Dealing with a captured raccoon, whether secured in a live trap or confined in an enclosed space, requires a clear, cautious, and legal approach. The plan must prioritize safety for people and pets while adhering to local wildlife regulations. Resolving this encounter safely depends on understanding the serious health risks involved and following mandated procedures for handling a captured wild animal.
Prioritizing Safety and Health Risks
A captured raccoon poses physical danger and serious biological health risks that demand extreme caution. The frightened animal is prone to biting or scratching, which can transmit diseases. Raccoons are a primary vector for rabies in many regions of the United States, a virus that attacks the central nervous system and is fatal once symptoms appear. Any bite or scratch must be treated as a potential rabies exposure and requires immediate medical attention and reporting to the local health department.
Raccoon Roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a serious threat, a parasite whose eggs are shed in the animal’s feces. These microscopic eggs become infective after a few weeks and, if ingested by humans, can cause severe neurological damage, blindness, or death as the larvae migrate. Avoid all contact with raccoon droppings, especially in communal toilet areas known as latrines. When handling the secured trap or cleaning contaminated areas, wear personal protective equipment, including heavy-duty gloves, a respirator, and protective clothing, to prevent contact or inhalation of airborne eggs.
Understanding Local Wildlife Regulations
The impulse to simply relocate a trapped raccoon to a distant park or forest is highly discouraged by experts and often illegal. State, county, and municipal laws are highly specific regarding the capture and disposal of wild animals. These regulations exist primarily to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, such as rabies, to new areas and to protect the health of established wildlife populations.
In many jurisdictions, self-relocation is explicitly prohibited, and transporting a trapped raccoon across county or state lines can result in substantial fines. Local regulations may require a permit just to set a trap, or mandate that the animal either be released immediately on the property of capture or humanely euthanized. Before taking any action beyond securing the animal, you must contact your local Animal Control, Fish and Wildlife agency, or Department of Natural Resources to understand the precise legal requirements in your specific area. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to legal penalties.
Steps for Handling a Captured Raccoon
Once a raccoon is secured in a live trap, the priority is to minimize its stress and ensure your safety before taking the next legal step. Approach the trap slowly and cover it completely with a thick blanket or tarp to create a dark, quiet environment that will help calm the distressed animal. This covering should remain in place throughout the entire handling and transportation process.
The next action depends on your local regulations and your comfort level with the situation. If relocation is strictly prohibited, the most responsible course may be to contact a licensed professional wildlife removal service or Animal Control, as they are trained to handle the animal humanely and legally. If your local laws permit immediate on-site release, move the covered trap to a quiet, vegetated area away from your home and any potential shelter entry points. Position the trap so the door faces away from you and use a long pole or stick to open the release mechanism from a safe distance, allowing the raccoon to exit without confrontation.
Never attempt to reach into the trap or handle the animal directly, even with gloves, as a panicked raccoon can easily bite through protective wear. Once the animal has been released, immediately clean and disinfect the trap using a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. If you choose to use a professional service, they will manage the entire process, including transport and ensuring the animal’s subsequent disposition complies with all state and local laws.
Preventing Raccoons from Returning
Successfully dealing with a captured raccoon requires addressing the reasons it was attracted to your property, focusing on exclusion and the removal of attractants. Raccoons are intelligent and opportunistic, drawn primarily by accessible food sources and secure shelter. A simple first step is to secure all outdoor garbage cans with locking lids or heavy-duty bungee cords, as unsecured trash is their most common meal.
Removing Attractants
Pet food should never be left outdoors, especially overnight, and bird feeders should be removed or equipped with baffles to prevent access to the seed. Beyond food, you must also eliminate potential den sites by sealing all access points to your home’s vulnerable areas.
Exclusion and Sealing Entry Points
Raccoons can enter through openings as small as four inches. Inspect and seal gaps around chimneys, foundation vents, and under decks or porches using heavy-gauge wire mesh or metal flashing. Pruning tree branches that hang within several feet of your roof will eliminate a common bridge raccoons use to access attics and chimneys.