough and fast enough to put a serious hurting on a human.

Raccoon Removal and Control

Poorly-done DIY raccoon exclusion in Birmingham using window screen

This D-I-Y raccoon control job in Birmingham didn't work out too well...

Raccoon control consists of trapping the raccoons, and then raccoon-proofing the home so they can't get back in. In addition, it's helpful to practice good sanitation practices (especially choosing high-quality garbage cans with lockable lids) to make your home less attractive to them.

Because raccoons are highly intelligent, very strong, very dexterous, and very adaptable, raccoon-proofing a home can be a real challenge, even for skilled animal control operators. Raccoons can figure out how to get around any but the most well-done exclusion techniques. You really need to go over an entire house with a fine-toothed comb to keep raccoons out -- which is exactly what we do, of course.

The point is that raccoon control is not a do-it-yourself job. They are strong animals with the potential to hurt you, they have a high rate of infection with several serious diseases, and they are comfortable at heights that make most humans dizzy. So please, don't even think about trying DIY raccoon control. Seriously. Your chances of success are very low. Your chances of hurting yourself, however, are very high.

Call us instead. We've done thousands of raccoon removal and exclusion jobs, and we have the equipment and personnel necessary to do it right, and to do it safely.

Raccoon Control Gallery

Here are some pictures of raccoon-removal and exclusion work that we've done in Birmingham and throughout the area.

An irregularly shaped hole about 10 inches at the widest point that raccoons made in the soffit panel of a brick house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Raccoon hole in the soffit panel in Tuscaloosa
The hand and tattooed forearm of a wildlife control technician pointing out that raccoons pulled the five inch high fascia right off the roof of a house in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
Raccoons pulled off the fascia in Vestavia Hills
Raccoons tore an elongated hole about ten inches long by six inches wide through the shingles and sheathing to get into the attic of a house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Raccoon hole in the roof of a Tuscaloosa home
The metal soffit panel is bent because of raccoons that were living in the attic of a house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Raccoon damage to a soffit panel in Tuscaloosa
Scat in the insulation between the joists is evidence of raccoons that need to be removed from the attic of a Tuscaloosa, Alabama home.
Raccoon scat in an attic in Tuscaloosa
Pulling up on a shingle reveals a large gap over a timber with claw marks on it that raccoons used to get into the attic of a Birmingham, Alabama home.
Raccoon gap into the attic of a Birmingham home
Raccoons split the roof fascia lengthwise along an existing crack in the wood to get into the attic of a house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the roof fascia in Tuscaloosa
Looking from inside the attic at gaping holes through the wooden siding and the sheathing behind it that raccoons made to get into the attic of a house in Birmingham, Alabama.
Raccoon damage to a house in Birmingham
Raccoons tore off the metal soffit vent and made a hole a little bigger than a football through the plywood soffit panel to get into the attic of a house in Hoover, Alabama.
Raccoon damage to a soffit panel in Hoover
Raccoons tore the shingles off the edge of the roof of a house in Hoover, Alabama causing water damage to the sheathing underneath the shingles.
Raccoon damage to the roof of a house in Hoover
Raccoon prints in the dust on an insulated heating duct in the attic of a house in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
Raccoon prints in the dust in Vestavia Hills
Raccoons tore a hole about a foot and a half wide through the dry rotted wooden fascia to get into the attic of a house in Birmingham, Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the fascia in Birmingham
The triangular end cap is missing from the soffit and the resulting hole allowed raccoons into the attic of a house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Raccoons made a hole about the size of a football through the wooden roof trim to get into the attic of a house in Tuscaloosa Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the roof of a Tuscaloosa home
Raccoons enlarged an existing gap to create a hole through the edge of the roof sheathing right behind the fascia to get into the attic of a house in Tuscaloosa Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the roof of a Tuscaloosa home
Raccoons tore about two feet of the soffit panel out of the soffit to get into the attic of a house in Birmingham Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the soffit in Birmingham
A young raccoon looking relaxed lying down in a cage type trap after being removed from the attic of a house in Leeds Alabama.
Raccoon removed from the attic of a house in Leeds
Raccoon scat in the insulation between the joists in the attic of a house in Birmingham Alabama.
Raccoon scat in an attic in Birmingham
Lifting the shingle and flashing exposes a hole that raccoons gnawed through the wooden roof sheathing to get into the attic of a house in Leeds Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the roof of a house in Leeds
Raccoons gnawed through the bottom edge of a plastic roof vent hood to get into the attic of a house in Birmingham Alabama.
Raccoon damage to a roof vent hood in Birmingham
Three young raccoons climbing the outside of the brick chimney of a house in Tuscaloosa Alabama.
Young raccoons climbing a chimney in Tuscaloosa
Raccoons tore the siding right off the chimney enclosure and exposed a square gap about two feet wide and tall to get into a house in Trussville Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the siding in Trussville
Raccoon scat in the insulation between the joists in the unfinished attic of a house in Tuscaloosa Alabama.
Raccoon scat in the attic in Tuscaloosa
Raccoons tore the shingles and roof sheathing off a corner of the roof to make a hole that they used to get into the attic of a house in Leeds Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the roof of a house in Leeds
Raccoons tore a roughly rectangular hole about a foot long by eight inches wide in the peak of the roof of a house in Tuscaloosa Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the roof of a Tuscaloosa home
Raccoons tore a hole a little bigger than a football through the plywood soffit panel where it meets the shingles at a roof junction on a house in Trussville Alabama.
Raccoon damage to a house in Trussville
Raccoon scat on the shingles of the roof observed by a wildlife control technician removing raccoons from the attic of an Oxford Georgia home.
Raccoon scat on the roof of an Oxford home
A baby raccoon being held in the gloved hands of a wildlife removal technician after being trapped and removed along with its family from a house in Homewood Alabama.
Baby raccoon removed from a house in Homewood
Raccoons damaged the soffit panel of a house in Helena Alabama by walking on top of it.
Raccoon damage to the soffit of a house in Helena
The soffit panel is bowed and partially detached from the soffit because it collapsed under the weight of raccoons in the attic of a house in Chelsea Alabama.
Raccoon damage to the soffit of a Chelsea home

For more information about flying raccoon-removal or any of our quality services, please call us today.

 

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In Oglethorpe, Montezuma, Vienna and Byron Ga. today quoting homes Wildlife Exclusions that has Bats and squirrels.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 23, 2023 11:31:15 am.

Bat calls are coming in already with the mild winter in middle to south ga. Tifton, Vienna, Cordele, Zebulon, and Barnesville Ga. Just to name a few cities I’ll be today and tomorrow.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 22, 2023 12:41:29 pm.

This morning we're repairing a big hole in the soffit panel as part of a Tuscaloosa, Alabama raccoon-removal job. It looks like the raccoons, who already have been trapped and removed, were already in the attic when they made the hole.
by Webmaster
Mar 21, 2023 10:12:15 am.

Good morning, glad to back, was out 2 1/2 months cause I broke my leg, time to quote some houses
by Chris Collender
Mar 20, 2023 09:48:34 am.

In Tifton Ga giving a quote for a commercial building for squirrels and then headed to another commercial building in Americus Ga for bats. Ending the day in Macon Ga for a residential quote for Rats. Have a good day!
by Jason Arruda
Mar 13, 2023 11:57:15 am.

Today's Friday Double-Feature Begins with this Video of a Birmingham, Alabama Raccoon Removal Job
by Webmaster
Mar 10, 2023 09:43:44 am.

Scurrying in the attic, scratching in the walls sounds like you may have critters. Going to some homes today hearing these noises.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 10, 2023 09:34:34 am.

Wildlife exclusions for Bats, rats and squirrels are keeping us busy in Barnesville, Macon and Albany Ga.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 09, 2023 10:44:54 am.

Raccoons pulled the fascia right off the roof of a house in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. The crew removing the raccoons from the attic will also repair the damage and animal-proof the house to keep wild critters of all kinds out of the attic.
by Webmaster
Mar 09, 2023 09:39:05 am.

Headed to Vienna Ga after a customer referred they’re neighbors to us.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 08, 2023 10:35:37 am.

Helping the technicians today with a Bat Exclusion on Lake Jackson Ga.
by Jason Arruda
Mar 07, 2023 10:47:30 am.

Raccoons tore an elongated hole about ten inches long by six inches wide through the shingles and sheathing to get into the attic of a house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The crew doing the raccoon removal will also repair the damage, animal-proof the house, and replace the filthy attic insulation.
by Webmaster
Mar 02, 2023 07:07:00 am.

Raccoons in the attic bent the metal soffit panel of a house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The crew trapping and removing the raccoons from the attic will also repair the damage, animal-proof the house, and replace the fouled attic insulation.
by Webmaster
Mar 01, 2023 10:09:39 am.

The scat in the insulation between the joists was convincing evidence of raccoons that needed to be removed from the attic of a Tuscaloosa, Alabama home. Unlike most animals, raccoons choose specific spots to use as latrines rather that relieving themselves all over the attic. It's their one redeeming trait.
by Webmaster
Jan 26, 2023 09:03:51 am.

Pulling up on a shingle revealed a gap over a timber with claw marks on it that raccoons used to get into the attic of a Birmingham, Alabama home. The crew that is trapping and removing the raccoons is also animal-proofing the house to prevent future problems with wildlife getting into the attic.
by Webmaster
Jan 25, 2023 09:11:08 am.

Wildlife-removal technicians from our Birmingham office are repairing damage to the roof at a Tuscaloosa, Alabama raccoon-removal job. It looks like the raccoons split the wooden roof fascia along an existing crack in the wood to get into the attic.
by Webmaster
Jan 19, 2023 10:10:38 am.

Raccoons clawed gaping holes through the wooden siding and the sheathing behind it to get into the attic of a house in Birmingham, Alabama. The crew removing the raccoons from the attic will also repair the damage and replace the attic insulation.
by Webmaster
Jan 16, 2023 08:41:32 am.

Next Up is a Video of a Hoover, Alabama Raccoon-Removal Inspection
by Webmaster
Jan 13, 2023 07:13:12 am.

Raccoons tore off the metal soffit vent and made a hole a little bigger than a football through the plywood soffit panel to get into the attic of a house in Hoover, Alabama. The raccoons have since been trapped and removed from the attic, and our crew is repairing the damage.
by Webmaster
Jan 12, 2023 10:29:41 am.

This morning our wildlife-management professionals are repairing raccoon damage to the roof of a house in Hoover, Alabama. The raccoons have already been trapped and removed from the attic.
by Webmaster
Jan 11, 2023 09:34:36 am.

Started off in Rome ga, raccoons in the crawl space, then headed to Atlanta, ga, rats in the attic
by Chris Collender
Jan 05, 2023 11:48:37 am.

Happy New years, back at it, started off in Conyers ga, squirrels, then headed to Stone Mountain ga, rats in the attic, now In Gainesville ga, bats in the house
by Chris Collender
Jan 02, 2023 11:16:26 am.

Here's Wishing All of You a Merry Christmas from Rid-A-Critter!
by Webmaster
Dec 23, 2022 12:56:04 pm.

Rain rain go away, i need to quote some houses today, started off Snellville ga, squirrels have chewed several new holes, paid 2 companies to do patch work , never works long term, why she called us, we will give her a permanent solution
by Chris Collender
Dec 20, 2022 12:54:00 pm.

Wildlife-management professionals from our Birmingham office are doing a raccoon-removal job in Vestavia Hills, Alabama this morning. Once the raccoon is caught and removed from the attic, they'll animal-proof the house to keep nuisance animals of all kinds out.
by Webmaster
Dec 20, 2022 09:56:15 am.

Beautiful day but Baby, it’s cold outside. Started the day in Athens ga, rats, then headed to Brasselton, ga, rats, then headed over to Oxford, ga, squirrels. Good times
by Chris Collender
Dec 19, 2022 12:42:44 pm.

Back in conyers, ga today, seems to be busy over here, flyers in the attic, headed to Ellenwood, ga, square
by Chris Collender
Dec 16, 2022 09:53:13 am.

Raccoons tore a hole about a foot and a half wide through the dry-rotted wooden fascia to get into the attic of a house in Birmingham, Alabama. Our wildlife damage repair specialists are replacing the fascia. The raccoons have already been trapped and removed from the attic.
by Webmaster
Dec 16, 2022 07:55:46 am.

Beautiful day, had 2 stops in Dacula, ga. Rats and squirrels, headed to conyers, ga. For another squirrel job.
by Chris Collender
Dec 15, 2022 12:15:22 pm.

Busy day in the rain, had two quotes in Alpharetta ga, flying squirrels in both homes, headed to Athens ga, squirrels in the attic.
by Chris Collender
Dec 14, 2022 12:45:29 pm.

Quoted a rental property In Atlanta ga, rats, them headed to Athens, ga, mice, then off to Snellville ga, squirrels in the attic
by Chris Collender
Dec 13, 2022 12:33:01 pm.

Finally no more rain, headed to Decatur ga, rental property, rats, headed to Monroe, ga, squirrels in a house, then back to Atlanta ga, rats
by Chris Collender
Dec 12, 2022 03:51:16 pm.

The Birmingham, Alabama office of Rid-A-Critter provides raccoon removal and damage repair in Birmingham, Alabama and the the entire Metro Birmingham area including Anniston, Bessemer, Brighton, Chelsea, Fairfield, Heflin, Homewood, Hoover, Hueytown, Irondale, Jasper, Leeds, Midfield, Moody, Mountain Brook, Oxford, Pell City, Trussville, Tuscaloosa, Valdosta, Vestavia, Warrior, and their surrounding areas. We are fully licensed and insured.

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