Raccoons Trying To Come In!

Ugh! You have got to be kidding me. There is a family of 3 raccoons trying to come in through my closed window! Really?! And no matter how much yelling and shooing we do, they are not even afraid of us or our crazy barking dog. Advice please??! I know the basics, cut back any tree overhang, remove any possible debris, etc. But in the mean time, how do I get them to go away so we can go outside?

Hm. I've heard that animals don't like the smell of coffee grinds, so perhaps trying a can outside your window might help.

If you're in need I'm sure WhyFi here produces prodigiously.

Call 311. They might have rabies. Racoons shouldn't behave that way.

open a crack and pepper spray their asses, even better get bear spray that learn!!

You can get humane traps, bait them and then call animal control to pick up the little incarcerated bandits. We baited the traps with dry cat food - worked like a charm.

Agree - it is not normal for raccoons to be so unafraid - unless they are extremely young or over-exposed to humans. If this is happening during the day - it is likely they are rabid.

Thanks for the ideas. What I did do was put out some ammonia as recommended by various sources online to make the smell of environment unpleasant for them. I called 311 and no dice! The city won't do anything about it unless is glaringly obvious that they are unhealthy.

Domino, I am no where near as gutsy as you and will therefore have to hire wildlife removal as I have no intention of trying to catch and release a wild animal myself. In regard to being over-exposed to humans, I went up to a higher floor and threw something small at them to try to scare them away and it looked like they thought I was throwing food to them - the same way birds flock to bread crumbs.

If it ain't one thing...

Sorry to hear about this mess.

I am being no help but did you hear about the raccoon that broke in to the kitchen in park slope a few yrs ago and then got stuck and died in the kitchen drawer?

Can you take a picture of them peeking into your apt and post?

You don't want to take any chances with racoons... Like EastBloc said, they are prone to rabies. Get an exterminator - we used a local company and they were really good. Haven't seen a racoon since :-)

jessdon is a blatant shill.

I (and hopefully many others) will most certainly not use a company that relies on such tactics. What's the matter, "Ecology Extermination Service", are you having trouble getting real recommendations?

This is just a small clip. I don't have any video or a good picture of the first encounter (the one that sent me screaming) of the momma with her babies in tow squealing at the window.

Attached files Racoons.MOV (5.2 MB)

Okay, that didn't work. How do I attach a video from my computer?

you need to upload it to youtube, then link to youtube...

Okay, I hope that worked.

Anyway, after setting out lots of ammonia and then I having my trees and other foliage cut back and I haven't seen the racoons. -Y Of course they are still out there somewhere, but just not carrying on on my roof looking to get in through my window anymore.

It worked.

They are totally casing your place!

Oh my. This would be my horror/delight if I had a family of 3 raccoons trying to break in to my apt.

You need to leave raccoon indeed.

Aren't they just incredibly cute!!!!!!!!

Look how thin momma is. Those babies just sucking her dry. Put out some food. She is just trying to provide for her young'uns. And that window just begs to be entered by raccoons, burglers, etc.

Oh tsarina, aren't you a barrel of joy. I return the joyful thoughts of true concern in the same spirit that they were sent!