Comprehensive Guide to Identifying and Handling Raccoon Poop
Raccoons are common in many urban and rural areas, and with raccoons comes raccoon latrines and their droppings can be a significant concern due to their health risks. Understanding how to identify and handle raccoon droppings is crucial for maintaining a safe environment.
How to Identify Raccoon Poop
Appearance and Characteristics
Raccoon feces are usually tubular in shape and are generally dark in color, and can range from dark brown to black. They typically measure 2 to 3 inches long and about 1/2 inch in diameter, tubular in shape. Often, they contain visible remnants of what they've recently eaten, ie. undigested food, such as berry seeds, and insect parts.
Common Locations Raccoons Tend to Poop
Fallen logs, large rocks, wood piles, fence lines, tree stumps, concrete pads, etc. These rascals often defecate in specific areas known as raccoon latrines. You might see tubular shapes on wood piles, dark in color. Raccoon latrines can be found on flat, smooth surfaces such as rooftops, decks, attics, and garden beds. They'll even poop on large rocks, which you can pour boiling hot water over. Recognizing these community latrines are essential for effective results for cleaning up raccoon scat and prevention.
Health Risks Associated with Raccoon Droppings
Baylisascaris Procyonis (Raccoon Roundworm)
One of the most significant disease concerns from raccoon poop is Baylisascaris procyonis, a type of raccoon roundworm. Infected raccoons can pass the roundworm eggs in their feces. Humans can become infected by accidentally ingesting or inhaling eggs from contaminated surfaces such as feces soiled decks or wood piles. The fungal spores and possible larval parasites can attack your central nervous system. It can be extremely harmful and the associated health risk isn't worth cutting corners.
Leptospirosis and Other Bacterial Infections
Raccoon feces can also harbour Leptospira, which can cause leptospirosis, a serious bacterial infection. Additionally, raccoon droppings may contain Salmonella and other harmful bacteria.
Canine Distemper
Your beloved pets are also susceptible to diseases. They can acquire canine distemper from infected raccoon feces.
Safe Cleanup Procedures
Protective Gear
When cleaning up raccoon droppings, it is essential to use shovel blades to scoop, appropriate protective gear, wear disposable gloves, masks (especially if it’s in a confined space such as an attic), rubber boots, and eye protection. This helps minimize the risk of direct contact with and will prevent accidental ingestion of any harmful pathogens or fungal spores. Although some people may attempt to use a heat source, such as a propane torch, on latrine sites - do NOT attempt to flame surfaces which could catch fire, like decks or grassy areas, or you might be making a call to your local fire department.
Step-by-Step Cleanup Process for Cleaning up Raccoon Feces
Preparation: Cleaning up raccoon feces can be a meticulous process, but it's crucial to take precautionary measures to ensure your safety. This process involves sealing off the area around your fence lines to prevent further contamination, and gathering all necessary cleaning supplies and protective clothing. It's important to take these precautions regardless, even if you're unsure if you're dealing with raccoon droppings or not - it could be dog droppings or skunk poop. Raccoon feces are extremely harmful and can carry diseases that can easily infect humans, so it's essential to take the cleanup process seriously. By following a step-by-step process and taking extra precautions, you can effectively clean up raccoon feces in a safe and efficient manner.
Initial Disinfection: When dealing with latrine sites, initial disinfection is crucial to ensure safety and hygiene. Start by using a spray bottle to lightly mist the droppings with some hot, soapy water; this helps to reduce dust and the spread of pathogens. Droppings in these areas can be extremely harmful, so it's important to treat feces-soiled decks or any other areas where old feces might be present. While most chemicals won't always kill roundworm eggs, extreme heat can kill the eggs instantly. Therefore, pouring boiling water over the affected areas is an effective method for disinfection. This approach ensures that even the most resilient pathogens are eradicated, maintaining a cleaner, safer environment.
Removal: Removing raccoon feces requires careful handling to ensure safety and prevent contamination. Always wear disposable gloves, rubber boots, and other protective clothing before beginning the cleanup. Since the task often involves working in confined spaces, it's crucial to be thoroughly prepared. Using metal shovels, carefully pick up the animal droppings and any contaminated debris. It's essential to place the feces directly into a sealable, inverted plastic bag to minimize exposure to other harmful pathogens. After securely sealing the bag, properly dispose of it according to local regulations. Pour boiling water over the area, if there are roundworm eggs it will kill eggs instantly. There may be signs of raccoon urine or stains as well, hot water will help with this. This meticulous approach ensures a safer and cleaner environment.
Secondary Disinfection: When dealing with raccoon scat at latrine sites, it‘s a good idea to perform a secondary disinfection as well just to be safe. It’s still essential to wear gloves and take proper precautions to avoid contamination. Begin by lightly misting the material contaminated with water to prevent dust particles from becoming airborne. Next, clean the affected area thoroughly with a disinfectant solution to ensure any harmful pathogens are neutralized. For an extra layer of safety, using boiling water can further sanitize the area. By following these steps, you can effectively manage and mitigate the risks associated with raccoon scat at latrine sites.
Disposal: Seal the raccoon poop in an inverted plastic bag and dispose of it according to local hazardous waste disposal regulations.
Final Cleaning: Clean and disinfect all tools and surfaces with soapy water, anything that came into contact with the droppings such as any contaminated soil at the latrine site, boiling water works well.
Preventing a Raccoon Infestation
Secure Food Sources
Ensure that garbage bins are tightly sealed and do NOT leave pet food outside overnight. Raccoons frequent areas where food is abundant, they are opportunistic feeders and will return to areas where they find easy access to food.
Call Wildlife Control Technicians to Seal Entry Points
A raccoon infestation in your attic is not a good choice for a DIY project. Consider calling a reputable wildlife control company to inspect your property for any potential entry points, such as gaps in the roof, attic vents, and chimneys. They will seal these openings with durable materials and install one-way doors to remove pest raccoons from your roof, and to prevent raccoons, and other animals, from entering and establishing another latrine area.
Regular Inspections
Conduct regular inspections of your property, especially window wells, behind the shed, on top of the shed, on the deck, and in other secluded areas to detect early signs of raccoon activity. Also, be careful when cleaning leaves from your gutters, as raccoon poop can roll down or be washed down with rainwater from a rooftop latrine. Prompt action can prevent more significant infestations and related health risks.
Conclusion
Handling raccoon droppings safely and preventing infestations are critical steps in protecting your health and maintaining a clean environment. By following the outlined procedures and preventive measures, you can minimize the risks associated with raccoon activity.
