Uncapped chimneys make very adequate substitutes for hollow trees. In extreme cases, shingles or fascia boards may be ripped off to gain access to an attic or wall space. Damage Prevention And Control Methods Control measures can either be reductional or protective. Reductional methods include removing offending animals by live-trapping or hunting. Protective measures include traditional fencing, electrical fences, screening and exclusion methods, frightening devices and the use of repellent chemicals.
Exclusion is the best method of coping with raccoon damage.
Damage to poultry can generally be prevented by excluding the raccoons from cages or housing areas by tightly covering doors, windows and other openings with wire or hardware cloth screening. Mesh-wire fences with an overhang surrounding poultry yards is also effective. Raccoons are excellent climbers and can gain access by climbing conventional fences or by using overhanging tree limbs to bypass the fence. A hot-wire from an electric fence charger as the top fence wire will greatly increase the effectiveness of fences for excluding racoons. Damage to crops such as sweet corn, tomatoes and melons can be effectively stopped by excluding raccoons with a single or double strand of electrical fence wire.