Can raccoons be dangerous in the garden?

Raccoons in the garden are nothing unusual these days. They can cause great damage here and also be dangerous for the health of people and pets. More on this below.

Recognize raccoons

The cute animals are nocturnal. Raccoons can also cause damage in the garden on their nocturnal forays. First signs of the presence of raccoons (Procyon lotor) can be:

• churned out lawns, beds and compost heaps
• there foraging like grubs or worms
• Harvesting of ripe fruit
• Overturned garbage cans
• ripped open garbage bags
• broken flower pots
• damaged garden furniture
• Holes in the roof of summer houses, sheds etc.
• looted feeding grounds for birds and squirrels

In addition, the typical footprints and the droppings point to the visit of these wild animals:

• splayed toes connected with metacarpal
• front paw length 4 to 8 cm, width 4 to 7.3 cm

Tip: Attaching a game camera can clearly demonstrate the presence of raccoons.

Feces contain parasites

The faeces of the animals represent a particular source of danger. This contains eggs of the raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis). These can develop into roundworms under optimal conditions. The eggs can be transmitted through smear infections. Possible consequences are:

• Tissue destruction
• Organ disorders such as blindness
• Nervous system disorder
• Disturbance of balance
• comatose states
• death

One gram of faeces in infected animals can contain 20,000 to 26,000 roundworm eggs. These are able to survive there for several years. The development of an egg into an infectious larva then takes place under moderate humidity conditions and temperatures. The feces must never be touched with bare hands. The roundworm is one of the most dangerous zoonoses. Other intermediate hosts besides humans can be:

• small mammals
• Birds and rodents

Note: Raccoon roundworms have already been found sporadically in domestic animals such as dogs.

Thoroughly remove the feces

In order to correctly interpret the legacies of these animals, here are a few brief explanations:

• Creation of latrines ("communal toilets")
• Several animals feced there
• "Toilets" are located on raised areas
• in the garden on boards or thick branches
• sausage-shaped feces
• Length 4 to 6 cm
• Addition of hair, fruit pits and indigestible food
• Color of each food from brownish to reddish

Found in the garden Raccoon droppings must be removed immediately. A few things must be observed in order to exclude a hazard and to destroy all germs:

• Wear disposable gloves and overshoes
• Put on a face mask
• Pick up manure with a shovel
• burn if possible
• alternatively fill in a plastic bag
• close well
• put in household waste
• Clean poo with soapy water and
• Pour boiling water over them
• alternatively the use of vinegar or disinfectant sprays or
• Use of a roofer's gas burner
• Wash clothes at 60 ° C
• Shovel etc. clean thoroughly

Bite is dangerous

Usually the animals shy away from encountering humans. Sometimes it can still happen that both of them run into each other. Sufficient space should then be kept as the wild animals bite and scratch, especially when they feel threatened and cornered. Mothers with their young can be extremely dangerous. A bite can cause painful wounds. Not only that, a wide variety of diseases can also be transmitted, such as:

• rabies
• distemper
• Rabbit plague

There is also a transmission of parasites like

• lice
• Fleas and
• Ticks

possible. Therefore, dogs and cats should also be kept away from these small wild animals. It is also advisable to vaccinate pets against rabies and distemper.

Note: When a raccoon makes growling or screeching noises, it is indicative of an aggressive mood. Then it is time to move away from the animals.

Threat to native wildlife

The presence of raccoons also poses a threat to native bird life in the gardens. They are active nest robbers and not only use the bird eggs in the nest or the bird boxes, but also the young birds. Small animals nesting on the ground or reptiles such as lizards are also threatened. Many garden owners are very worried when a raccoon settles in the green oasis, because it does not stop at the fish that live in the pond either.

Prevent a visit

Visiting these animals in gardens is always fraught with chaos. To prevent raccoons from visiting or even nesting, a garden must be made as uncomfortable as possible for them. The following measures are helpful:

• under no circumstances feed
• Close possible loopholes in garden houses / sheds
• close existing cat flaps with a chip
• Harvest ripe fruit and vegetables early
• Pick up windfalls regularly
• do not dispose of on compost heaps
• do not put leftover food on compost heaps
• Use of lockable compost bins or quick composter
• lock simple covers with locks
• do not leave pet food open
• Hang birdhouses / nesting boxes at least 350 cm high
• including attachment of metal cuffs
• Raccoons slide on it
• no storage of rubbish such as bulky waste or building materials
• are good hiding spots
• Examine tree trunks for hideout holes
• close if necessary
• Attachment of garden lighting, motion detectors or water sprinklers
• Use of ultrasound equipment
• Laying out mothballs

Note: Relatives females (ferries) live peacefully together in one area and males can be found in small groups of up to four animals. So where there is a raccoon there are still several.

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