Rabid Raccoon found in Nassau County, Long Island, NY

Local animal trapper says animals get a bad rap, but the county says to be alert for rabid raccoons on Long Island.

Nassau County health officials have asked residents to be on the lookout for unusual behavior in raccoons after one in Nassau County was found to have rabies. Following the recent finding of a rabid raccoon in Nassau County, health officials have advised the public to be on the lookout for sickly raccoons.

The Nassau Health Department announced Thursday that an animal collected in Hicksville by a wildlife trapper and submitted to the state for analysis tested positive for rabies, the first confirmed case of the disease on Long Island since 2007.

On Friday evening, Suffolk Health Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken ordered an increase in the countywide rabies-watch program, particularly along the county border in Babylon and Huntington. Residents of those towns have been asked to report “abnormally acting raccoons” and dead raccoons. Dead raccoons should be discarded in the garbage, but health officials warned that people and pets should have no direct contact with dead or dying animals. The county recommends using a shovel, wearing rubber gloves, and double-bagging the carcass.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, usually transmitted through a bite from a rabid animal. The virus can also be transferred from the saliva of a rabid animal through open cuts or skin lesions.

Suffolk County residents have been asked to report raccoons that come into contact with people or pets to the county Department of Health Services. The county has also asked that no one, including trappers and nuisance wildlife rehabilitators, transport or relocate any wild animals to help prevent the possible spread of the rabies virus.

The virus, usually transmitted through a bite from a rabid animal, infects the central nervous system. The virus can also be transferred from the saliva of a rabid animal through open cuts or skin lesions.

Dell Cullum, an East Hampton wildlife trapper, said that they are already experiencing a thinning of the raccoon population on the east end of Long Island due to a widespread outbreak of distemper over the past couple of years. Raccoons can contract feline or canine distemper, though distemper is not transferable to humans.

“There is no cure, and the raccoons die after a short period of time. However, before death, they will have seizures that resemble what people think are signs of rabies,” like chattering teeth, Mr. Cullum said. He called the latest news unfortunate for the animals. “It’s a shame, as these critters get a bad enough rap.”

Animals most associated with the rabies virus are skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and bats. Mr. Cullum said, though, that feral cat populations were more likely to be infected by rabies. “I’d worry more about them than a raccoon,” he said.

Excessive drooling, aggression, fearfulness, and other uncommon behavior are signs of rabies. On the East End, however, abnormal behavior can be challenging to pinpoint because, Mr. Cullum said, raccoons here are no longer strictly nocturnal. “Due to the abundance of trash and its accessibility day and night, the raccoon finds it safe to forage day or night,” he said, noting that he gets many calls about raccoons seen during daylight hours.

He said that the best way to tell if a raccoon is sick with distemper or rabies is disorientation. “Most commonly, the sick animal will walk in circles, stumble, or show difficulty using their back legs . . . this looks terrifying; however, at this point, they are usually very close to death.” Mr. Cullum recommended videotaping a suspicious raccoon and sending the tape to the health department.

Raccoon Removal in Long Island

Raccoons are nuisance animals that can become aggressive and spread disease to humans and pets. They are active year-round but can be most destructive in late winter and early Spring as they seek nesting or denning areas to birth their young.

Raccoon Description

• Raccoons are stocky with short front legs and long back legs.
• Adults are 20 to 30 inches long and weigh 10 to 35 pounds.
• They have grayish-black fur, rounded ears, and a distinguishing black “mask” over the eyes.
• They are very furry with a striped tail, having alternating light and dark rings.
• These mammals are widespread throughout the United States.

Raccoon Behavior

• Raccoons are brilliant. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, studies have shown that these mammals can remember solving tasks for up to three years.
• Raccoons are nocturnal animals and are active year-round.
• They make their homes:
  – Natural dens – in wooded areas along streams, lakes, marshes, swamps, and farmland in hollow trees, ground burrows, brush piles, or rock.
  – In cities/suburbs – in backyards, beneath decks, or in outbuildings, such as sheds, barns, or abandoned buildings.
• – In houses – in attics, chimneys, and the spaces beneath the home or porch.

• Like many wildlife, raccoons have their young in the Spring, generally having. litters of 3 to 6 babies, or “kits.”
• The kits stay with their mother for the first year, then begin to leave as newborns are born the following Spring.
• They are omnivorous, eating just about anything. Preferred food includes:
  – Plants: fruits, plums, gooseberries, blackberries, blueberries, dogwood berries, wild cherries, currants, grapes, apples, hawthorns, acorns, hazelnuts, and beechnuts, corn, grains.
  – Animals: crayfish, clams, fish, frogs, snails, insects, turtles, rabbits, muskrats, eggs and young of ground-nesting birds, turtle eggs.
  – Human foods: garden fruits, nuts, vegetables, outdoor pet food, garbage and compost scavenging, bird feeder grains.
• To feed, raccoons use the well-developed sensory nerves on their paws to feel their food and remove unwanted parts.

Raccoon Damage & Disease

Raccoons can cause a great deal of damage to homes and yards and be threatening to human health, including:

• In gardens and yards – Raccoons will eat garden vegetables and fruit; they will raid trash cans and eat pet food left outside.
• To home exteriors – Raccoons will rip off shingles, fascia boards, rooftop ventilators, and crawlspace doors to get into the home (particularly attic and crawlspace) to nest.
• To home interiors – They will use insulation for nesting and urinate and leave feces in the areas they den, leaving parasites and foul odors.
• To people and pets – Raccoons carry diseases and parasites. They can spread rabies as well as the raccoon roundworm to people. Rabies is deadly, and raccoon roundworms can cause serious problems or disabilities, particularly to young children. Raccoons can also transmit canine distemper and parvovirus to dogs.

Raccoon Removal in Nassau County, New York

Raccoons are adorable animals.  Nevertheless, they’re less than cute should they become occupants of your attic in Nassau County, Long Island. In this situation, the critters are pests and need to be removed.  Raccoons are wild animals that will do damage to your home as well as damage the landscaping. They can also bring unwanted parasites, such as fleas, into your house.  Raccoons carry diseases, such as rabies and leptospirosis, which can be given to your own pets. So, they must be humanely trapped by Nassau County Pest Control Professionals.

A Licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator will identify how the raccoons are entering your home in Nassau County, Long Island. If you plan to remove the raccoons yourself, you need to be aware of the laws concerning raccoon removal in New York.  In New York State, it is illegal for a homeowner to trap and relocate wildlife under New York State Environmental Conservation Law 11-0511.  Whether you have raccoons in the attic, fireplace, chimney, or under your deck, you need to hire a licensed pest control trapper to remove the raccoons from your premises. Should your home or garage become inhabited by raccoons in the Spring, chances are the unwanted visitor is a pregnant female raccoon.  Therefore, it is imperative that the wildlife trapper search for raccoon pups when doing a Long Island raccoon removal from your premises in the Spring.   If raccoon pups are present, it may become necessary for the pest control experts to cut open a ceiling or a wall to remove them.

Our animal control experts have found repellents such as Critter Ridder and Shake Away Animal Repellant to be ineffective when it comes to getting rid of raccoons.  Mothballs, ammonia, bleach, coyote urine, loud radios, and ultrasonic high-pitch sound emitting devices are ineffective when removing raccoons from an attic.  There is no quick fix or magic spray when it comes to raccoon control and wildlife removal from your home in Nassau County.  Therefore, you must hire a licensed wildlife trapper to remove the raccoons from your home in Nassau County, Long Island.  At DQ Pest Control, our pest control specialists have the necessary equipment, skills, and expertise to remove rabies vector animals, such as raccoons.

Raccoons digging up the lawn

If animals are digging up your lawn in the Fall, it is being done by raccoons and or skunks in search of grubs. You will need to hire a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator to trap these animals. Contact DQ Pest Control wildlife removal services for Long Island raccoon removal. The animal removal process is the first step in the process of saving your lawn. The following year, you will need to control the grubs in your yard to prevent raccoons and skunks from digging up the sod again.

Stop Grubs In Your Lawn

White grubs can be serious lawn pests. Knowing when to control them saves you time and money.  If your grass turns brown and pulls up quickly in July and August, or if you notice a lot of critters such as skunks or raccoons tearing up your lawn, your grass may be infested with grubs. White grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, or masked chafer beetles. They cause damage to lawns by feeding on the roots of the grass.  Get rid of the grubs, and the raccoons and skunks will stop digging up your lawn.

Identifying the Pest

Grubs are milky white with a brownish head. They typically curl into a “C” shape when disturbed. Depending on the species, they may have a 1-year or a 3-year life cycle. Annual white grubs (larvae of masked chafer beetles or Japanese beetles) begin their life cycle in mid-to-late summer, proliferate, and do most of their feeding in late summer. Larvae of June beetles take 3 years to complete their life cycle, so damage from them may appear in lawns in spring, summer, or Fall.

When to Control Grubs – Nassau County Exterminator

Controls are most effective on immature grubs. For most species and locations, July or August is the prime time to treat with an insecticide. However, because grub populations vary from year to year, you may be able to save the cost of treatment if you first sample your lawn to estimate how many grubs are present. Dig up several pieces of sod about a foot square. If you find five or fewer grubs per square foot, you need not apply grub control. The lawn will withstand the amount of feeding these few grubs do. If 10 or more grubs are present, treat your lawn for grubs. If the average count is between five and 10, whether or not to control depends on the health of your grass, your tolerance for damage to the lawn, and the presence of natural controls.

Natural Grub Controls – Nassau County Pest Control

Milky spore is a natural bacterium that can effectively control Japanese beetle grubs, but it usually takes several years for it to become established in the soil. It requires some grubs in the ground to live on, so don’t use it in combination with chemical grub controls. Milky spore is ineffective on other types of grubs.

Beneficial nematodes are microscopic worms that live in the soil. They seek out grubs, and after entering their bodies, release bacteria that kill the grubs. The two significant types of insect parasitic nematodes are Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp. The nematodes are applied as a live product, so make sure if you use them that they have been handled carefully to keep them alive and that their shelf life has not expired. These nematodes are effective on all types of grubs in the soil.

Weather and irrigation practices can work in your favor to control grubs, too. Grub populations are usually highest when soil conditions are consistently moist. Many grubs will not survive in dry years or if you withhold irrigation water during hot summer months. This strategy may work well for bluegrass lawns that recover well from summer dormancy.

Chemical Grub Controls

Apply curative chemical grub controls at the correct time when grubs are small and actively feeding near the soil surface. This is usually from early July until mid-August. Chemicals labeled for curative control are carbaryl, halofenozide, and imidacloprid.

Because grub populations vary so much from year to year, preventative chemical controls are seldom justified. But if your lawn has been attacked by grubs consistently, a preventative insecticide application in late May or June may be warranted. Imidacloprid and halofenozide provide extended, preventive grub control.

Water in chemical controls moves the chemical into the soil, where it can act on the grubs. Watering the lawn after chemical application moves the product down to the thatch layer and stimulates the grubs to move upward in the soil, closer to the chemical.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons

Raccoons are among the most widespread mammals in New York State. The adaptable raccoon can be found everywhere, from the most remote forest to the crowded inner city. The increasing number of raccoons in Nassau County, Long Island has resulted in diverse reactions by residents, ranging from outrage at their presence to deliberate feeding of raccoons. Wildlife removal experts from Nassau County Animal Control caution against feeding wild animals, because they lose their fear of humans and become increasingly obtrusive and dependent on humans as a food source. Raccoons without fear of humans are more likely to attack people. Raccoons don’t normally attack domestic animals, but will fight and even kill a cat, or dog for food.

Why Get Rid of Raccoons?

Despite their innocent-looking, cute little faces, raccoons actually have quite a reputation for being mischievous and destructive. Raccoons like to tear holes in a roof and inhabit attics. Raccoons in the attic, will urinate and defecate on the insulation in the attic and ruin it. When a raccoon enters a home, they also bring fleas with them. Raccoons often knock over trash cans and uproot gardens and lawns in search of earthworms and grubs that they eat. Raccoons may also carry and transmit diseases such as rabies or roundworm and are capable of becoming aggressive and biting humans, or other animals when they are rabid or feel threatened.

When it comes to getting rid of raccoons, there is no magic wildlife removal spray or raccoon repellent. These chemicals and other products like ultrasonic sound devices are really just gimmicks. The only proven way to get rid of a raccoon is through preventing access, limiting food sources, and raccoon trapping.

Step 1) Prevent Access

If you suspect that your home is inhabited by raccoons, skip this step and go to step 3. It is a little known fact that adult raccoons can fit through an opening as small as 3″ to 4″ in diameter. To prevent access, you should inspect the home or structure for all possible openings, and then seal them off. The most common entrance to a home for raccoons is down the chimney, or else through a vent by way of the roof. Do not block these openings if you suspect that your home is inhabited by raccoons. Methods of preventing access include:

•Trim trees and other shrubberies away from the house and roof
•Secure a cap of sheet metal over the chimney outlet
•Repair openings or holes in the home, but first make sure that your home is not already inhabited by an animal. Place newspaper into the opening and if it gets pushed out, don’t repair the hole until the animals have been removed.
•Electric fences may keep raccoons out of lawn and garden

Step 2) Limit Food Sources

Raccoons are not going to stick around long or make your home their home unless there are enough food sources to sustain them. To limit or eliminate food sources:

•Keep all trash in metal cans or bins with tight-fitting lids
•Keep trash cans in a garbage can storage shed
•When throwing away meat or other foods with a strong odor, double-bag them to reduce smells
•Eliminate as many sources of water as possible in your yard and near your home
•Regularly clean up fallen fruit such as berries in your garden
•If possible, cover garden crops with a cage of wire netting.
•Don’t leave pet food outside.

Step 3) Raccoon Removal Long Island

In New York State raccoons are protected by law. No one may possess a raccoon without a license, and licenses are not issued for pet wildlife. Hunting or trapping raccoons requires a license. If you suspect that your home has become inhabited by raccoons or some other wildlife contact a licensed New York State Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator. Do not attempt to seal the animals out of your home, which results in you sealing them into your home. Even if you are successful at excluding the animal from your home, there is a good chance that there are baby raccoons in the attic. The mother raccoon can and will attempt to get back into your home to get to her raccoon pups, which usually results in more damage to your home. If she doesn’t get back into your home, the raccoon pups will die and you will have a terrible stench, and blowflies will now inhabit your home.

Raccoons in the Attic ?

Many suburbanites see raccoons as mere pests, and others may consider this little critter a huge headache and even a potential threat. But, for those that have had raccoons in the attic, they can be real nightmares. They make a lot of noise, can cause extensive damage, and pose a health risk to your family.

Here are some basic facts about raccoon habits:

Raccoons are nocturnal, foraging for food at night and resting in the daytime

• Raccoons are scavengers and are particularly fond of garbage left by humans; however, they have been known to dunk their food in water before taking a bite. How civilized!

The hands of raccoons are similar to those of primates in that they are adequately spaced evenly, making them very agile

They do not hibernate in the winter, but they do go into a restful state and eat very little

Raccoons are typically loners, but mothers stay with their cubs from the spring births until the first winter

Raccoons are vagabonds; they will travel to follow food and shelter but will remain at places as long as they need

Here’s the catch. Note the last two points: raccoon mothers and babies stick together for about 16 weeks and they will travel and commit to a place that offers comfort. Here’s where your home comes into play—this can present a place that offers warmth, cover, and food for a raccoon mama nursing her young.

Wildlife removal, particularly when a raccoon takes up residence, is best handled by a professional. They can be difficult to evict and time is of the essence—before too much damage is done. Learn more about how we get rid of raccoons in your home in upcoming posts. And note that the springtime is when baby raccoons are born and homeowners should be particularly suspicious of noises they hear or other curious findings that may indicate a raccoon guest.

About DQ Pest Control:

DQ Pest Control is a family-owned and operated New York animal control and pest remediation company serving the New York metropolitan area and Long Island. Specialist David Quinn is a New York exterminator with many years of experience in the family business.

Spring is Finally Here ! Welcome, Green Leaves, Tulips, and ... Raccoons ?

The new season is upon us and there’s nothing like springtime in New York. The flowers begin to bloom, the trees get their leaves back, and the air is pleasant for a stroll—the crispness of the cooler months with the sunshine’s promise of warmer weeks to come. It’s great! We’ve been waiting since October!

But, so have others… like raccoon families, particularly mamas. They are ready for the new spring arrivals, and the last item on the “to-do” list is to make a nest. And guess what? Your attic looks pretty appealing.

There are a few reasons this becomes a problem in spring and there are a number of problems, aside from the obvious, with a raccoon guest. Because this issue is particularly dire and pervasive, I will spend some time over the next month or so talking about raccoon habits—why they do what they do—and what can be done about it—why we do what we do. 

Do you have any raccoon stories you’d like to share? If so, we’d love to hear about your experiences. Post a comment and let us know what happened. Maybe you’ll have just the information someone needs! What damages did you see? How did you solve the problem?

As things warm up outside, be on the lookout for more posts about raccoons here: about their habits, how to detect a problem, and what to do if you have one. And feel free to ask us questions and tell us your stories!                

About DQ Pest Control:  

DQ Pest Control is a family-owned and operated New York animal control and wildlife removal company serving the New York metropolitan area and Long Island. Specialist David Quinn is a New York exterminator with many years of experience in the family business.

You Won't Need Luck With Professional Pest Control Services

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner! With a little luck of the Irish, spring will soon follow. This holiday features widespread celebrations, and the history of the man and events are steeped in folklore and whimsy.

Some things that we think are interesting:

• St. Patrick is known for driving the snakes out of Ireland. History will tell us that this has more to do with geography and the Ice Age, but we have to admit our admiration for that type of wildlife control.
• We all know that the holiday is centered on the color green, be it the shamrocks, the leprechauns, or the beer, but we have a “green” streak as well. As a professional pest control company, we employ animal control methods and pest control chemicals that are environmentally conscious and safe for your family.
• The leprechauns depicted today are cute, impish little characters, but were originally a bit more sinister in Irish tales—perhaps even considered “pests.” Our service menu doesn’t include leprechaun remediation, but we’re interested in every kind of pest—those that are real, everyday problems, and those invented by folk stories.

Learn more about the facts and myths surrounding this fun holiday. And start looking forward to spring—in upcoming posts, we will be offering some tips for spring cleaning and pest control measure to take this time of year.

About DQ Pest Control:

DQ Pest Control is a family-owned and operated New York animal control and wildlife removal company serving the New York metropolitan area and Long Island. Specialist David Quinn is a New York exterminator with many years of experience in the family business.

Fleas: More Than Just an Aggravating Pest Infestation

After a long winter, and a few more weeks to follow, most of our pets have spent a significant amount of time indoors. Many times, this means that pests may be brought into the home after your morning walk and take up residence in your home—a common one is a flea. 

Fleas are external parasites, meaning they feed off the blood of humans and animals from outside the body. They like warm blood and will go after it. They can also carry diseases. While the biting and scratching acrobatics of your pet may seem a bit funny, fleas are definitely no laughing matter.

Your vet can offer a variety of ways to deter a flea infestation for your pet—from flea collars to medications and treatments, but often these diligent parasites find a way to enter and multiply. This is a problem for both your pet and for you and your family. Not only will you notice your pet biting and scratching their skin, but you may also notice small bite marks on yourself or your children. This means there is a flea infestation and you will need professional pest remediation.

Fleas can quickly take over a space—the eggs and resulting flea larvae develop in a short amount of time. You can try some home remedies, but to ensure the problem is truly solved once and for all, you will want to contact a Long Island exterminator. Once they take care of the flea infestation, make sure you incorporate preventative measures to keep them at bay.

About DQ Pest Control:

DQ Pest Control is a family-owned and operated New York animal control and wildlife removal company serving the New York metropolitan area and Long Island. Specialist David Quinn is a New York exterminator with many years of experience in the family business.