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Thousand Oaks California Raccoon Control Situation: Raccoons like water and often defecate in it. Their urine and feces can spread viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as giardia, roundworms and leptospirosis. The giardia and roundworm are parasites living in the intestines of the raccoons. Exposure to these parasites can cause symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting leading to hemorrhage of intestines. Roundworms can also spread through breathing near infected areas. On the other hand, Leptospirosis is transmitted through raccoon's urine. If a raccoon has been spotted near a pool, chances are it would have urinated and pooped in the swimming pool contaminating the water.
If you find raccoon's feces in the pool, do not remove it with bare hands. Always wear gloves and face mask before removing the feces. Put the feces in a plastic bag and throw the used gloves with the garbage. Wash your hands thoroughly after doing the job. Empty out the pool and clean it with disinfectant if possible. Otherwise, hire a professional to help you.
There a several ways you can keep out raccoons from entering your pool area. They are normally attracted to the scent of food, not just water. If you have pets in the house, do not leave their food outside especially near the swimming pools. Clean the pool area after having a party, and dispose of all the food scraps. Close the bins properly and use heavy lids so the raccoons can't open them. Most importantly, cover the pool when it is not in use.
If the raccoon problem becomes more frequent, you can use animal traps around the pool area. You can use a live cage to trap the raccoon and relocate it safely away from your house. Leave the raccoon at least 18 miles away from your home so it can't find its way back. Hire a professional if you need help with trapping raccoons. They have license to relocate the animal, and can do the job for you. Whatever method you choose to trap raccoons, please make sure it is humane. Killing raccoons is a terrible thing, and some states have a law against this.
Other ways to keep out a raccoon from your swimming pool are installing a small fence around the pool. You can also use a chicken wire or razor wire for the job. Raccoons normally use the pool steps to access the water. They are shallow water swimmers and don't go deep in the pool. They will usually poop or urinate near the steps too. If you can cut off their entry to the swimming pool steps, you'll probably have success in keeping them out of the pool water.
In any case, hiring a professional is worthwhile because they have the proper tools and equipment for capturing raccoons. Raccoons can show aggressive behavior sometimes especially when they are sick. So it's better to have a pro handle the case, and let them take care of the raccoon problem for you. They can also guide you about health and safety matters that you and your family should take when living in a raccoon populated area.
If you wish to learn more, click on the How to Get Rid of Raccoons in the Attic home page. For wildlife control, animal trapping services, and raccoon control in Ventura County, California, call us at 805-624-5646, and ask to talk about raccoons in the attic in Thousand Oaks, CA.