Why is there a dead raccoon in my garden?

If you find a dead raccoon on your property, there may or may not be any meaning behind it. However, it is understandable that homeowners become a little wary or suspicious upon discovering a dead raccoon near their home. There is helpful information about dead raccoons, the threat they pose, and how to prevent raccoon activity on your property. Read on to learn the meaning behind a dead raccoon near your home and what to do when you find one.

wild raccoons

Raccoons are highly intelligent mammals that have become a nuisance wildlife problem for many residential and urban neighborhoods. Due to overdevelopment of the land, raccoons have been forced out of their natural habitats and left to thrive on whatever resources they can find near them. The other problem is that raccoons naturally don’t live very long in the wild. In domestic settings, a raccoon can live up to 20 to 30 years, but in the wild they have a life expectancy of 2 to 3 years. For this reason, it is common to come across a dead raccoon, either hit by a car or preyed upon by a larger mammal.

Raccoons can be victims of various types of death. Disease, starvation, vehicles, predators, hunters, and just plain old age are common threats to wild raccoons and the reason for death. If you see a dead raccoon carcass on your property, or come across one in the wild, stay away. Dead animals, especially raccoons, can harbor diseases and bacteria that can be deadly or seriously harmful to humans and pets. This is why it is vital to never touch, or even come close to, the carcass of a dead animal, especially a raccoon.

If you have seen multiple dead raccoons on your property, there could be a high level of raccoon activity near your home, requiring effective raccoon testing. Remove all potential water and food sources from your property, including birdbaths, pet food, and even squirrel feeders, and then make sure your home is properly sealed and secured. This includes windows, roofs, soffits, siding, doors, and more.

Dead Raccoon Disposal

If you find a dead animal carcass on your property, contact a local raccoon removal company for safe and professional assistance. They maintain the proper tools, training, and resources to safely and humanely remove raccoons, dead or alive, at a price you can afford. Just make sure you choose a company with experience and the right license.