Why Professional Raccoon Removal is Critical for Austin, TX Homeowners
Raccoons are a common nuisance for homeowners throughout Central Texas, especially Austin and the surrounding communities like Pflugerville, Round Rock, Georgetown. These highly adaptable animals thrive in urban and suburban neighborhoods, often finding their way into attics, crawl spaces, garages, and even chimneys. While raccoons may seem harmless at first glance, their presence around your home can lead to serious problems.
If you’ve searched for raccoon removal services in Austin, you’re probably already dealing with the noise, mess, or damage that comes with an unwanted raccoon infestation. Professional raccoon removal is not only the safest and fastest solution but also the most humane way to protect your home, your family, and the raccoons themselves.
How to Identify a Raccoon Problem
The first step toward solving a raccoon issue is recognizing the signs. Raccoons are nocturnal and generally avoid human contact, so you may not see them directly. However, they often leave behind clear indicators of their activity.
Common Signs of Raccoons
- Noises at Night: Scratching, thumping, or chattering sounds coming from the attic, roof, or walls after dark.
- Torn Roof Vents or Shingles: Damage to roofing materials and vents, often ripped open by raccoons searching for shelter.
- Tracks and Droppings: Small hand-shaped paw prints and piles of droppings around your home or in attic spaces.
- Tipped Over Trash Bins: Scattered garbage and raided pet food bowls left behind.
- Foul Odors: A strong musky smell caused by raccoon urine and feces.
- Disturbed Bird Feeders or Outdoor Pet Food: Raccoons are opportunistic and will help themselves to any food source they find.
If you’ve noticed any of these signs around your home, it’s a good indication that you may have a raccoon problem that needs professional attention.
The Risks of Allowing Raccoons to Stay
Raccoons are far more than a minor annoyance. Ignoring their presence can lead to significant property damage, contamination, and potential health risks. Homeowners in the Austin area who delay action often find themselves facing extensive repairs and clean-up costs down the road.
Health Risks from Raccoons
The health hazards associated with raccoons should not be underestimated. Raccoons are one of the primary carriers of rabies in Texas, and a bite or scratch from an infected animal can be life-threatening without immediate treatment. They are also known to carry leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that spreads through contact with raccoon urine or contaminated water, which can cause flu-like symptoms and kidney damage in humans and pets.
Another serious health concern is raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis). This dangerous parasite is commonly found in raccoon droppings. If accidentally ingested, roundworm eggs can cause severe neurological damage, blindness, or even death. Additionally, raccoon feces may contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella, which can contaminate soil, attic insulation, and water sources. These health risks make it essential to address a raccoon problem quickly and professionally.
Damage Raccoons Can Cause Inside and Outside Your Home
When raccoons choose your home as their den site, they rarely stay quiet or clean. They are incredibly destructive, both inside and outside your property. Some of the most common types of raccoon-related damage include:
- Structural Damage: Raccoons will rip open soffits, vents, and weak roofing materials to gain access to attics and crawl spaces.
- Insulation Contamination: Once inside, they will trample and compress insulation, reducing its effectiveness while contaminating it with feces and urine.
- Electrical Hazards: Raccoons may chew on wires, increasing the risk of fires.
- HVAC System Damage: Nesting raccoons can tear apart ductwork, damaging your heating and cooling system.
- Exterior Property Damage: Outside the home, raccoons will knock over garbage cans, tear up lawns while foraging, and damage gardens and fences.
If you’re looking for raccoon removal services after discovering signs of this type of damage, you’re not alone. Many Austin area homeowners turn to Prickly Pear Wildlife Removal to resolve these issues quickly and effectively.
How Prickly Pear Wildlife Removal Handles Raccoon Removal
At Prickly Pear Wildlife Removal, we understand how frustrating and stressful it can be to deal with a raccoon infestation. Our team specializes in ethical, humane raccoon removal services designed to resolve the problem efficiently and permanently. Whether you’re in Pflugerville, Round Rock, Georgetown, or searching for trusted raccoon removal experts in Austin, our team is ready to help.
Our Proven Raccoon Removal Process
Every raccoon situation is unique, but we follow a proven step-by-step process to ensure successful removal:
- Detailed Inspection
Our team begins by inspecting your property to locate raccoon entry points, den sites, and signs of activity. We assess the extent of damage and contamination to develop a tailored removal plan. - Safe, Humane Removal
We use live traps and exclusion devices to humanely remove raccoons without causing them harm. Our technicians are trained to handle wildlife safely and professionally. - Exclusion & Prevention
To ensure raccoons don’t return, we seal off all identified entry points and reinforce weak spots around your home. This may include installing vent covers, repairing siding, and trimming tree limbs that give raccoons access to your roof. - Clean-Up & Damage Repair
Once the raccoons have been removed, we offer clean-up and sanitation services to eliminate raccoon droppings, nesting materials, and any contaminants left behind. We can also repair damage to insulation, vents, soffits, and other affected areas.
Why Austin Homeowners Choose Prickly Pear
Homeowners searching for raccoon removal companies near Austin often turn to Prickly Pear Wildlife Removal because we’re a trusted, locally owned company based in Pflugerville. We proudly serve Travis County and Williamson County and are committed to:
- Humane Wildlife Removal: We care about animal welfare and follow ethical practices. We relocate animals that are trapped and we are partnered with several rehabilitation centers in central texas, so if an animal needs some assistance before being released, we take them to the rehabilitation center. (Included in our flat pricing)
- Quick Response Times: We know raccoon problems need immediate attention.
- Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees or surprise charges.
- Experienced Technicians: Our team is licensed, insured, and trained in safe wildlife handling. In fact, our main wildlife specialist was hired from the zoo where he was a zoo keeper for reptiles, porcupines, and ring tail cats.
- Long-Term Solutions: We don’t just remove raccoons; we prevent them from coming back.
- Exclusive “Fur-ever” warranty: Prickly Pear offers a lifetime warranty on our labor and uses products with the best warranties in the industry. No renewal fees, no re-inspection fees, we keep it simple. If we did the work and an animal came through what we did… we fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Raccoon Removal
How much does raccoon removal cost in Austin, TX?
The cost of raccoon removal in Austin, TX varies based on the size of the infestation, ease of access, and damage caused.
Are raccoons dangerous to pets?
Yes. Raccoons can transmit diseases like rabies, and they can be aggressive if threatened. They may attack small pets or spread parasites and bacteria through their droppings.
What should I do if I see a raccoon during the day?
Raccoons are usually nocturnal, so daytime activity may indicate illness, injury, or a mother raccoon foraging for food. Avoid approaching the animal and contact a professional wildlife removal service.
Can I remove raccoons myself?
DIY raccoon removal is not recommended. Trapping raccoons without proper training and permits can be dangerous and may be illegal in Texas. Professional raccoon removal services ensure the job is done safely and legally.
How do I prevent raccoons from coming back?
Exclusion is the key to long-term raccoon prevention. Seal entry points, secure trash bins, remove food sources, and trim tree branches near your roof. Prickly Pear Wildlife Removal offers comprehensive exclusion services to help prevent future infestations.