Raccoons are adorable when you see them frolicking together out in the backyard or woods.  Their cute little striped face, big brown eyes, pointy whiskers, and shiny nose may make you think that they are as friendly as your neighbors golden retriever.  Get close to them or have them pay a visit to the interior of your home, and you will see that they are not quite as cuddly as you imagined.

People in Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York are encountering raccoons in increasing numbers this summertime season. Just this past week, two raccoons were seen trying to obtain entry into a third story apartment of one residence.  They clawed the screen, scratched the glass, and even tried to open the window to get inside.  The resident, who was on the inside bashing on the window, could not even scare the creatures away.  Earlier the same month, the same resident awoke to his kitchen being ransacked by a raccoon.  Another Park Slope resident reports that she had four raccoons running amuck in her dining room and kitchen.

Raccoons are extremely strong and resourceful critters to deal with.  Once they have entered your home and decided it is a good place to nest, they are difficult and dangerous to evict.  Even though they can weigh as much as 35 pounds, these animals can squeeze their large bodies into spaces as small as four inches.  Raccoons are a constant problem for homeowners because of the damage that they cause to structures, urine and feces that they leave behind, and electrical wires that they chew.  They can cause damage to gardens, lawns, crops and livestock as well.  Raccoons are known carriers of many diseases that are extremely dangerous to humans and domestic animals.  Contracting rabies from raccoons is always a concern; but you also need to be concerned about distemper, roundworms, fleas, mites, and ticks when raccoons are present.

Raccoons can be one of the most challenging wild animals to remove. If you have raccoons in your home, contact Stern Environmental Group.  We offer expert Raccoon Control and Removal Services to Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut areas.

Continuing from Thursday…

Not only is Josimar Ferreira accused of operating a Massachusetts extermination company without being certified, but it has been reported that he has also allegedly maintained pest control companies in New Jersey and New York as well.  Both New Jersey and New York have cited Ferreira for operating an unlicensed pesticide business.  It makes you wonder how he is able to obtain toxic pesticides, without being properly licensed.  Clearly there was a breakdown…in three states!

Stern Environmental Group has been providing expert bed bug and pest control services in New Jersey and New York for over ten years.  We pride ourselves on providing our customers with the safest pesticide application available, and offer a wide variety of services and products to meet many different types of needs.  We offer professional services to both residential and business customers alike.  Whether you are looking for help with bed bugs, rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, groundhogs, ants, spiders, cockroaches, or bee control, Stern Environmental Group’s licensed pest control applicators are here to lend a helping hand!

In continuation from Tuesday…

Once an animal contracts rabies, they are very unpredictable and should be avoided.  It was recently reported in the news that a nine year old girl was walking into a church when a rabid raccoon jumped out of the bushes and attacked her.  The raccoon had such a tight grasp on the poor girls leg that when church members scooped her up to carry her inside, the creature refused to let go and was lifted up as well!  In another story, a woman was sleeping soundly in her bed when a rabid raccoon entered her home and bit her foot for absolutely no reason!

Residents of New York and New Jersey should always take precautions and watch out for rabid raccoons when walking on the streets.  You should never feed or try to befriend any wild animal.  If you see an animal acting strange or have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, the New York City Health Department advises that you contact the 311 line.

If you have raccoons causing trouble at your home or business in New York or New Jersey; Stern Environmental Group is here to help.  We provide 24 hour emergency raccoon removal services in the New York City Metropolitan region servicing New York City, parts of New Jersey and parts of Long Island.  Our trained experts will safely and humanly remove these damage causing, and potentially disease ridden pests, fast and efficiently!  Give us a call today.

Last night I returned home late.  It was dark and when I pulled into the driveway I noticed two little eyes shining underneath the van parked in front of the garage.  After I parked, I began calling “here kitty kitty” as my neighbors cat is often a nighttime visitor.  The kitty did not come out as it usually did so I bent down to look under the van to make sure that it was not injured.  The animal under the van began to hiss at me in a way that it had never done before.  I quickly jumped up and it was then that a rather large raccoon came bounding out towards me.  Not knowing if the raccoon had rabies, or what the animal would do; I quickly made a run for the front door.  I shutter to think of enduring the painful shots that I would have been subjected to had that raccoon gotten his claws or teeth into me!

Rabid raccoons have been a troublesome pest in New York and New Jersey as well as other parts of the United States.  In January of this year, the New York City Health Department reported that there were 23 rabid raccoon sightings, mostly in the Central Park area.  This is a spike in numbers from the four rabid raccoons reported in Manhattan for all of 2009. Unfortunately, in the Bronx and Staten Island, rabid raccoon sightings are a fairly common occurrence for homeowners.

Please check back on Thursday for the conclusion.

Raccoons are known for their cute and cuddly looks.  While watching them scamper and play outside it’s hard to think of them as a pest that will cause tremendous damage to your home or business; but that exactly what they are known for doing.

Raccoons are quite resourceful at climbing and can easily gain entry into an attic through a vent, soffit, or roof.  One family in Florida recently reported that they have been harassed by a pack of raccoons that won’t seem to go away.  These furry pests await the nighttime darkness and have repeatedly ripped the shingles off their roof and have dug holes through their plywood to gain access to their attic.  So far the family has caught 20 raccoons breaking in; yet much to their dismay they keep coming back, night after night.

New York and New Jersey residents have not only been battling the destructive antics of the raccoons; but they must also fear that the raccoons they encounter could have rabies.  Rabies is a virus that can infect all warm blooded mammals, including humans.  The virus is found in the saliva of rabid animals and is transmitted by bites and potentially contamination from open wounds.  Everyone is discouraged from having contact with raccoons because of the dangers they present.  If raccoons are giving you trouble in New York, NYC, or New Jersey, contact Stern Environmental Group.  Our professionals will provide safe, fast and humane raccoon removal services for your home or business.  Give us a call today!