Raccoons are adorable, but they can also be a nuisance. If you’ve got raccoons around your house, there are plenty of ways to keep them away without harming them.
In fact, the Humane Society has several tips for removing these animals from your property that won’t cause harm to the animal itself or get you into trouble with local authorities.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| To keep raccoons away, secure your garbage cans, trim your trees, and avoid leaving out pet food or bird seed. |
| If you’re dealing with a raccoon problem, use humane trapping methods or hire a professional exterminator. |
| To prevent raccoons from entering your home, seal up any openings or gaps, such as vents or holes in the roof. |
| Certain scents, such as ammonia, mint, or garlic, can repel raccoons and may help discourage them from entering your property. |
| Understanding the role of raccoons in the ecosystem can help us appreciate their importance and better coexist with them. |
So grab some coffee and let’s learn how to prevent raccoons from coming back!
Keep Your Yard Clean
Keep your yard clean and tidy. Raccoons are easily attracted to messy yards, so if yours looks like a rubbish heap, it’s likely that the raccoons in your area will take notice. The best way to keep them away is by keeping all food scraps (including fallen fruit) out of sight and locked up securely at night.
Don’t put bird feeders outside for the winter months, or bring them in every evening before dark (if you leave them out). Raccoons love birdseed as much as they love human food scraps!
If there’s no food around for them to find, they’ll go elsewhere in search of it like your backyard!
While there’s no foolproof way to keep raccoons away, there are several steps you can take to deter them. From securing your garbage to trimming your trees, our Simple Guide to keeping raccoons away provides a range of options to protect your home from these pesky animals.
Don’t Leave Pet Food Outside
Don’t leave pet food outside. Raccoons are attracted to pet food, and they’ll fight each other over it.
In fact, it’s one of the ways that raccoons can transmit diseases like distemper if one eats tainted meat or fish, then passes on the disease through its feces when it tries to sneak up on some more grub.
| Don’t Leave Pet Food Outside |
|---|
| Raccoons are attracted to the smell of pet food left outside. |
| Leaving pet food outside may lead to repeated visits from raccoons. |
| Raccoons looking for food can damage property and pose a risk to pets. |
| To avoid attracting raccoons, feed pets indoors and remove any uneaten food after meals. |
Don’t Compost Kitchen Scraps
Composting is a great way to recycle your kitchen scraps, but it can also attract raccoons. The problem is that compost bins are often not secure enough to keep raccoons out.
If you have a compost bin, make sure it has a lid that latches down tightly and that there are no holes in the sides or bottom of the bin.
If you don’t want to invest in a new compost bin, try using an air-tight trash can instead of one with vents on its lid and look into purchasing another type of lid for your current bin (like these).
If you’re tired of constantly cleaning up the mess left by raccoons rummaging through your trash, our Simple Way to keep raccoons out of your trash cans might be just what you need. Simple steps like using bungee cords or switching to animal-proof containers can save you time and frustration.
Pick Up Fallen Fruit And Nuts
One of the most effective ways to keep raccoons out of your yard is to pick up fallen fruit and nuts.
Raccoons are attracted to these foods because they provide them with the proper nutrition, but if you don’t want any visitors coming over this summer, it’s best that you clean up after yourself.
If you’ve got a compost bin or other outdoor storage containers for food scraps, keep them locked or sealed so that raccoons don’t get access to your scraps.
Raccoons are excellent climbers and can easily scale trees if they want something in particular—like a juicy peach from your backyard tree.
By picking up fallen fruit before putting it into garbage bags (or leaving it on the ground), you’re preventing any unwanted guests from getting their paws on any goodies before they ripen properly and fall off naturally!
Remove Bird Feeders
Bird feeders can attract raccoons, and if the feeder is left out, it will likely become a regular source of food for these animals.
While you may find it cute when your bird feeder attracts a raccoon family to your yard, this can lead to problems down the line.
Raccoons are smart enough to open doors and latches; they’ll also be attracted by the food that’s available on your bird feeder.
Once they start feeding at the bird feeder, they’re likely not going anywhere because it’s an easy place to get food—and that means they could end up becoming nuisances in other ways too!
If you’re dealing with a raccoon problem, it’s important to stay safe and avoid confrontations. Our few tips for getting rid of raccoons provide some safe and effective methods for dealing with these animals, such as using ammonia or live traps.
Clean Up After A Barbecue
If you have a barbecue or grill, be sure to clean it up after use. Raccoons are known for their ability to climb trees and forage for food in garbage bins.
They’re also very fond of pet food that is left out overnight; if you have outdoor pets or don’t want them eating from a bowl, put away their food bowls before bedtime.
You can also check inside your home for any other places where raccoons might get into your trash cans or crawl spaces in the walls (especially if they’ve been spotted nearby).
If they do manage to get into one of these areas, they’ll likely make themselves at home until they leave on their own accord–and will likely take everything else along with them!
| Clean Up After A Barbecue |
|---|
| Raccoons may be attracted to the smell of food left outside after a barbecue. |
| Leftover food and grease can also attract other animals and insects. |
| To prevent attracting raccoons and other pests, clean up thoroughly after a barbecue. |
| Dispose of leftover food and grease properly and wash all dishes and utensils. |
Clean The Grill After Use
The next time you use your grill, take care to clean it thoroughly. Raccoons are scavengers and they’re drawn to the smell of food residue on grills.
To ensure raccoons don’t return, keep your grill covered when not in use. If cleaning your grill isn’t an option, then move it somewhere else entirely!
Secure Your Garbage Cans With Bungee Cords Or Zip Ties
Raccoons are strong and smart, so you need to be on your guard. If you have a garbage can with a lid, raccoons can and will open it, so make sure there’s something keeping the lid in place.
You can use bungee cords or zip ties to secure the plastic lid on top of your trash bin or garbage can. Bungee cords are easy enough for humans to manage but too small for raccoons to operate; zip ties are also an excellent choice because they’re more difficult for raccoons than they are for us.
You might also consider placing your trash bins in an area where they’re less accessible to racoons—to do this, you could use a bungee cord (or tie) around a tree branch above where you keep your trash bins; keep in mind that if you secure one side of the bin only and then move it, there will be nothing stopping any wildlife from accessing them!
Also remember that some animals may not see these obstacles as obstacles at all—birds might fly down into them with no issues whatsoever!
A better option would be putting those containers inside another container such as an animal-proof cage or bucket (as long as they don’t get into that too).
Raccoons are notorious for finding their way into attics and causing damage, so it’s important to act quickly if you suspect an infestation. Our guide to getting rid of raccoons in the attic provides a step-by-step process for safely removing raccoons and sealing up any entry points to prevent future infestations.
Put Down Chicken Wire
If you want to keep raccoons out of your trash can, compost bin or garden, cover the area with chicken wire.
Raccoons aren’t very good climbers and don’t have much upper body strength so they won’t be able to open up a lid that is covered in chicken wire. The only way they could get into these areas would be if they ripped the entire lid off.
If you have an area that has a pool, it’s also important to put down chicken wire as well because raccoons love swimming pools!
Add Motion-Activated Lights Or Sprinklers To The Garden
Motion-activated lights and sprinklers can be used to deter raccoons from your garden. These devices will startle the raccoon when it comes near, causing it to flee.
To get started, you’ll need to install a motion sensor in your garden and then add a light or sprinkler as an additional deterrent method.
Motion-activated lights are great because they’re cheap and easy to use; just mount them on trees or fences around the perimeter of your property and they will automatically turn on when something moves nearby.
Sprinklers work similarly: simply set up an automatic timer that activates at nightfall or when there is movement nearby (you can also manually turn them on).
Clean Up Your Swimming Pool Area Regularly
If you have a swimming pool, you should keep the area around it clean and free of food sources. Don’t leave trash or pet food out in the open where raccoons can get to it, and don’t put your own food near the pool either.
If you do this, raccoons won’t want to hang around your property because there’s nothing compelling them to stay there.
Understanding the role of ants in the ecosystem can help us appreciate the complexity and interdependence of nature. Check out our article on why not all ants are pests to learn about the many benefits that ants provide, such as soil aeration and decomposition of organic matter.
Use A Raccoon Repellent Spray Around Your House And Garden
Once you’ve made sure that your raccoon problems are caused by a large population of raccoons and not one or two, it’s time to get down to business.
The first step is finding the best raccoon repellent spray for your home.
- Make sure it is safe for humans and pets
- How much you need to apply around your house and garden
- When you should start spraying (i.e., autumn)
- How often you should spray (i.e., weekly until winter)
If these steps seem overwhelming, just take a deep breath and remind yourself that not every last detail needs to be perfect—you can always come back if something isn’t working out!
Conclusion
Join the ranks of other raccoon-free homeowners by following these simple tips. Raccoons can be a real nuisance, but with the right knowledge and preparation, you can keep them out of your yard and garden.
Further Reading
Here are some additional articles that may be helpful:
How to Keep Raccoons Away: This article offers a range of tips for keeping raccoons away from your property, such as securing your trash cans, removing potential food sources, and using motion-activated lights.
Scents That Raccoons Hate and How to Use Them: Learn which scents are natural raccoon repellents and how to use them effectively in this informative article.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons: If you’re dealing with a raccoon problem, this article provides several methods for removing these animals, such as using humane traps or hiring a professional exterminator.
FAQs
How do raccoons enter homes?
Raccoons can enter homes through small openings or gaps, such as vents, chimneys, or holes in the roof. They can also climb trees or other structures to gain access to attics or upper floors.
What do raccoons eat?
Raccoons are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, insects, small animals, and human food waste.
Are raccoons dangerous to humans?
While raccoons are not typically aggressive towards humans, they can carry diseases such as rabies and can become aggressive if cornered or threatened.
How can I prevent raccoons from getting into my trash cans?
To prevent raccoons from getting into your trash cans, use animal-proof containers or secure the lids with bungee cords or other fasteners. You can also store the trash cans in a locked shed or garage.
How can I tell if raccoons are living in my attic?
Signs of a raccoon infestation in your attic include loud noises or scratching sounds coming from the ceiling, visible damage to vents or roof tiles, and the presence of droppings or urine stains.
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!
