USING MESH HARDWARE CLOTH TO PREVENT PROBLEMS WITH RACCOONS
We read this story on Wednesday Journal about raccoons that have invaded a vacant carriage house in south Oak Park and decided to check things out for ourselves.
We'll cop to getting a little spooked — the property is dilapidated and the weeds are overgrown. Look close at the chimney and you'll see that it's about to collapse.
But one thing we didn't see during a recent visit is raccoons.
Still, it's clear that the property at 1145 S. Humphrey Ave. has a critter problem, one the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says can pose dangers to neighboring human beings and wildlife:
Concerns include the spread of diseases and parasites, damage to crops and homes, and predation on other wildlife, including some endangered species.
The property is in foreclosure, which makes local enforcement by the Village of Oak Park tricky. Still, neighbors like Tara Schaafsma say they've taken matters into their own hands by setting traps themselves.
As village officials and residents grapple with a solution, here are some tips from the Illinois DNR to prevent a prevalence of raccoons, and for ambitious do-it-yourselfers looking to trap the critters themselves (you'll need a Nuisance Animal Removal Permit). A complete list of information for the DNR is attached as a PDF.
PREVENTING PROBLEMS WITH RACCOONS:
•Do not encourage raccoons by feeding them
•Keep pet food and watering dishes indoors, especially at night
•Use metal or durable plastic trash containers
•Secure lids with elastic shock cords that are available at most hardware stores.
•Use bird feeders that are equipped with a gravity-operated treadle to prevent access by squirrels and raccoons. Don't allow spillage to accumulate
•Install chimney caps before raccoons move in. Hardware cloth (use 1/2" x 1/2" mesh) provides an economical alternative, but it must be secured tightly. Leave a peak or dome over the flue to prevent accumulation of leaves and sticks
•Install mesh hardware cloth (1/2" x 1/2" mesh) on the inside of attic vents and fan openings
•Repair broken, weak or rotten areas on your roof soffit and fascia
•Trim tree limbs that provide raccoons easy access to your roof.
