How to Handle Raccoons Under Your Bed: A Comprehensive Guide

Dealing with unexpected visitors like raccoons under your bed can be a scary and stressful experience. These nocturnal creatures can not only cause chaos but also pose significant health risks. This guide provides a detailed approach to handling this situation while ensuring safety and minimizing risks.

Initial Response: Immediate Actions

Upon discovering raccoons under your bed, your first reaction should be to remain calm and assess the situation. The following steps are crucial to ensuring you and your household are safe and the problem is addressed efficiently.

Step 1: Ensure Safety

Do not attempt to directly confront or harm the raccoons. Racoons are known carriers of rabies and other diseases, and their behavior can be erratic, especially if they feel threatened. It is important to prioritize your safety.

Step 2: Clear House Pets

Move any pets from the area. Dogs, in particular, should be removed from the house as they may not have stopped the raccoons for a reason, which could mean the raccoons are aggressive or diseased.

Step 3: Open External Doors and Close the Bedroom Door

Open the windows and doors away from the house pets to encourage the raccoons to leave. Close the bedroom door tightly to prevent them from moving to other parts of the house.

Calling for Professional Help

Given the potential risks associated with raccoons, it is advisable to contact animal control or a pest control service immediately. Here's what to do:

Step 1: Contact Animal Control

Call your local animal control department to explain the situation and arrange for them to come and handle the raccoons. They are trained to deal with these situations and can ensure the raccoons are safely removed and potentially quarantined for testing for rabies.

Step 2: Seek Medical Attention

Even if you do not have direct contact with the raccoons, it is recommended to seek medical advice. Saliva from rabid raccoons can potentially cause infection through mucous membranes. Vaccinations for rabies and tetanus might be necessary.

Alternative Methods and Safety Measures

If animal control services are unavailable, here are some alternative measures:

Live Trap

Set up a live trap in the bedroom and keep the door closed. This can be a humane and effective way to catch and remove the raccoons while minimizing the risk of direct interaction.

Window Opening Method

Open the window and close the bedroom door to confine the raccoons. Leave it this way overnight to give them an opportunity to leave on their own. Check the next morning to see if the raccoons are gone. If not, further actions may be necessary.

Exterminator

As a last resort, if you cannot manage the situation with the live trap or other methods, consider hiring an exterminator. They can use traps or other humane methods to remove the raccoons and deal with any potential hazards.

Conclusion

Dealing with raccoons under your bed requires prompt and cautious action. Prioritize your safety and that of your family and house pets. Contacting professional help is the best course of action to ensure a safe and humane resolution to the situation. Stay informed about your local resources and follow the appropriate steps to manage the problem effectively.