Racoons can be a nuisance for your property. They may try to get into your home or other buildings and cause damage. If you have raccoons on your property, there are things you can do to discourage them from coming back.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| The best way to catch raccoons is by using humane methods. |
| Preventing raccoons from entering your property is the most effective way to get rid of them. |
| To keep raccoons away, make sure to secure your trash cans and avoid leaving pet food outside. |
| Using natural deterrents such as garlic and pepper spray can help keep raccoons out of your garden. |
| If raccoons have entered your attic, it’s important to safely and effectively remove them to avoid damage to your property. |
Seal All Openings
The best way to prevent raccoons from getting into your attic is to seal all openings. If you have a chimney, make sure it has the proper cap and that there are no cracks or holes. If your roof has any gaps, fill them with steel wool or wire mesh.
And if there are gaps under your doors and windows, caulk them closed with silicone sealant. If you find yourself with an opening where a window used to be but it’s now covered by steel mesh because someone tried to remove the window without taking care of their mess afterward (this happens)
Then go ahead and use steel mesh on top of that too—it’ll provide extra protection against intruders like raccoons!
If you’re looking for an effective way to catch raccoons, check out our easy guide on how to catch raccoons. We offer humane methods that will help you trap and safely remove raccoons from your property.
Remove The Food Sources
When it comes to getting rid of raccoons, the best way is to remove their food sources. This means taking away all garbage and pet food, cleaning up all food scraps and bird feeders–even if they aren’t attracting raccoons at this time.
It also means keeping your yard clean so that there are no large piles of dirt or rocks where raccoons can nest in your yard.
Raccoons love to eat fish, insects, fruit and vegetables–so don’t leave food on decks or porches unless you’re planning on eating it yourself!
| Food Sources to Remove |
|---|
| Pet food left outside |
| Unsecured trash cans |
| Bird feeders |
| Outdoor grills |
| Compost piles |
| Garden fruits and vegetables |
| Fallen nuts and berries |
Relocate The Raccoons
If you’re hoping to relocate the raccoons, think again. Raccoons are territorial creatures and will always try to find another place in which to live.
They will also find a new food source, so it’s possible that they’ll just move into your neighbor’s attic instead of your own.
This can lead to an increase in raccoon-related problems for your neighbors, who may also be trying to get rid of them on their property or at work.
Raccoons carry many diseases that can infect other animals in the area, including pets like dogs and cats.
If one were to bite or scratch your pet while exploring its new territory, there could be dire consequences for both parties involved.
If you want to get rid of these critters once and for all, we recommend calling a professional pest control service right away!
Raccoons can cause major damage to your property, but with our simple guide on how to keep raccoons away, you can protect your home and garden. We provide practical tips that are easy to follow and will help keep raccoons at bay.
Deny Them Access To Their Den
If the raccoon is occupying an existing den, you will have to make them uncomfortable enough to vacate the area.
The first thing you should do is evict any other animals from your attic or chimney so that it’s only being used by raccoons. Once this happens, make sure there are no openings for them to get back in through again.
There are several ways you can do this:
Use a BB gun/air rifle and shoot at them from outside of the attic or chimney. This will scare off any animals that are still there but not kill them (as long as you don’t hit them).
Be careful where you aim because if they’re inside a wall cavity then hitting one could cause structural damage to your home!
Use loud noises like fireworks or clanging objects outside their entrance way (make sure it’s safe) which will frighten off any animals inside when they hear it
Use Professional Help
Be sure to hire a professional pest control company. These experts will be able to get rid of the raccoons and prevent them from returning.
They’ll also be able to advise you on ways to protect your property from future intrusions. If you don’t have the money for this option, consider doing research online and finding some DIY methods for how to get rid of raccoons in your home or yard.
| Reasons to Use Professional Help |
|---|
| Raccoon infestation is severe |
| Humane traps are not legal in your area |
| Inexperienced trapping can cause harm to raccoons |
| Unclear of where the raccoons are coming from |
| Raccoons carry diseases that could be harmful to humans |
| Uncertain of the correct approach to use |
Keep Your Yard Clean
Keep your yard clean. Racoons are attracted to places with a lot of food and water, so keep your yard free from scraps of food, bird seed, dog feces and other potential sources of food for raccoons.
Keep your garbage cans closed at all times and make sure there is no rotten or moldy food in them. You can also place mothballs around the outside of the trash can to discourage raccoons from getting near or inside it.
Do not leave pet food outside overnight since raccoons will eat it up while you sleep! Instead feed pets indoors only so that they finish their meal before dark falls when raccoon activity increases significantly.
Make sure there are no pet bowls left out overnight where they could be overturned by an inquisitive raccoon trying to get a midnight snack (or water).
If you have a bird feeder outside keep this far away from any open windows if possible on an upper floor balcony so that small birds landing on these perches won’t fall into an open window when startled by an approaching predator such as a hungry black bear (though we hope this doesn’t happen too often!).
Don’t let raccoons rummage through your trash cans and make a mess. Our simple way to keep raccoons out of trash can help you avoid this problem. We offer solutions that are both effective and affordable.
Set Up A Trap
To set a trap, you’ll need:
- A live trap (optional)
- A kill trap (optional)
A cage trap. These traps are usually made of metal wire, and are designed to hold raccoons until they can be released or relocated.
If you’re using this type of cage, remove all bait from the inside so that the animal doesn’t associate food with your presence while setting it up—you want them to enter on their own, not be lured by anything that might frighten them off!
Like the other two options above, place the cage away from any pets or children who may get hurt if startled by an unexpected intruder (and don’t forget about checking local laws before trapping!).
After baiting your choice of device with something tasty like peanut butter spread on bread slices, set it up near where you see most activity every evening around 9 p
Get Rid Of Pet Food And Bird Feeders
Remove pet food and bird feeders. Racoons are opportunistic omnivores and will eat just about anything, but they’re especially attracted to cat food, dog food, and bird seed. If you’re going to have these things in your yard or on your property, consider putting them away at night or in a safe place if raccoons have been spotted in your neighborhood.
Make sure there are no holes in your house or garage. Look around for any cracks around windows or doors—if you see one that looks big enough for a raccoon to squeeze through (which is pretty much any gap), seal it up with caulk or something similar so that it’s impossible for the animal to get inside unless invited by an open door or window.
You should also check the roof; raccoons can climb pretty well when they want something badly enough!
Raccoons can wreak havoc on your garden, but with our explained guide on how to keep raccoons out of garden, you can protect your plants and harvest. We provide solutions that will deter raccoons from your garden without harming them.
Get Rid Of Water Sources
One of the biggest reasons raccoons are attracted to your property is that they’re looking for a water source.
If you have a pond or pool on your property and aren’t keeping it covered, raccoons will come in and use it as their own personal bathtub.
If you have a bird bath that’s not cleaned out regularly, raccoons will also be drawn to it—especially if there’s no cover over it.
| Water Sources to Remove |
|---|
| Open swimming pools |
| Ponds |
| Bird baths |
| Leaky outdoor faucets |
| Rainwater run-offs |
| Standing water in gutters or drains |
Repellents And Deterrents
There are two main ways to deter raccoons from a property: using a repellent or using a deterrent. Both methods should be used in conjunction with one another for maximum effectiveness.
If you’re looking for an easy, inexpensive solution that doesn’t involve any physical changes to your house or yard, try placing some natural raccoon repellents around your property.
Natural repellents include cayenne pepper, mothballs, and even human hair (yes—human hair).
These substances have worked effectively when placed in areas where raccoons are trying to get into the house through small openings or vents near the roofline.
If none of these options work out for you and you still want something more permanent than just an assortment of repellents around your property; consider installing metal screens over all vents on the side of your home where raccoons usually enter through as well as any windows they can squeeze through easily.
This will keep them out while also allowing air flow into your home through regular channels during springtime and summer months when it gets too hot inside without air conditioning installed yet!
Having raccoons in your attic can be a nightmare. Check out our guide on how to get raccoons out of your attic to learn how to safely and effectively remove them. We provide step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow
Conclusion
If you are looking for ways to get rid of raccoons, there are many different approaches you can take.
It’s important to know that raccoons are not dangerous unless they feel threatened or cornered, so try not to get too close and scare them away with loud noises instead.
If this fails, then call a professional who will trap the animal so it can be relocated far away from your home.
Further Reading
Here are some other helpful resources on how to get rid of raccoons:
Smith’s Pest Management: How to Get Rid of Raccoons: A comprehensive guide with tips on trapping raccoons, securing your home, and preventing future infestations.
Humane Society: Getting Raccoons Out and Keeping Them Out: A resourceful article that offers humane methods for dealing with raccoons and protecting your home.
Forbes: How to Get Rid of Raccoons: An informative article that discusses different methods for deterring and removing raccoons from your property.
FAQs
What are the most effective ways to get rid of raccoons?
The most effective ways to get rid of raccoons include using humane traps, securing your trash cans, and limiting access to your property by filling in gaps and holes.
How do I keep raccoons out of my home?
To keep raccoons out of your home, make sure to seal up any openings or holes, lock pet doors at night, and set up motion-activated lights and sprinklers.
Are raccoons dangerous?
While raccoons are not typically aggressive towards humans, they can carry diseases such as rabies and their droppings can cause health problems. It’s best to avoid contact with raccoons and use caution when dealing with them.
Can I remove raccoons from my property myself?
Yes, it’s possible to remove raccoons from your property yourself, but it’s important to use humane methods and avoid harming the animals. Consider calling a professional pest control company for assistance.
How do I prevent raccoons from coming back?
To prevent raccoons from coming back, make sure to keep your property clean and free of food sources, secure your trash cans and compost piles, and eliminate any potential entry points by sealing up holes and gaps.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
