Outdoor Animal Control - Keeping raccoons off the roof
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lmacmil
05-08-09, 07:56 AM
I live in a wooded sub-division. Although we only see raccoons 2 or 3 times a season (1st sighting was a week ago), I know they get on my roof because they leave their droppings. I have no trees close enough to the house from them to climb onto the roof from. I have been told that they won't jump from an overhanging branch.
There are two possibilities. They are just climbing up the corner where the bricks give them something to grab onto or they are climbing up the 4x4 supports for the roof over my patio. I know the squirrels use the latter method.
Question: is there any good way to dissuade them from getting on the roof? A couple years ago the humane society said put a mineral spirits soaked cloth near a pile of droppings but that didn't do anything. I see some evidence that they have been gnawing on my cedar siding and they also pulled up a couple shingles from the ridge cap.
There are two possibilities. They are just climbing up the corner where the bricks give them something to grab onto or they are climbing up the 4x4 supports for the roof over my patio. I know the squirrels use the latter method.
Question: is there any good way to dissuade them from getting on the roof? A couple years ago the humane society said put a mineral spirits soaked cloth near a pile of droppings but that didn't do anything. I see some evidence that they have been gnawing on my cedar siding and they also pulled up a couple shingles from the ridge cap.
Newt
05-08-09, 04:00 PM
Hi Imacmil,
You want to make sure they don't get into your house through any openings, including the chimney.
From this site:
http://www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/DealingwithNuisanceWildlifeHG90web_000.pdf
Raccoons – Prevent or reduce damage by exclusion methods and eliminating food sources. Protect crops and gardens with electric fencing. Frightening techniques (aluminum pie pans, radios) are temporary control measures. No repellents are registered for raccoon control. Cap chimneys, and prevent access to attics and buildings by closing or repairing openings with ¼ inch mesh hardware cloth or metal flashing. Remove outdoor food sources and secure garbage cans. Raccoons may dig in turf for soil insects. Reseed heavily damaged areas.
More help.
http://www.ghorganics.com/page6.html#RACCOONS%20AND%20SKUNKS
Newt
You want to make sure they don't get into your house through any openings, including the chimney.
From this site:
http://www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/DealingwithNuisanceWildlifeHG90web_000.pdf
Raccoons – Prevent or reduce damage by exclusion methods and eliminating food sources. Protect crops and gardens with electric fencing. Frightening techniques (aluminum pie pans, radios) are temporary control measures. No repellents are registered for raccoon control. Cap chimneys, and prevent access to attics and buildings by closing or repairing openings with ¼ inch mesh hardware cloth or metal flashing. Remove outdoor food sources and secure garbage cans. Raccoons may dig in turf for soil insects. Reseed heavily damaged areas.
More help.
http://www.ghorganics.com/page6.html#RACCOONS%20AND%20SKUNKS
Newt
Gunguy45
05-08-09, 04:19 PM
They're prob going up the 4x4 posts...
It's not pretty, but pretty cheap. Try wrapping some 12" flashing around the posts starting about 12-16" fron the base. You can just tack it in with roofing nails. Run it up in overlapping layers, just like a shingled roof. The upper layers should overlap the lower.
You should see claw marks if thats where they are coming up.
It's not pretty, but pretty cheap. Try wrapping some 12" flashing around the posts starting about 12-16" fron the base. You can just tack it in with roofing nails. Run it up in overlapping layers, just like a shingled roof. The upper layers should overlap the lower.
You should see claw marks if thats where they are coming up.
Newt
05-08-09, 04:24 PM
Another way to see which way they are going up is to sprinkle flour on the ground. It will leave tracks where they go.
Newt
Newt