Wacky Pest Wednesday: Raccoons
Happy Wednesday to all of you Tri-County Pest Control fans out there, and welcome to our latest edition of Wacky Pest Wednesday! Please join us today as we cover one of the smartest pests you may come across this winter: the raccoon.
Contrary to popular belief, raccoons do not hibernate. Sure, they can hunker down for a few days when the weather gets really, really cold (think last week), but for the most part they stay active during the winter raiding trash cans and picking up any scraps of food that they can find. While they can sleep for long periods of time, they can come out of their deep sleep when hungry or whenever the weather is warm enough for them to venture out. Yet, their curiosity is what often leads to them scurrying into your home, as it offers both shelter and food at all times of year.
Typically, raccoons will try their best to stay away from you, as you represent an active threat. That’s why raccoons are nocturnal creatures. Since they’ll look for food when you’re not actively present to deter them, we recommend that you clean up promptly after cooking and have a lid for your exterior trash can so as to limit how much these pests can munch on. Should you do this, these furry pests will have a much harder time getting food, and as such are less likely to stick around.
Did you know that the raccoon got its name from its hands? Our word from raccoon comes from the Powhatan word “aroughcun” which means “animal that scratches with its hands.” When the English settled in Virginia, they were quick to come across this critter, and quickly Anglicized the name to what we now know as “raccoon.”
Also, did you know that a raccoon once lived in the White House? A raccoon named Rebecca was slated to be President Calvin Coolidge’s Thanksgiving dinner, but once he and his wife met the critter, they decided to adopt it. So, sure enough, Rebecca became a part of the administration, taking part in the famous Easter Egg roll and often went with Coolidge on walks around the White House. Now, how’s that for wacky?
Enjoy your Wednesday!
