Raccoons are cute, but they can be a nuisance to homeowners. They’re pests, and they may even pose a health risk if their droppings get into your food.
You might have heard about raccoons in the news for breaking into homes, or maybe you have one that keeps getting into your trash cans or eating from your bird feeder.
The good news is that there are several things you can do to keep these critters away from your house and yard!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Raccoons can be a nuisance and cause significant damage to property and crops. |
| There are various steps you can take to prevent raccoons from becoming a problem, including securing trash cans and removing potential sources of food. |
| If you have a raccoon problem on your property, it’s best to seek professional help to remove them safely and humanely. |
| Ants can be beneficial or harmful, depending on the species and their impact on the environment. |
| If you’re dealing with garden ants, it’s important to strike a balance between pest control and biodiversity to protect your plants and minimize environmental harm. |
Don’t Leave Pet Food Outside
The first and most important step to keeping raccoons away is to make sure you don’t leave food out.
Don’t leave pet food outside, either in your yard or if you’re taking it to the trash can. If you have a cat, don’t leave the cat’s food bowl out overnight!
Raccoons are scavengers, which means they will eat anything they can find and they’ll eat a lot of different things.
If you’re feeding your dog outside at night, enjoy the show because raccoons love dogs’ food too!
One of the most common problems people face with raccoons is them getting into the trash. Our guide on how to keep raccoons out of trash provides simple yet effective solutions to this problem, ensuring that your garbage doesn’t become a feast for raccoons.
Use Metal Garbage Cans With Tight-Fitting Lids
To prevent raccoons from getting into your trash, use metal garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. If you do not want to store your trash in a shed or garage, make sure that the can has lids that are difficult for raccoons to remove.
The best type of bin is one that has two handles on it so you can lift it easily and keep it secure as you carry it outside.
Raccoons may also be attracted by compost piles because they want access to food scraps and other organic matter.
If you have a compost pile near your house or garden, consider putting up fencing around the area to keep raccoons out of reach!
You might also consider building a fence around the entire property if there are no other options available (for example: if there’s nothing else around except houses).
| Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Primary Action | Use metal garbage cans with tight-fitting lids |
| Purpose | Prevent raccoons from accessing your trash and creating a mess |
| Material | Metal |
| Benefit | Provides sturdiness and durability, while also deterring raccoons |
| Lid Type | Tight-fitting |
| Importance of lid fit | Prevents raccoons from accessing trash and scattering it |
| Alternative Materials | Plastic cans with tight-fitting lids can also be used as substitute |
| Note | Ensure the can is free of holes or other damage that can be accessed |
Add Ammonia To Your Trash
If you have a raccoon problem, there are two simple ways to avoid having them in your trash. The first step is to make sure that you aren’t leaving out any trash that they might want to eat. If you do this, they will most likely leave your area alone and go somewhere else where they can find food easily.
The second way to keep raccoons away from your home is by adding ammonia to the outside of your garbage cans. This may sound strange but it is actually a very effective method of keeping them out of the trash!
Ammonia smells like urine and raccoons do not like this scent so much—it makes them feel uncomfortable when they’re near it!
You can place a small amount of water into an empty spray bottle (1/4 cup), add 1 teaspoon of ammonia, then spray it onto the outside surface area of each garbage can before putting anything inside.
If you do this regularly (once every 3 weeks), then it should work effectively over time too because ammonia doesn’t become active until after several weeks have passed so there won’t be any danger for humans or pets who come across it during those periods either.”
Raccoons can cause significant damage to gardens, costing homeowners a lot of money in lost crops. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your plants from these pesky animals. Learn about how to keep raccoons out of your garden with our comprehensive guide.
Keep Fruit Trees Picked Up
As you can see, raccoons are a nuisance to your property. They eat fruit trees, they spread disease and they can damage your roof.
To keep them away from your property, you need to make sure that there are no food sources available for them to eat.
The easiest way to do this is by keeping the fruit picked up off of the ground and making sure that there aren’t any berries or other things for them to come back later and get more of.
You should also trim back any trees that have branches hanging over your house so that raccoons cannot climb onto your roof from above like this one did:
Install Motion-Detector Sprinklers
Motion-sensor sprinklers are an important part of any raccoon deterrent system. They’re easy to find and install, and they can be set up to go off at night when raccoons are most active.
Our research suggests that motion-detector sprinklers should be installed on the side of your home facing away from the street or other areas where you’ve seen raccoons in the past.
This will prevent them from being detected by passersby as they walk by at night, which may scare them away before they have time to get comfortable and cause property damage.
Ants are an important part of many ecosystems, playing essential roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling. That being said, not all ants are harmless, and some species have been known to cause significant damage to crops and structures. Our article on the role of ants in the ecosystem delves into the fascinating world of ants, exploring both their vital ecological functions and their potential drawbacks.
Trim Or Remove Tall Bushes And Trees Near Your House
Racoons are natural climbers and you’ll want to trim or remove tall bushes and trees near your house.
Raccoons can easily climb up these obstacles to get a good view of your property, which is exactly what they’re doing when they hang out at the tops of large shrubs or trees.
You may need a ladder to reach higher branches, but wear protective clothing and footwear while cutting back any overgrown vegetation—you don’t want to put yourself in harm’s way!
| Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Primary Action | Trim or remove tall bushes and trees near your house |
| Purpose | Prevent raccoons from climbing onto your roof or attic |
| Height | At least 3 ft tall |
| Distance from house | Less than 10 ft from your roof or attic |
| Effectiveness | Reduces the likelihood of raccoons accessing your home |
| Timing | Best done in fall or winter when trees are dormant |
| Expert recommendation | Hire a professional tree trimmer |
Don’t Leave Bird Food Out
Don’t leave bird food out. Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores that enjoy an occasional snack of bird, so if you have a bird feeder in your yard, it’s probably not a good idea to leave it unattended.
They’ll climb up trees to get at the food or tear into nests to eat the eggs and young birds. If you see raccoons on your property, don’t be surprised if they’re making themselves right at home in the backyard while they chow down on some easy prey!
Seal Off Your Chimney, Attic, And Crawlspace Entrances
Seal off your chimney, attic, and crawlspace entrances. If you have a raccoon living in your chimney or crawling through an attic vent, you can make it stop by sealing these areas with steel wool or wire mesh.
You’ll also need to remove any debris that might be on top of the vents and then use a wire brush to sweep away any dirt or debris that has accumulated underneath them.
Use a caulking gun to seal gaps around windows, doors, plumbing pipes and vents. If there are any gaps larger than 1/4 inch around your window frames or pipes where they go into the wall (especially if they have not been sealed with caulk before), seal them with silicone caulk or another type of flexible sealant designed for this purpose (such as DAP Crete-Tite).
Managing ants in your garden can be a challenging balancing act, as you want to control pest species without harming beneficial ones. Our guide on managing ants in your garden outlines various strategies you can use to strike a balance between pest control and biodiversity, allowing you to protect your plants while minimizing environmental harm
Get Rid Of Fish Ponds
If you have a fish pond, it’s important to get rid of it. Fish ponds attract raccoons. You can do this by draining the water and filling in the hole with dirt or paving stones.
If you don’t want to get rid of your fish, consider moving them somewhere else like a community pool or local lake.
When moving your fish elsewhere make sure that they are safe from predators such as birds or other animals so they can live happily ever after!
Install Coyote Decoys
One of the best ways to keep raccoons away is to install coyote decoys. Coyotes are natural predators of raccoons, so they can be purchased at most hardware stores.
You should place them around your property, especially near your garbage bins. If you have a dog, put the decoys in the dog’s line of sight as well (your dog may scare off a raccoon that sees one).
| Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Primary Action | Install coyote decoys on your property |
| Purpose | Deter raccoons from entering your property |
| Effectiveness | Mimics a natural predator, making the raccoons feel unsafe |
| Placement | Put decoys in visible locations and move them regularly |
| Additional measures | Use in conjunction with other raccoon prevention methods |
| Note | Ensure decoys look realistic to be effective |
Note: This table includes specific details on using coyote decoys to deter raccoons from entering your property, including purpose, effectiveness, placement, and additional measures.
Caulk Fence Gaps
To keep raccoons out of your yard, caulk all gaps under the fence. Make sure the gaps on your deck are also sealed.
If you have a shed or other outbuilding that is accessible to raccoons, you must seal any openings they could use to gain entry. Any door or window with a gap larger than 1/2 inch should be sealed as well.
Use Mothballs For Added Repellent Power
If you’re having trouble keeping raccoons away, you can use mothballs as an additional repellent. Mothballs are toxic to humans and pets alike.
They should not be ingested, inhaled, or allowed to come into contact with skin at all. However, they do work if used sparingly in small quantities to keep raccoons away from your trash bin or other places where the smell of mothballs will be strong enough for them to notice but not strong enough to make anyone sick or die from exposure.
Raccoons can be extremely destructive animals, wreaking havoc in attics, garages, and gardens. If you’re dealing with a raccoon problem on your property, our article on how to get rid of raccoons can provide you with valuable insights and tips for removing these animals safely and humanely.
Conclusion
You should now know how to keep raccoons away from your home. It is important to remember that these creatures are not evil, but simply doing what comes naturally to them.
You may need some help from a professional pest control company if you’re having trouble keeping the raccoons out of your yard or house.
Further Reading
For more information on dealing with raccoons, check out these helpful articles:
How to Get Rid of Raccoons: In this article, Smith’s Pest Management provides tips and strategies for removing raccoons from your property.
How to Keep Raccoons Away: Lawn Love offers a guide to prevent raccoons from getting into your yard in the first place.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons: The Ultimate Guide: World Birds goes in-depth on how to handle raccoon problems efficiently and humanely.
FAQs
What are raccoons?
Raccoons are a nocturnal, omnivorous mammal found throughout most of North America. They are known for their distinctive black face mask and ringed tail, and they have a reputation for being highly intelligent and resourceful animals.
Why are raccoons pests?
Raccoons can cause extensive damage to property, crops, and structures. They are also known carriers of diseases such as rabies and leptospirosis.
How do I know if I have a raccoon problem?
Signs of a raccoon problem include damage to property or structures, overturned trash cans, and visible signs of raccoon activity, such as tracks or feces.
How can I keep raccoons away from my property?
There are various methods you can use to keep raccoons away, including securing trash cans, installing motion-activated lights, and removing any potential food sources.
Is it safe to remove raccoons myself?
Removing raccoons can be dangerous, as they are known to be aggressive when cornered or threatened. It’s best to contact a professional wildlife removal service for assistance.
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!
