Brampton's Raccoon Rascals: A Guide For Everything Baby Raccoons
Welcome, Brampton homeowners, to your all-in-one guide on a rather furry situation you might find yourself in—dealing with baby raccoons! From their unexpected arrival in your attic to the day they scamper off to start their own cycles of mischief, there's a lot to cover. Raccoon babies, or kits, can be both a wonder and a worry for homeowners. So, buckle up as we dive into the ins and outs of raccoon parenthood right in your backyard (or more accurately, your attic!).
Raccoons are notorious for finding their way into places they're not exactly welcome, and Brampton is no exception. These masked marauders are more than just trash panda enthusiasts; they're clever, adaptable, and oh-so-curious creatures that can make themselves right at home in your home. And when spring rolls around, your attic might just become the perfect nursery for a litter of raccoon babies. Pregnant female raccoons want nothing more than a safe, warm space to give birth and they will go to great lengths to achieve it.
Understanding Raccoon Babies in Brampton
Raccoon kits are born after a gestation period of about 63 days, typically in spring. A mother raccoon, in search of a warm place to raise her young, might find your attic irresistible. Why? It's safe from predators, sheltered from the elements, and as quiet as a mouse (until the babies arrive, that is!). Soon-to-be mother raccoons will be adamant to get shelter somewhere.
The Cycle Begins: Birth in the Attic
Cozy Corners: Your attic provides the perfect nesting spot. Insulation? Check. They can create a den right inside, it’s soft and fluffy and makes the perfect nursery. Warmth? Check. Your attic is very comfortable compared to the weather elements outside. Privacy and Safety? Double-check! A mother raccoon doesn’t have to worry about foxes or coyotes when she’s situated up off the ground.
Litter Size: A mother raccoon can have between 2 to 5 kits in a single litter. Imagine that—quintuplet tiny bandits overhead! They are generally born starting anywhere from as early as late February, and going into March, April, and May. Female raccoons have one litter a year, but if for any reason her babies don’t survive, there’s a good possibility she’ll have a second litter in June or July. Raccoon families consist of a mom and her kits, that’s it. Male raccoons will mate with multiple female raccoons but they take no role in raising them.
Growing Up Raccoon: From Kits to Independence
Raccoon babies are born blind, tiny and helpless, their eyes don’t even open until they are approximately 3-4 weeks old. But they do grow rapidly, and within about 6 weeks, they start exploring their surroundings. This exploration isn't always limited to the confines of your attic floor as they could also make their way down in your walls as well. When they get a bit older, mother raccoon starts bringing them outside.
Mischief Makers: From chewing on cables to leaving 'gifts' in your insulation, raccoon kits are curious and can cause quite a bit of damage. More than the actual physical damage, the noise will be loud too, irritating, and sleep depriving. Young raccoons will play around with their siblings, chasing each other, and thumping about above your head (day or night).
Learning to Forage: When small babies are about 8-9 weeks old, the mother starts bringing her young outside. It’s quite common to see a mom and older baby raccoons chilling out on a rooftop. She teaches her kits to forage for food, which might include raiding your garbage cans or garden. At that age, they are about the size of small cat.
Backyard Visitors: If you happen to spot a mom raccoon and her babies outside in your yard, keep young children inside, and any pets you may have too. Raccoons make excellent mothers and they are extremely protective of their kits. You may even hear growling from the mom, she’s just letting you know to keep your distance. If you know for sure you have raccoons, do not set a trap to catch her. Every year, countless people trap and relocate raccoons from their property, not realizing there are possibly babies left behind. Every spring, wildlife rehabilitator organizations and facilities are overflowing with orphaned baby raccoons. Leave them be, and contact Raccoon Removal Brampton. There are humane methods and services available to evict the whole family together and prevent any future intrusion.
Newborns in your attic: If you discover a litter of babies in your roof, call in the experts! We’ll screen over the entry point with a one way exit door, and then we throughly check the attic and remove the babies by hand. They are placed in a baby box outside, and the mom will come out to retrieve them on her own, preferably overnight. The one way door will prevent her from taking them back inside.
Orphaned Newborns: Mother raccoons would never leave baby raccoons voluntarily so if you do come across a litter that looks like they might be orphaned, it’s best to know for sure before removing them. The first course of action should be reuniting them with their mother raccoons. To proceed, always wear gloves when handling raccoon kits. They can be very small when they’re newborn so place them gently in a cardboard box with an old blanket, t shirt, or towel and a recyclable plastic bottle filled with hot tap water as sort of a heating pad set. Or you could fill a clean sock with dry uncooked rice, and microwave the rice sock for 60 seconds. Baby raccoons cannot regulate their own body temperature and even on mild days young raccoons can get cold. Humans are often tempted to feed the babies to be kind, but the best one to care for a baby raccoon is it’s own mother. Leave the cardboard box with the babies in a quiet place outside for at least one whole overnight period. If it’s raining lightly, you should cover half the box with cardboard and check in the morning when the sun starts to be up, if the mom has come for them. If it’s raining hard at night, keep the small babies inside for the night and try again when the weather’s better. A mother raccoon will not venture out in a heavy rain looking for her young. If, after a full overnight period or two of good weather, there’s been no sign of the mom, that generally means one of three things - she’s either been hit by a car, she’s been killed by a predator (whether by a wild animal or a human possibly) or she’s been trapped, relocated to another area, and there’s a high risk she’ll not find her way back. Any of these options makes more sense than her abandoning them. Raccoons make excellent mothers and would never just up and leave them on her own.
Orphaned Older Baby Raccoons: If you find what you think are orphaned babies that are a bit older, instead of a cardboard box use a more sturdy box or an upside down laundry basket to corral them. Mother raccoons raise their kits for roughly 10-12 months, so even though the baby raccoons might look big enough to survive, the mother raccoons will still come and get them if she’s able. Put them outside as soon as traffic dies down and the sun starts to set, place a brick or two on top to secure the “cage”, if the mom comes back she’ll have no trouble flipping the upside down laundry basket over to gather her brood. Same as with the smaller babies, do not put them out in a heavy rain, if possible keep them in a porch, shed, or garage.
The Departure: Leaving the Nest
Eventually, after about 8 to 10 weeks, the raccoon family will start leaving your roof. By this time, mid to late summer has rolled around and your attic is like an oven and it’s too hot for them. The mother needs to get them ready to be independent. She will teach them how to fight off predators and survive, how to find food, etc. The kits, now juvenile raccoons, are ready to start their own cycles of exploration, foraging, and surviving. When they are about 10-12 months old they leave mom behind and venture out on their own, causing headaches for other homeowners.
Preventing Unwanted Raccoon Tenants
Prevention is key when it comes to raccoons. Here are a few tips to make your home less inviting to these critters:
Secure Your Trash: Raccoons love easy meals. Make sure your trash cans are raccoon-proof. Do not leave dog or cat food outside, feed your pets indoors as this will attract wildlife looking for an easy meal. Sweep up fallen birdseed and dispose of fallen fruit on the ground (apples, etc.)
Check for Entry Points: Regularly inspect your home for potential entry points, such as loose siding, soffit panels hanging or holes in your roof or eaves. If you see damage, do not close up the holes - you could possibly be trapping a raccoon and her young in your roof. Call an affordable wildlife control company to get them out safely and keep them out. A one way door would need to be installed over the entry.
Chimney Caps and Vent Covers - Prevention is Key: When raccoons bust into a roof or attic, sometimes just covering the one hole might not be enough to keep them out. Once they exit the one way door and realize they can’t re-enter, they may search the roof or roofline looking for a new way back in. Preventatively screening over your chimney and your roof vents goes a long way to halt raccoons from seeing your home as a potential Airbnb.
FAQs: Everything Homeowners Need to Know About Raccoon Babies in Brampton, Ontario
How can I tell if there are raccoon babies in my attic?
Listen for unusual noises, generally in the springtime, such as chittering sounds or thumping at night. You might also notice an unpleasant odor, thanks to their droppings. Mother raccoons sometimes leave their young at night, to go hunt for food, so you can occasionally even hear crying from the baby raccoons.
What should I do if I find raccoon babies in my attic?
Call a professional wildlife removal service. If you find them in the attic, don’t touch them, leave baby raccoons where you find them because if the female raccoon is there she may attack. It's illegal in many places, including Ontario, to disturb raccoon dens during the birthing season without proper authorization.
Can raccoon babies carry diseases?
Yes, raccoons are a rabies vector species, they can carry diseases such as rabies and raccoon roundworm, which can be transmitted to humans and pets. There is no cure for rabies so if you’ve been bitten, get medical help right away. Always exercise caution and call professionals (animal control) if you suspect raccoons have made a home in your attic. Furthermore, they could also carry canine distemper which can be transmittable to a multitude of other animals. if you have dogs or cats, monitor them while they’re outside.
How can I discourage raccoons from coming onto my property?
Aside from securing trash and closing off entry points, consider removing food sources like bird feeders and pet food from your yard.
What if I’ve Been Bitten by a Raccoon?
Raccoons are a rabies vector species, which means they, along with bats, foxes, and skunks, are more susceptible to get the rabies virus. If you’ve been bitten by a raccoon, get medical help and call Animal Control Officers right away. There is a good chance the animal’s not infected but the only way to know for sure is to trap and euthanize the raccoon and study it’s brain tissue. The rabies testing process could be confirmed 100% at that point..
Conclusion: Living with Raccoons in Brampton
Dealing with raccoon babies in Brampton, Ontario, from being born inside of attics to maturing and starting the cycle over again, is a challenge, but it's not insurmountable. With a bit of knowledge, preparation, and patience, you can manage these encounters with our furry neighbors. Remember, raccoons are a part of our ecosystem and, like all wildlife, deserve our respect and consideration. So, let's coexist peacefully with these clever critters, taking the necessary steps to protect our homes while ensuring they can thrive in their natural habitat. After all, it's their world too; we're just living in it!
