Expert Solutions for Safe and Humane Removal
Raccoons may look adorable, but when they invade your home or business in Longs, SC, they quickly transform from charming creatures into a serious threat. Whether it’s a scurrying sound in the attic, droppings found in your yard, or damage to your roof, raccoons can cause considerable harm and even put your health at risk. If you’re facing a raccoon problem, professional removal is essential. Critter Stop offers specialized Longs Raccoon Control services, ensuring humane and practical solutions that protect your home or business from these destructive pests.
Why Raccoon Infestations Are a Growing Concern in Longs
Longs, SC, with its mix of suburban homes and natural landscapes, provides an ideal environment for raccoons. The nearby wooded areas, marshlands, and water sources offer the perfect habitat for these resourceful animals. As human development continues, raccoons are forced to venture into residential areas in search of food, shelter, and warmth.
Attics, crawl spaces, and basements are prime nesting locations for raccoons, where they seek refuge from predators. Once inside, raccoons can cause significant damage by gnawing on insulation, electrical wiring, and wood. Their presence also creates a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, including leptospirosis, salmonella, and raccoon roundworm. These diseases can be transmitted through their droppings, urine, and saliva, making early removal essential to avoid health risks.
Understanding the Risks of Raccoon Infestations
Although raccoons are often seen as curious animals, they pose several dangers to both your property and your health. Here’s why immediate action is needed:
- Health Hazards: Raccoons are carriers of several diseases, including rabies, leptospirosis, and raccoon roundworm. Their urine and droppings can contaminate surfaces, spreading bacteria and parasites that pose health risks to both humans and pets.
- Fire Hazards: Raccoons have a habit of chewing on electrical wires, which can result in short circuits, power outages, and even fires in your home. This is particularly dangerous if the infestation is in areas with old or damaged wiring.
- Structural Damage: Raccoons can cause extensive damage to the structure of your home. They chew on wood, insulation, and drywall, which can weaken the integrity of your property. This often leads to expensive repairs.
- Pest Infestations: Raccoon nests are often infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and other pests. These can spread to your pets and family members, worsening the infestation problem.
- Unpleasant Odors: Raccoon droppings, urine, and decaying food left in their nests can create strong, unpleasant odors that can affect the air quality inside your home.
Signs of a Raccoon Infestation
Raccoons are nocturnal animals, making them harder to detect during the day. However, there are several signs you can look for to identify an infestation:
- Nighttime Noises: If you hear scratching, thumping, or scurrying sounds in your attic, walls, or ceiling, it could be an indication of raccoon activity, especially at night.
- Damage to Roofing and Exterior: Raccoons often damage roofing materials, soffits, or walls as they attempt to gain entry. Look for signs of loose shingles, bent vents, or small holes near the roofline.
- Disrupted Trash: Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and often rummage through trash cans. If your garbage is consistently disturbed or scattered around your yard, raccoons are likely the culprits.
- Droppings and Urine: Raccoon droppings are dark, and their urine has a distinct odor. These are commonly found near nesting areas or along their travel routes.
- Nesting Materials: Squirrels construct nests from shredded materials such as paper, fabric, and insulation. If you find these nests in hidden areas like your attic or crawlspace, you likely have a raccoon problem.
The Importance of Immediate Raccoon Removal
Delaying raccoon removal can result in severe consequences:
- Health Risks: As mentioned, raccoons carry diseases that can be transmitted through their urine, feces, and saliva. Their presence increases the risk of contamination and exposure to dangerous pathogens.
- Fire and Structural Damage: The longer a raccoon infestation lasts, the greater the risk of property damage. Raccoons chew on electrical wiring and materials that comprise your home's structure, creating hazards and weakening the building's integrity.
- Pest Attraction: Raccoon nests can harbor other pests, such as fleas, mites, and ticks, which can exacerbate the problem.
Critter Stop’s Proven Longs Raccoon Control Process
At Critter Stop, we employ a comprehensive and humane approach to resolving your raccoon problem. Our five-step process ensures that your home remains safe, secure, and raccoon-free:
1. Comprehensive Property Inspection
We start with a thorough inspection of your home to assess the extent of the infestation. Our experts will check your attic, crawl spaces, roofline, and exterior to identify signs of raccoon activity and locate entry points.
2. Tailored Control Plan
Once we’ve inspected your property, we’ll create a customized plan for your specific needs. We use humane methods, such as live traps, to capture and remove raccoons safely. We also identify ways to seal entry points and prevent future access.
3. Humane Trapping and Relocation
We use humane traps to capture the raccoons without harm. Once trapped, we relocate the animals far from residential areas, ensuring they don’t return to your home.
4. Sanitation and Deodorization
Raccoon urine and feces can leave behind harmful bacteria and foul odors. After removal, we clean and disinfect the affected areas, using eco-friendly solutions to eliminate contaminants and restore cleanliness to your home.
5. Exclusion and Prevention
We ensure that no further raccoons can enter your home by sealing all entry points, including holes in the roof, vents, and gaps around windows and doors. We also provide advice on long-term prevention, such as tree trimming and securing trash cans.
Why Longs Residents Choose Critter Stop for Raccoon Control
Longs homeowners and businesses trust Critter Stop for comprehensive, humane raccoon control. Here’s why:
- Expert Knowledge: We possess an in-depth understanding of raccoon behavior and effective methods for addressing infestations in the Longs area.
- Humane Methods: We prioritize ethical, non-toxic methods of removal, ensuring that the raccoons are safely relocated without harm.
- Complete Service: From inspection and removal to exclusion and repairs, we offer a full range of raccoon control services to keep your property safe and secure.
- Fast Response: We understand the urgency of raccoon infestations, offering quick and reliable service to resolve the issue swiftly.
- Satisfaction Guarantee: If raccoons return after our service, we’ll return to solve the problem at no extra cost.
Preventing Raccoons from Returning
Once the raccoons are removed, it’s crucial to implement measures to keep them from returning. Here are some helpful tips:
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for cracks or gaps and seal them with durable materials to prevent raccoons from re-entering.
- Secure Trash: Use animal-proof trash bins and keep garbage tightly secured to avoid attracting raccoons.
- Trim Tree Limbs: Keep tree branches at least six feet away from your home to prevent raccoons from using them as a bridge to the roof.
- Remove Food Sources: Avoid leaving pet food outside, and clean up any fallen fruit or seeds that could attract raccoons.
Get Longs Raccoon Control Service Today
If you suspect a raccoon infestation, don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact Critter Stop today for expert, humane raccoon control in Longs, SC. Our experienced team will ensure your property is safe, secure, and free from raccoons.Call us at (843) 380-7713 to schedule a free inspection and take the first step toward a raccoon-free home!
