Raccoons are cute and cuddly animals. They’re also smart, resourceful and sometimes destructive pests that can invade your home or garden and cause a lot of damage.
Although raccoons are nocturnal, they’re very persistent in their search for food and they’ll keep coming back even when you try to scare them away the first time.
In this article, we’ll discuss some basic ways to prevent raccoons from entering your yard or home so that you can stop these animals from causing trouble with their constant scavenging activities.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Securing potential food sources is one of the most effective ways to keep raccoons away from your property. |
| Using deterrents such as motion sensor lighting, sound machines, and animal-resistant trash cans can help prevent raccoons from causing problems. |
| If you suspect that you have a raccoon problem, look for signs such as overturned garbage cans, holes or digging in the yard, or noises in the attic or walls. |
| Raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies and their sharp claws and teeth may pose a threat to your safety. |
| If a raccoon enters your home, keep your distance and open doors and windows to provide an escape route. If necessary, call a professional wildlife removal service. |
Don’t Feed Them
There are several misconceptions about raccoons—they’re not vicious, they don’t spread rabies, and they’re actually pretty cute. If you want to keep your backyard raccoon-free, don’t feed the animals.
Feeding a wild animal will cause it to lose its natural fear of humans and become more aggressive.
This can lead to problems with other animals in your yard as well as with people who visit your home.
A fed raccoon may also end up being hit by a car because it’s accustomed to hanging around humans for food instead of hunting for itself in the wild
Raccoons can cause significant damage to property, so it’s important to take steps to keep them away. Our simple guide to keeping raccoons away offers effective methods that can help protect your home and yard from these pesky critters
Secure The Trash Can
It’s important to secure your trash cans so that raccoons can’t get into them. Raccoons are attracted to the smell of food, especially when there is an easy way for them to access it.
If you leave your trash can open, raccoons will simply climb up and reach inside. Don’t leave your trash can unattended if you have a pet or small children living in the house; they may be tempted to open it themselves and may come face to face with a raccoon!
Raccoons are strong animals that can rip through plastic bags as well as metal lids on trash cans.
They are also very clever at finding ways into locked containers by pushing on doors or pulling on handles until they break free from their latches.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Bungee Cords | Using bungee cords to secure the lid of the trash can |
| Heavy Objects | Placing heavy objects on top of the lid to prevent raccoons from opening it |
| Tight-Fitting Lid | Ensuring that the lid fits tightly on the trash can |
| Bricks & Pavers | Placing bricks or pavers on top of the lid to make it more difficult for raccoons to lift |
| Motion-Activated Sprinklers | Installing motion-activated sprinklers near the trash can to deter raccoons |
Keep The Yard Clean And Store The Firewood Somewhere Else
Keep the yard free of trash. This is especially important if you have raccoons living in your yard, as they will likely come back for more food if they can get it from you.
Store firewood away from the house. Raccoons are very curious creatures and will explore any new objects they find, so keep them from getting into trouble by storing firewood somewhere else like a shed or garage.
Make sure the trash can is secure whenever possible—if it tips over and spills onto the ground, raccoons will be more likely to visit again when they’re hungry!
Raccoons are notorious for rummaging through trash, but there are ways to discourage them from doing so. Check out our simple way to keep raccoons out of trash for tips on securing your garbage cans and deterring raccoons from scavenging.
Cut Back On Bird Feeding
Raccoons are opportunistic creatures, and they’ll eat anything they can find. One of their favorite foods is bird seed.
If you have a bird feeder in your yard, raccoons will be attracted to it because of the free food source that it provides—and if the birds aren’t scared away by the raccoon’s presence, then more likely than not, there’s an entire family of raccoons living on top of your house.
To prevent this from happening to you:
- Stop feeding squirrels and other wildlife in general;
- Cut back on bird feeding (especially during summer);
- Install motion-activated sprinklers around your property line that will scare off these pesky critters when they come too close!
Use Ammonia-Soaked Rags Or Mothballs
Ammonia, a natural predator smell, will deter raccoons from making your home their own. You can purchase ammonia at a hardware store, or you can make your own mothballs by soaking cotton balls in ammonia and placing them in a jar.
Place the soaked cotton balls around the perimeter of your house to repel raccoons. If using mothballs, keep them out of reach of children and pets as they are poisonous if ingested.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Ammonia-Soaked Rags | Placing rags soaked in ammonia near raccoon entry points to deter them |
| Mothballs | Placing mothballs around raccoon entry points to repel them |
| Ammonia-Soaked Cotton Balls | Placing cotton balls soaked in ammonia around raccoon entry points to deter them |
| Pepper Spray | Spraying areas around raccoon entry points with pepper spray to deter them |
| Cayenne Pepper | Sprinkling cayenne pepper around raccoon entry points to prevent them from entering |
Pick Up Fallen Fruit And Vegetables From Your Garden
While it’s a good idea to pick up fallen fruit and vegetables that have fallen from your garden, it can be an even better idea to pick them up as soon as they drop, before raccoons get their paws on them.
Raccoons are known for being scavengers by nature and will readily consume whatever food is available to them.
If you notice raccoon droppings in your garden, you may have noticed that they seem particularly interested in certain types of fruit or vegetable plants such as berries or tomatoes.
Raccoon feces are also a health hazard because they can carry diseases such as leptospirosis which causes fever, nausea and headaches among other symptoms.
Additionally, raccoon feces contain roundworm larvae which can cause serious intestinal damage if ingested by humans or pets.
It’s important that you remove any dropped food from your garden immediately so that there isn’t any temptation for these pesky critters!
If you’re an avid gardener, you know how frustrating it can be to have raccoons raiding your plants. Our guide to keeping raccoons out of your garden offers tips for constructing fences, using repellents, and other techniques to protect your garden from raccoons.
Remove Pet Food From Outside Overnight
Raccoons are attracted to pet food and garbage because they are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. In the winter when plant-based foods aren’t as available, raccoons will happily make do with what’s on hand (that is, your leftovers).
To help make sure that your pets don’t become a raccoon’s next meal:
- Bring inside all outdoor pet food at night.
- Keep trash cans closed tightly.
- Make sure there is no grease or food residue in any cans that may attract rodents.
If you have a compost bin, make sure it has a lid on it–raccoons are great climbers!
Close Off Possible Entry Points Into Your Home And Garage
If you don’t want raccoons in your home, there are several steps you can take to prevent this from happening.
First, keep all doors and windows closed at all times. Make sure that there is no way for them to get in by removing any boards or small pieces of wood that might be used as a foothold.
If there are gaps around the bottom of your door, fill them with a rubber seal so the raccoon can’t just reach his paw inside and open it up from the outside.
If you have an attic or basement, make sure it isn’t accessible from outside by sealing off any openings with wire mesh fencing. Finally, if you have a chimney: make sure it is capped!
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Seal Cracks and Holes | Inspect your home and garage for cracks or holes and seal them up |
| Install Screens | Install screens on windows, doors, and vents to prevent raccoons from entering |
| Secure Pet Doors | If you have a pet door, make sure it is locked at night to prevent raccoons from entering |
| Cover Chimneys | Cover chimneys with a cap to prevent raccoons from entering through the chimney |
| Install Motion-Activated Lights | Install motion-activated lights outside to deter raccoons from approaching your home |
Install Motion-Sensor Lights To Scare Raccoons Away At Night
Motion-sensor lights are another good way to deter raccoons. These devices are designed with the purpose of sensing when a large animal approaches, and activating a bright light at that moment. The sudden illumination should startle the raccoon, causing it to run away from your property.
The downside of using motion-sensor lights is that they can also scare off other animals and even people who visit your home after dark. This may not be an issue if you live alone on flat land with few trees or bushes for raccoons or other wildlife to hide behind when alerting them with a light blast!
Dealing with a raccoon problem can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Our few tips for getting rid of raccoons can help you safely and humanely remove raccoons from your property and prevent them from returning.
Bring Pets Inside At Night, If Possible
If you can’t bring your pets inside at night, make sure that they are secure in a cage or pen. If possible, place the cage/pen against a wall so it is more difficult for raccoons to get into it.
If you have outdoor cats, make sure they have secure perches on trees or other structures where they won’t fall prey to raccoons (or other animals). Cats are curious creatures who will investigate even what looks like danger—and raccoons are extremely good at looking like things that aren’t dangerous!
Play Recordings Of Raccoon Distress Calls For A Few Days To Scare Them Away
You can also use recordings of distressed raccoons to scare away the critters. Raccoon distress calls are very effective in keeping them away from your home. You can play a recording of distressed raccoons at night or during the day, as they work equally well either way.
If you’re trying to get rid of raccoons using this method, play the recording for at least three days in a row and keep it on repeat so that you don’t have to worry about turning it off if you leave home or go out for any reason (ahem…like work).
Call A Pest Control Officer If All Else Fails
If you’ve tried everything above and the raccoons are still hanging around your home, it’s time to call in the professionals.
Finding a good pest control company can be tough, but do some research online and read reviews before choosing one.
Look for companies with good track records and make sure that they’re licensed in your state (or province).
To find out if a company is licensed in your area, contact the state or provincial government department responsible for licensing commercial businesses.
When you speak with representatives from different companies, ask them about their methods of removing unwanted animals from homes and what measures they take to prevent further problems from occurring again.
Some pests are harder to get rid of than others; raccoons can be especially persistent once they’ve found their way inside because they’ll return again later when food supplies run low outside—but don’t let this discourage you!
If there’s something in the attic (like an old box spring) that’s attracting those furry little creatures back into your house every night after dark…well then maybe there’s another issue at play here besides just trying not get bit by something sharp each time it hisses underfoot.”
Preventing raccoons from making your property their home is crucial for keeping them at bay. Our pro tips for deterring raccoons offer valuable advice, including securing potential entry points and making your property less appealing to raccoons.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has given you some tips on how to deal with raccoons. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
We’re always happy to help out our customers and answer any questions they may have.
Further reading
Here are some additional resources to help you deal with raccoon problems.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Your Attic and Yard: Learn how to identify raccoon problems and prevent them from becoming a bigger issue.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons: 6 Best Ways: Find out the best methods for safely and humanely getting rid of raccoons.
How to Keep Raccoons Away: A Comprehensive Guide: Create a plan for keeping raccoons away from your home and property with this comprehensive guide.
FAQs
How do I know if I have a raccoon problem?
Look for signs such as overturned garbage cans, holes or digging in the yard, and noises in the attic or walls.
Are raccoons dangerous?
Raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies, and their sharp claws and teeth can cause injury.
How do I keep raccoons away from my trash cans?
Secure the lids of your trash cans tightly, use bungee cords or weights to keep them in place, and consider using a specially designed trash can with animal-resistant features.
What should I do if a raccoon enters my home?
Open doors and windows to provide an escape route for the raccoon, and avoid contact with the animal. Call a professional wildlife removal service if necessary.
How can I prevent raccoons from coming back?
Eliminate potential food sources, secure entry points to your home, and use deterrents such as motion sensor lighting or sound machines.
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!
