WASHINGTON- March is here and spring is just around the corner.  That means that mother raccoons are on the move now, searching for suitable accommodations where they can give birth and raise their new litters.  Raccoon moms find that uncapped chimneys offer perfect amenities for this important time in their lives: chimneys are snug, quiet and safe, making for perfect dens where predators cannot bother them.  An abundance of chimneys and a short supply of hollow trees in cities and suburbs make this a very common problem for homeowners. 

Fortunately for homeowners, prevention is simple: a secure chimney cap will keep raccoons out BEFORE they settle in.  Although raccoon-human conflicts are widespread during "baby season," it doesn't have to be the case, according to John Hadidian, wildlife biologist and director of urban wildlife programs for The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). "This is a wildlife conflict issue that is extremely simple to solve by being proactive.  Just by capping your chimney now ensures that your flue doesn't become a home for these animals. If they cannot climb into your chimney, they will find another, more welcoming place to settle in."

 The HSUS offers these simple tips for capping a vacant chimney:

• First use soft yarn to confirm that no one is living in the chimney. Attach pieces of yarn in a criss-cross pattern over  the top of the chimney. Check it 48 hours later. If the yarn has not been disturbed, the chimney is vacant.  Do not cover the chimney completely – if you plug the furnace outlet dangerous gases can build up in the house. 
• Hardware and home stores sell chimney caps (costs vary between approximately $25 and $45) that people can easily install themselves.  Professional chimney sweeps can also install them.

HSUS tips for handling a raccoon family already in residence:

• Never start a fire in a fireplace if you suspect there may be raccoons or any animals in the chimney. Since adult raccoons are slow climbers, smoke can asphyxiate them before they reach the top, and they may even fall back down and end up in the house. In spring and early summer, the babies are not mature enough to climb up and they would die from the smoke. 
• Like any new mom, raccoons prefer a peaceful place to raise their babies and therefore very gentle "harassment" convinces them to move out. 
• Raccoons are nocturnal so harassment works best at dusk, just before the mother's normal activity period. 
• Noise from a loud radio in the fireplace, bright lights shining upward, and strong odors like ammonia (placed in a bowl directly beneath the closed damper) can convince her that the chimney is no longer a perfect nursery.  Eviction is most successful if several techniques are employed at once. If done properly, they will move on within the next few days.  

About Raccoons:

• With their bandit mask and ringed tail, raccoons (Procyon lotor) are one of North America's most charismatic and recognizable species -- even if they are not frequently seen due to their nocturnal habits. Raccoons are found almost everywhere in the U.S.
• Raccoons are approximately 3 feet from their nose to the end of their tail.
• Adult males weigh 10 to 15 pounds; females 6 to 12 pounds. However, where they are overfed by humans, raccoons can exceed 60 pounds.
• Raccoons give birth to 3 to 5 young from early spring to early summer. Cubs are weaned at about two months of age, but may remain with their mother through their first winter.
• At least as intelligent as cats or dogs, raccoons possess great manual dexterity as well as a highly developed sense of touch. In fact, the word "raccoon" is derived from arakun, an Algonquin word meaning "he scratches with his hands."
• The raccoon's diet consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, and acorns. Earthworms, fish, and other aquatic animals are eaten when available. Raccoons are not particularly effective hunters, but they will eat small animals like birds, amphibians, and mice when the opportunity arises.

The HSUS Wild Neighbors™ Program promotes non-lethal means for resolving conflicts between people and wildlife and cultivates understanding and appreciation for wild animals commonly found in cities and towns. On the web at www.wildneighbors.org.    

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.