Living with Wildlife in Manitoba

Raccoons

The raccoon is the most common problem furbearer in urban areas of the province. Manitoba Conservation receives hundreds of raccoon complaints each year in the city of Winnipeg alone, a figure that is increasing steadily.  Being extremely adaptable, the raccoon is able to live almost anywhere and its range continues to spread northward — in Manitoba, its range continues to move beyond The Pas and towards Thompson. If you have, or believe that you have, raccoons damaging your property, you can do several things.

Preventing Raccoon Problems

For raccoons or any wild animal, deny them access to attractants, which can be food or shelter. Keep all garbage and composters in secure containers or enclosures. Because those odours may still attract raccoons, you should carry on with the steps below.

• Supervise children and inspect their outdoor play structures beforehand.
• Cover sand play boxes to prevent raccoons from using it as a latrine.
• Do not deliberately feed raccoons
• Do not leave garbage or pet food outdoors.
• Protect outdoor fish ponds with metal screens or mesh
• Clean acorns and fruits that fall from trees nearby.
• Clean up after outdoor cooking or picnics, especially grease drippings from barbeques.
• Block even the smallest access to attics, sheds, chimneys, or other potential dens and replace old wooden roof materials
• Replace insulation in the attic and disinfect the area if raccoons have gained access, since the raccoon scent will linger and attract others to the attic.
• Try strong-smelling repellents, such as oil of mustard, bleach, cayenne pepper, naphtha flakes/ mothballs, or ammonia around garbage containers and entrances to potential dens.
• Install lights around garbage and compost containers.
• Keep pets inside at night and closely supervise them during the day.
• Remove over hanging branches to restrict their access to roof tops.
• Vaccinate all your pets against rabies and other diseases, as your veterinarian recommends

Encountering a Raccoon

In most towns and cities, Manitoba Conservation cannot keep up with the overwhelming number of raccoon complaints.  The homeowner can to do a number of things to help themselves in most cases. With raccoons or all wildlife:

• Do not feed, disturb or handle it.  Most importantly, do not handle any young, as the mother is usually nearby and can be viciously protective.
• If it is causing a problem, contact your local animal control office, company or the nearest Manitoba Conservation District Office.  (Note: If the problem is preventable such as open garbage containers or fish ponds or involves raccoon faeces, Manitoba Conservation will only provide advice to the property owner.)
• Raccoons may not be kept as pets in Manitoba; people who do so risk injury from the animal and prosecution by Manitoba Conservation.
• If you are injured (bitten, scratched), seek immediate medical attention; if your pet is injured, seek immediate veterinary attention.
• Raccoon faeces should be cleaned up using proper materials to avoid personal contamination (shovels, disposable rubber gloves, strong disinfectants, etc); the faeces should be buried or sent securely to a landfill; treat contaminated areas and tools with disinfectant.
• If immediate help is not available with a raccoon in a closed space (such as an attic, chimney), a property owner can:
• Shoot or lethally trap it in a safe manner and subject to local firearm laws; you must report removal to a Natural Resource Officer within 10 days.
• Place bright lights, a loud radio, and/or employ repellents in/near the den to drive the animals out.
• If the raccoon is caught in a chimney/stovepipe, drop a rope down to allow it to climb out; bright lights and a loud radio in the fireplace will encourage the raccoons to leave; cap the chimney/stovepipe once the animal is gone.