Avoiding the dangers of raccoon droppings

Posted 29 October 2020

The raccoon, an omnivorous mammal barely 1 meter long and weighing about 20 kilograms, is a protected species in Quebec. Nevertheless, this wild animal causes a lot of problems for the province’s residents. Besides scavenging through garbage cans in search of food, it has the unfortunate habit of leaving behind its feces, which in some cases can carry diseases.

At E.Exterminateur, we specialize in raccoon removal and use harmless methods to remove them and drive them back into the wild. Here we explain why raccoon droppings are dangerous and how you should get rid of them.

Beware of raccoon droppings

Pest infestations are widespread in Quebec and raccoons are no stranger to them: they are among the most common species in the province. Unlike mice or rats, they seem to attract a certain amount of sympathy. However, in addition to the property damage they can cause, they are also among the most common pests with diseases.

Animals that carry the worm Baylisascaris procyonis

Besides being able to transmit rabies, raccoons are the main host of Baylisascaris procyonis, a species of worm that is detrimental to humans. Eggs are transmitted in their feces, and people become infected through the unintentional ingestion or inhalation of eggs. The most common symptoms are nausea, fatigue and even muscle weakness.

If you live in an environment where raccoons have a strong presence and you have children or are responsible for people with disabilities, you should be extra vigilant. They are more likely to put fingers, dirt or contaminated objects in their mouths and therefore are at the greatest risk of infection.

How to spot raccoon feces at a glance

Raccoon feces are usually dark brown, cylindrical and have a strong odor. Raccoons prefer to live in elevated areas such as trees, garages, decks or attics.

If you see feces, but are unable to identify the animal, contact our certified exterminators. Within seconds, they will identify the culprit and give you helpful advice.

How to get rid of raccoon feces

Have raccoons already wreaked havoc on your property? Now you need to get rid of their feces. This means carefully cleaning the affected area(s). Not only that, but you also have to make sure that the pests never come back.

Clean raccoon droppings with caution

As experts in the field, we naturally offer a pest decontamination service that guarantees total disinfection of the premises. However, if you want to clean raccoon droppings yourself, our team strongly advises you take the following 4 tips into account:

Avoid direct contact with feces and wear gloves and a face mask to protect yourself.
Collect feces with a plastic bag or shovel, seal tightly and dispose of it in the garbage.
Use boiling water to destroy roundworm eggs on all surfaces or objects that have been touched with feces.
If you cannot use boiling water on the surface or object, use 10% bleach to remove the eggs and then rinse.

Say goodbye to raccoon droppings for good

Getting rid of raccoon droppings for the first time is hard enough as it is. No one wants it to become a habit. To avoid another episode, you can take the following 3 steps to get rid of raccoons:

Since raccoons are creatures of habit, break it up: place a fairly large object in the area usually used by raccoons. Frustration will then drive them elsewhere.
Raccoons don’t like to walk on plastic. Another way to frustrate them is to put plastic bags over the area for a few weeks. Remove the plastic once the raccoons have moved on.
If you can, hose down the defecation area with water. Making it wet and muddy will disturb their peace of mind.

Say goodbye to raccoons with E.Exterminateur

These methods are simple to use and may work but won’t always be as effective as those used by experienced exterminators. At E.Exterminateur, we have a thorough understanding of raccoon behaviour and respond accordingly. In addition to cleaning raccoon droppings, we decontaminate infested areas with the best products on the market. If you notice raccoon droppings or dread finding them, don’t hesitate to contact us!