Thermal Imager Used to Find Baby Raccoons

If a baby raccoon that doesn’t move out of the nest yet was in a soffit, wall, or dark area how would you find it?

In soffits or walls, you could make inspection holes or listen closely.  And in a dark attic you could always use lots of light.

One way or the other, if you search long enough and are thorough, one looking for baby raccoons in an enclosed space can find them.  Nuisance animal removers have been finding raccoons the old fashioned way for a long time.

But, if there were a tool that one could use to see through walls and soffits panels and peer into insulation, wouldn’t that be easier?

The answer is yes.  And, the thermal imaging cameras that are available today are just the ticket for locating immobile baby animals of all kinds.

In this week’s post we’d like to discuss thermal imaging cameras in nuisance animal removal work and extol their uses.

A “Cool Tool”

We say a cool tool, but a thermal imager actually views heat waves.  This allows us to see through walls, ceilings and in dark spaces.  As one can imagine, that is very useful when we need to find nests with animals in them that are contained in home structures.

Once very expensive technology, today’s thermal imaging choices are a cost-effective to make nuisance animal removal more efficient.

For example, let’s say that a raccoon has been using an attic at this time of year and we are called for removal.

We suspect the raccoon is a female with very young kits.

While inspecting, we can use the thermal imager to confirm the presence of the mother raccoon and kits.  Better yet, the thermal imager points us to their location so that our removal plan can be put into action efficiently.

This picture, for example, is from a room below the attic looking up at the ceiling.  The baby raccoons are huddled in a spot in the attic.  Here, their heat is making the ceiling warmer so we can see where they are.

Now when we go into the attic, we know right where to look and can minimize time searching in the attic.  Minimizing time searching in the attic is important because attics are not the most fun places to crawl around in.  Plus, reducing the time spent crawling around on joists reduces the chance of slipping off and making an “oops” on the ceiling below.  Additionally, when there is a lot of insulation, the babies can be tucked down in it and pretty difficult to spot even if you can light it up well.

Trust us, it makes things a lot easier at this “baby-animal-in-the-attic” time of year.

Here are some other pictures from this raccoon removal.

Soffit Removal | Young Raccoons

Another example of using this tool is looking at soffits on the outside of a building.

We were recently called to a job where a raccoon and here young were living in a soffit of a home.  Not typical of most homes, this house had solid wood soffits.  And while typical vinyl or aluminum soffits can be dissembled and put back up without damaging the pieces,  the wooden ones need cut into.

You’ll agree that the less cutting looking for young raccoons, the less damage we do.  Thus, there are fewer repairs that need to be made after the removal.

Being able to locate the young raccoons from the outside, while on the ground, without making a bunch of holes is the ideal.  The thermal imaging camera allows this to happen.

Check out that situation in this video:

The thermal imager we currently use is a Seek brand thermal imager.  (FYI:- We are not endorsed by this brand and have no financial stake in the company)  We are confident that other brands deliver as promised as well.

We use a handheld device as you saw in the video.  Models like that run in the $500-$800 range depending. But, since the technology continues to evolve, there are newer, less expensive models that interface with smartphones and provide the same results.

Needless to say, a thermal imaging camera is a great tool for a nuisance wild animal remover to have and well worth the investment no matter what type or brand purchased.

Raccoon Inspection | Akron, Canton, Kent

Having an inspection done is the first step in solving any nuisance wild animal issue.

We are glad when the technology we have access to aids in the inspection process.

If we need to peer through drywall and soffit panels to make the inspection go better, we will.  It helps us with our Superman fantasy.

One way or the other, Frontline Animal Removal will find out what is going on at your home or business regarding nuisance wildlife.  And once we do, we’ll come up with a plan to make your property animal free.

Animal Removal is often the first step.  Repair is usually the important second step.  We have a lot of experience with both.  Want your animal problem to go away? Start with a call to Frontline Animal Removal today!