Just before dawn, the house is peaceful, the dogs snoozing on the couch (there's never any effort to kick them off, and they know it).
All of a sudden, they go nuts--barking furiously at something outside. It's not the newspaper guy. He's been here already. It's something shadowy, sneaking around in the dark. After everyone is good and awake, the dogs settle down, and quiet reigns again.
Then another ruckus. Above the ceiling in the living room. Like a bowling ball rolling through cornflakes. Noisily, almost violently.
Maybe the sound is coming from outside, up on the roof. Magical thinking subsides. The noise is coming from the attic. There's a critter up there. And judging from the heavy thumping, it's not a scampering squirrel or rat. It's likely a raccoon. He's been out scavenging all night, and the doggish uproar is caused when he decides to come home--to the attic--and enjoy a well-earned rest.
The period from April through June is prime time for raccoons to set up housekeeping (in your house). They get in through dog doors, open vents, cracks in foundations and walls. A tiny opening is all that's needed; they're smart and strong, capable of enlarging existing holes or ripping siding off exterior walls.
Once they're in, they indulge in annoying pastimes like having babies, tearing up insulation, destroying drywall, ripping paneling, damaging wooden joists, and shredding stuff for the fun of it. Not to mention relieving themselves.
What to do? They probably won't leave on their own. Repellents get mixed reviews. Poison is ineffective and inhumane. The best approach is to snag the invader with a baited live cage trap and relocate it, then fix the entry/exit hole.
Good luck with that. It's harder than it sounds, and not always successful.
Or call a professional wildlife removal company. And don't be surprised if there are 30 customers ahead of you.
Editorial on 06/20/2017