Raccoons

Raccoons are the primary host of a very dangerous roundworm called Baylisascaris procyonis. Roundworm eggs are passed in the feces of raccoons. Raccoons leave there their droppings in shared sites called latrines. Once a raccoon has made its way into your attic, your insulation becomes its new latrine area leaving you vulnerable to its roundworm.

The millions of eggs that are excreted by raccoons are not immediately infectious. The eggs will develop in the environment for 2 to 4 weeks. Once fully developed, the eggs are able to cause infection. Roundworm eggs are resistant to the most severe conditions, and with moisture, can survive for years.

Young children and the mentally disabled are particularly at risk for raccoon roundworm infection as they tend to put their fingers, soil or objects into their mouths. Humans become infected by ingesting fertile eggs. Once inside the body, roundworm eggs hatch into larvae in the intestine and travel throughout the body. Depending on where the larvae migrate, the infection can affect the brain, spinal cord, eyes, and/or other organs. Signs and symptoms depend on how many and where in the body the larvae travel to. Symptoms of infection may take a week or so to develop and include nausea, tiredness, liver enlargement, loss of coordination, lack of attention, loss of muscle control, blindness, coma and in severe cases even death. The infection is often incorrectly diagnosed as it can mimic flu symptoms.

Raccoon latrines are can be found at the base of trees, infested attics, or on flat surfaces such as logs, tree stumps, rocks, decks and rooftops. Predator animals, including dogs and cats, may become infected by eating an animal or feces that has been infected with Baylisascaris. In dogs, the roundworm can grow to adults and pass eggs in the dog's feces.

Raccoons in the garden? Here are tips on how to combat these masked bandits!

Raccoons are nocturnal feeders that eat your sweet corn, though they also eat fruit trees, peas, potatoes, and grubs.

Even though wild raccoons prefer areas with trees and a source of water, more and more of them are raiding gardens because gardens are an easy source of food.

If your lawn has a lot of holes in it, or your mulch pile has a lot of holes, you probably have a nightly visitor. Raccoons will dig up lawns and mulch piles looking for insects to eat. They will also empty bird feeders as well, so keep an eye on those to see if you have a raccoon problem.

Of course, if you have corn, there's nothing more infuriating than finding stalks topped and ears ripped open and half eaten. (Even more frustrating is the idea, offered by animal researchers, that raccoons are wasteful because that don't really like sweet corn all that much; in fact, they seem to prefer sunflower seeds, dog food, and sardines.)

The persistence and proliferation of raccoons has inspired many solutions; one of them is bound to work for you.

• Build a good fence around your garden. Beware though, raccoons are agile and intelligent; make sure your fence will keep them out. You may need to install an electric fence. This is a good measure. A two-wire fence, with one wire four to six inches above the ground and the other at 12 inches, should be effective.
• If your raccoon problem is persistent, you can set live traps in your garden and release the animal at least three miles away (check local and state laws first). Raccoons will eat virtually anything; try fish-flavored dry cat food, chicken necks, ears of corn, or whole peanuts for bait.
• Keep a dog in the yard-a good dog who doesn't mind the night shift. This will save you a lot of corn, but, on the other hand, you may be too tired from lack of sleep to pick it.
• To keep raccoons at a distance, try scattering blood meal around corn plants. Try sprinkling wood ashes around your plants.
• Grind up garlic, mix it with an equal portion of chili powder, and spread it around the garden. Frequent applications are needed.
• One reader says, "Hang shoes and clothes that smell of human perspiration around your garden or corn patch. Similarly, "You can try to repel raccoons by putting dog hair or human hair around the garden."
• Tune a radio to a rock station and set it in the middle of your garden and/or corn patch. Leave it on all night. The noise will scare away the raccoons.
• Put lights in the garden. A bright lantern will sometimes keep Sun-shy raccoons away.
• Plant enough corn for man and beast alike.
• If your home is near your garden, remove any possible food sources from the area, including pet food and birdseed. Buy garbage cans with locking lids and keep inside a garage if possible. Keep pet doors sealed shut between dusk and dawn. Cap your chimneys. Seal any holes or gaps in attics and roofs.
• Grow tall varieties such as 'Silver Queen', 'Kandy Korn', and 'Lancelot'. Taller plants bear their ears higher, causing raccoons trouble getting leverage to topple stalks and ravage them. They prefer shorter plants.
• Add some pinwheels and streamers to your garden to scare the creatures.
• You can also plant squash around your corn or other plants to deter raccoons; they don't like walking on the prickly squash vines.