What can you do to keep raccoons away? Leaving pet food outdoors is a sure way to attract a local raccoon. Trash cans are another lure for these masked bandits. Use locking lids, or keep your garbage secured in the garage. Bird feeders are easy pickings for raccoons, so clean underneath the feeders daily, or consider taking them down at night.
Can raccoons climb up and down vinyl siding? Raccoons are excellent climbers, so it's fairly difficult to keep them from climbing on the roof. They can ascend the corners of most houses, and easily climb up and down downspouts. Raccoons can tear open eaves, and even shingled roof, so beware of the damage they are capable of.
If you give raccoons a problem, they'll typically figure out how to solve it as long as there's food involved. They have repeatedly demonstrated this in labs in addition to yards and campsites. Early in the 20th century, ethologist H.B. Davis presented 12 raccoons with a set of locks to pick. They had to negotiate hooks, bolts, buttons, latches, and levers to get to the rewards inside the boxes; some of the boxes had multiple locks. The raccoons eventually managed to bypass 11 of the 13 defenses.
More recently, scientists gave the Aesop's Fable test to some raccoons. Researchers have adopted the well-known parable of a crow throwing stones into a pitcher to cause the water level to rise as a benchmark for animal intelligence. Raccoons were put in a space with a water cylinder, marshmallows floating on top, and stones strewn about it. They had to raise the water level first by dumping the stones before they could get to the sweet treats. Two of the eight raccoons imitated the action after being shown how to do it, but a third approached the issue differently and knocked the entire structure over.
Do raccoons come out when it's raining? Researchers have shown that weather conditions may affect the movement of Austin raccoons, and they enjoy coming out immediately after the rain has stopped. Similarly, the movements of Texas raccoons are not hindered when it drizzles slightly, however, they can be shut inside their dens when the rainfall is very heavy.
Do raccoons kill cats? But while dogs may attack a raccoon, a cat will generally pretend to ignore coons, and try to be 'co-incidentally' elsewhere while the beast is around. Since raccoons usually ignore or avoid cats, the two species often get along fine by not getting along together at all. This does not mean that conflict may not arise.
Is raccoon poop bad for dogs? The raccoon is a primary host for the baylisascaris procyonis parasite though their health is not affected by being a carrier. The danger to dogs is very real, however. ... By ingesting the eggs found in the feces, or eating prey (like rabbits or birds) that have the infection, your dog can contract the raccoon roundworm.