Q We have raccoons in the neighborhood. Now we have what we believe are raccoon deposits on our roof, although we've never seen them up there. How would they get on the roof? How do we get them to stop using our roof as a bathroom?
A Raccoons typically maintain a couple of den sites. It's likely that a mother raccoon has hers in a nearby tree or chimney, which would give her access to your roof. Raccoons also are good at climbing up brick.
Health officials recommend that you clean up any waste promptly and bury or burn the feces. Raccoon feces can harbor organisms and, if left exposed, pose a hazard to humans and wildlife. Remove piles with a shovel, place in a plastic bag and then dispose of it in the garbage. Wear gloves. Clean the area with bleach to remove the odor and discourage the raccoons from returning.
Also, try locating the nest and making the area less hospitable. If possible, place rags soaked with dog urine (or packaged urine products used by hunters) near the nest.
Meanwhile, do not let pet dogs or cats out at night. The mother raccoon will not move her cubs if there's a chance of encountering another animal.
If there are young in the nest, wait as long as possible before you attempt eviction. Raccoons won't cause structural damage and relocating a nest is hard on cubs younger than 8 weeks old.
If the nest is in your chimney, call a pest control company that specializes in raccoon removal and ask for humane removal. Do not start a fire.
For more information on raccoon problems, contact the Wildlife Information Service at the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum, 612-624-1374.
