How to Identify Raccoon Poop

Recognizing when raccoons are living in your area is important because of their destructive nature and the fact that their feces, or "poop," may transfer disease to humans and pets. Raccoon droppings may carry the parasite Baylisascaris procyonis, which can cause illness or death in humans. Here's how to identify whether the droppings in your area are from a raccoon, so you can take the necessary precautions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Compare the raccoon droppings to that of a medium sized dog. They look much like dog feces: dark, tubular in shape, up to 1/4-inch in diameter and usually appear in well-formed, blunt segments. Older feces may look like dry leaves or a small pile of debris.
2. Observe the contents of the feces. Poorly digested seeds and peelings of seasonal fruits are usually present. Insects, such as grasshoppers and crickets, are apparent if they are abundant in your area.
3. Look for other evidence that raccoons are in the area to help verify that you have found raccoon droppings. There may be hair on fences or tree bark where they have been climbing, and the young ones often wear out areas at the base of trees where their den is located. Overturned trashcans and other mischievous activities often indicate the presence of raccoons.
4. Use caution if you run across a raccoon latrine. These are areas where raccoons keep coming back to leave their fresh feces on top of old droppings. They are often at the base of trees, along fence lines, woodpiles, on roofs or in unsealed attics.

Tips & Warnings

• The eggs of the Baylisascaris procyonis (parasitic roundworm) are resistant to most disinfectants. If raccoons have occupied your attic or a storage area, clean the area with a hypochlorite bleach solution after you have had them removed. Always use rubber gloves and an N95-rated mask when cleaning raccoon feces.

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