It’s happened to nearly all of us: we leave trash outside, resolve to put it into the trash can, and promptly forget about it. Then the following morning, when we walk outside to meet the day, we are met instead by a yard strewn with trash. This is, in all probability, the work of a raccoon.
Raccoons are extremely opportunistic animals that have adapted remarkably well to human life; they sometimes seem purpose-built to drive homeowners crazy.
Here are some low-cost strategies to keep raccoons away from your yard and house.
How to Keep Raccoons Out
If the above scenario is to be avoided, you should start thinking about methods to prevent raccoons from coming onto your property. Like every animal, raccoons seek primarily three things: food, water, and shelter.
Raccoon prevention is mostly a matter of eliminating access to those three things to the greatest extent possible. Store all food that raccoons could conceivably get to—especially pet food—in sealed containers.
Also, seal or cover any entry points, such as pet doors, vents, or your chimney. Another good idea is to cut back overgrown trees and bushes that raccoons could use to climb onto your house or attic—you might even make your yard look better in the process.
Types of Raccoon Repellents
There are a lot of natural “animal repellents” out there, so many that it’s often hard to determine which ones actually work—it’s not something science explores with great diligence.
Generally, raccoon repellents provide a temporary solution. Raccoons are intelligent and tenacious critters. If your home has the resources the animal wants, the raccoons will get used to these repellents and start to ignore them.
Some of these repellents have a strong scent that raccoons hate. The odor eventually dissipates so a constant reapplication is necessary. Other deterrents rely on an alarming sight or sound to keep raccoons away.
Raccoons hate the smell of vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar. You can simply fill a spray bottle with it, add a bit of water, and spray it wherever you imagine raccoons may be trafficking. You can also soak cotton balls with them and place them strategically around your house.
This can be purchased online or from a hunting store. When a raccoon gets a whiff of coyote urine, their instinctual fear of coyotes kicks in, and they scramble to evade the nonexistent predator. Coyote urine can be bought in liquid, powder, or capsule forms. The liquid can be sprayed on plants around the house, the powder placed around the perimeter of your property, and the capsules can be planted in the ground for a longer-lasting deterrent.
Ammonia is a chemical contained in urine that raccoons don’t like one bit. It can be purchased online or from a home improvement store. You can soak rags in ammonia and leave them around your property or leave out bowls of uncovered ammonia.
Sprinkling a bottle of hot sauce might work. Raccoons have a sensitive sense of smell and will avoid cayenne pepper.
Peppermint oils are a natural alternative to try to repel raccoons.
These devices work by emitting a continual, high-pitched sound that isn’t audible to humans, and are meant to drive many animals away—not just raccoons. There are two major caveats to these devices, though: first, they usually need to be plugged into work, and the raccoon family in question might not always be located near a power outlet. Secondly, the ultrasonic frequencies these devices emit can be bothersome to pets, especially small pets like guinea pigs.
Mild Harrassment Techniques
Like any of us, raccoons have the capacity to be annoyed—something that can be used to your advantage. Mild harassment techniques are harmless, easy ways to dispel unwanted wildlife.
Since they are primarily nocturnal animals, raccoons don’t like excessive light. Simply aiming a flashlight at their den and leaving it there will likely convince the raccoon that the area isn’t safe, prompting them to relocate.
Grab a radio and place it near the den’s entrance. Interestingly, raccoons have a greater tolerance for the sound of music than they do for human voices, so tune it to an all-talk show, and consider warning your neighbors if you think it might be an annoyance.
Whichever technique you choose, be sure to turn off the device periodically, The MSPCA recommends that you turn these devices off periodically, so the mother will feel safe to re-enter to retrieve her young.
How to Protect Your Garden from Raccoons
Raccoons eat just about anything. They’re opportunistic so their environment dictates what they eat. Typical foods for a raccoon include fruits, plants, berries, nuts, insects, rodents, frogs, eggs, and crayfish. You might be inadvertently attracting raccoons with the plants in your garden.
Some of a raccoon’s favorites include:
Corn – one of their favorites, especially sweet corn.
Berries – blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries.
Melons – cantaloupe and watermelon are highly appealing.
Tree fruit – apples, peaches, plums, cherries, and pears.
Nuts – pecans, walnuts, acorns.
Vegetables – tomatoes, pumpkins, and squash can be raided
Tips that Actually Work to Keep Raccoons Out of the Garden
The best way to protect your garden from raccoons is to use a comination of the tips below.
Use a 3–4 ft wire mesh or electric fence with the bottom buried 6–12 inches to prevent digging.
Tilt the top outward or add a hot wire to keep them from climbing.
Harvest Early and Often
Pick fruit and vegetables as soon as they ripen—raccoons prefer overripe, fragrant produce.
Remove Food Sources
Don’t leave pet food, compost scraps, or fallen fruit in or near the garden.
Secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids.
Motion-Activated Deterrents
Sprinklers that trigger with movement work well because raccoons dislike sudden bursts of water.
Lights or sound devices can help, though they may lose effectiveness if raccoons get used to them.
Protect Individual Crops
Use row covers, bird netting, or hardware cloth around high-value plants like corn and melons.
Wrap ripening melons in mesh bags or cover sweet corn ears with paper bags.
Make the Area Less Inviting
Trim back overhanging branches that raccoons use to climb into gardens.
Keep grass and weeds low to reduce cover.
Learn How We Remove Raccoon Near You
How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Backyard
It is nearly impossible to prevent a raccoon from ever entering your yard. There are some things you can do to make it less attractive. Removing your bird feeders eliminates an easy food source for raccoons. Vegetable gardens and fruit trees will attract raccoons. Make sure to harvest often and do not leave fallen fruit and vegetables on the ground.
Motion-activated sprinklers provide a temporary deterrent. Raccoons will grow accustomed to it and learn how to avoid it. An electric fence at least four feet high is the best way to protect your garden from raccoons.
The Best Raccoon Repellent
Raccoon repellents and deterrents have limited efficiency at best. They might work at preventing raccoons from getting comfortable in your yard.
If raccoons are nesting inside the attic, a repellent or a deterrent will NOT work. Raccoons in the attic, roof, or chimneys need to be humanely trapped and removed. From there, the best raccoon control is professionally installed exclusions.
If that’s the case, call a wildlife control company such as Trutech Wildlife. Our team has the knowledge, compassion, and equipment to evict even the most stubborn raccoon family from your home in an efficient and ethical manner.
Call Trutech In to Get Raccoons Out
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