Raccoons often visit yards looking for easy food and shelter. This can cause problems for homeowners, like messy trash cans, damaged gardens, and even harm to pets. Finding out what attracts raccoons is the first step to keeping them away. They are mostly drawn to yards by food sources, like open garbage, pet food left outside, fruit fallen from trees, and bird feeders. They also look for safe places to build dens, such as sheds, decks, or even attics. Getting rid of them means removing these attractions and using methods to make your yard less appealing or accessible.
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Seeing Raccoons Clearly: Signs They Are Around
Before you try to get rid of raccoons, you need to know if they are actually visiting your yard. There are clear signs of raccoons you can look for.
- Knocked-over trash cans.
- Garbage spread all around.
- Damage to gardens or lawns (they dig for grubs).
- Footprints in soft ground or snow (they look like tiny human hands).
- Droppings in certain spots (often raised areas like decks or fences).
- Strange noises at night, like chattering, growling, or rustling.
- Seeing a raccoon, usually at night, but sometimes during the day if they are very hungry or sick.
If you see these signs, raccoons are likely regular visitors.
What Brings Raccoons Here: Finding Out What Attracts Them
Knowing what attracts raccoons to your yard helps you remove those things. Raccoons are smart and remember where they found food easily.
- Food: This is the main reason.
- Open garbage or trash cans that are easy to get into.
- Pet food left outside, especially overnight.
- Bird feeders (spilled seeds are a feast).
- Fallen fruit from trees.
- Vegetable gardens.
- Compost piles with food scraps.
- Grubs and insects in lawns (they dig to find them).
- Water: They need water to drink.
- Pet water bowls.
- Ponds or water features.
- Bird baths.
- Shelter: They look for safe places to sleep and raise their young.
- Sheds, decks, porches.
- Crawl spaces or attics (if they can get in).
- Hollow trees or wood piles.
By removing these attractants, you make your yard much less inviting to raccoons. This is a key part of humane raccoon removal because it encourages them to leave on their own.
Stopping Problems Before They Start: Removing Food Sources
The best way to prevent raccoons is to take away their food. This is called removing food sources.
Securing Trash Cans
Securing trash cans is perhaps the most important step. Raccoons see trash cans as easy meals.
- Use cans with tight-fitting lids. Heavy-duty plastic or metal cans are best.
- Add locks or clamps. Bungee cords or special trash can locks make it hard for raccoons to open the lids.
- Weight the lid down. You can place a heavy brick or stone on top if locks are not an option, but raccoons are strong.
- Store cans securely. Keep trash cans inside a garage, shed, or sturdy bin until pick-up day.
- Clean your cans often. Rinse them out to remove smells that attract animals.
- Put trash out on pick-up day only. Don’t leave bags out overnight.
Managing Other Food
Think about anything else a raccoon might want to eat.
- Pet Food: Never leave pet food outside, especially at night. Feed pets indoors if possible.
- Bird Feeders: Bring bird feeders in at night. Clean up spilled seeds under the feeder.
- Fruit Trees: Pick up fallen fruit quickly.
- Gardens: Harvest vegetables and fruits as soon as they are ripe. Consider fencing around gardens (more on this later).
- Compost: Use a sealed composter or avoid putting food scraps in open piles.
- Grubs: If raccoons are digging up your lawn, they might be looking for grubs. Treating your lawn for grubs can help, but be aware of what treatments are safe for other animals and the environment.
Making Your Yard Less Appealing: Using Raccoon Repellent
Raccoon repellent products can help make raccoons want to leave your yard. They work by using smells, tastes, sounds, or sights that raccoons dislike.
Different Types of Repellents
There are several types of repellents you can try.
- Scent Repellents: Raccoons dislike certain smells.
- Natural smells: Ammonia (like in urine), predator urine (like coyote urine), strong spices (cayenne pepper), garlic, peppermint oil.
- Commercial products: Sprays, granules, or pouches that contain these smells.
- How they work: These smells might make raccoons think a predator is near or simply be unpleasant.
- Taste Repellents: These are often used on plants raccoons are eating.
- Products contain bitter or spicy things that taste bad.
- Must be reapplied, especially after rain.
- Sound Repellents: Devices that make loud noises or high-pitched sounds.
- Some are motion-activated.
- Effectiveness can vary, and animals can get used to the sound. They can also bother pets or neighbors.
- Light Repellents: Motion-activated lights that flash or turn on brightly.
- Sudden light can scare raccoons away at night.
- Like sound, raccoons might get used to them.
How to Use Repellents
- Place scent or taste repellents near areas raccoons visit (trash cans, gardens, entry points).
- Follow product instructions carefully.
- Repellents work best when used along with removing food sources and securing trash cans.
- Rotate different types of repellents. Raccoons can get used to one kind.
Table of Repellent Types
| Repellent Type | How It Works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scent | Unpleasant smells | Easy to use, various options | Needs reapplication, smell fades, may bother people |
| Taste | Bad taste on contact | Good for specific plants | Must be eaten to work, needs reapplication |
| Sound | Loud or high-pitched | Motion-activated options | Animals get used to it, can bother others |
| Light | Sudden bright light | Motion-activated options | Animals get used to it, only works at night |
Remember, repellents are often a temporary fix. They are more effective when you also make the area less attractive in other ways.
Keeping Them Out: Fencing to Deter Raccoons
Fencing to deter raccoons can be a good way to protect specific areas like gardens or yards. Raccoons are good climbers, so a simple fence is often not enough.
Types of Fencing That Work
- Tall and Smooth: A fence at least 4 feet tall, preferably 6 feet, can make climbing harder. Smooth materials like metal or plastic sheeting are better than wood or chain link that offer paw holds.
- Overhang or Electric Wire: To stop climbers, add an angled section of fencing at the top, pointing outwards at a 45-degree angle. An electric wire can also be placed on the top or outside of the fence.
- Bury the Bottom: Raccoons can dig under fences. Bury the bottom edge of the fence at least 6-12 inches deep, or extend it outwards underground in an L-shape.
- Electric Fencing: A simple two-wire electric fence placed a few inches off the ground and about 6 inches higher can give a mild, unpleasant shock that deters them without harm. This is a form of humane raccoon removal using deterrence.
Fencing can be costly and might not cover your whole yard, but it is very effective for protecting specific areas like gardens or chicken coops.
When Prevention Is Not Enough: Humane Raccoon Removal
Sometimes, raccoons have already made a home in your yard or attic, or prevention methods are not working. In these cases, you might need more direct action. It’s important to use humane raccoon removal methods. This means removing the animal without causing it harm or suffering.
Humane Trapping
Using raccoon traps can be an option, but it needs to be done carefully and humanely.
- Choose the right trap: Use a large live trap (often called a Havahart trap) that is big enough for a raccoon to fit inside comfortably.
- Bait the trap: Use appealing food like marshmallows, canned tuna, or fruit. Place some bait outside the trap and a trail leading inside, with the main bait at the back on the trigger plate.
- Place the trap correctly: Put the trap on a flat surface near where you’ve seen the raccoon or signs of activity.
- Check traps often: Check the trap at least every morning and evening. Leaving an animal trapped for too long in heat, cold, or rain is inhumane.
- Cover the trap: Once a raccoon is caught, cover the trap with a blanket or tarp. This calms the animal.
- What to do after catching: This is the tricky part.
- Relocation: Moving the animal far away seems humane, but it can be very hard on the raccoon. They may not find food or shelter, they might fight with raccoons already living there, or they may try to travel a long distance to get back, facing many dangers. Many states have laws about relocating wildlife; check your local rules first.
- Professional help: Often, the most humane and legal option is to call wildlife control or animal control services.
Dealing with Raccoons in Structures
If a raccoon is living in your attic, chimney, or under a deck, trapping can be more complex, especially if there are babies.
- Identify entry points: Find where the raccoon is getting in.
- Try gentle persuasion: Sometimes, loud noises, bright lights, or unpleasant smells placed near the den area can encourage a mother raccoon to move her babies herself. Ammonia-soaked rags or a radio playing loudly can work.
- Eviction timing: The best time to try to evict raccoons is late spring to early summer when babies are old enough to move but might still be with their mother.
- NEVER seal an entry point without being sure all animals are out. Sealing them inside will cause them to die there, leading to terrible smells and more problems, or they will cause significant damage trying to get back in or out.
- Consider a one-way door: You can install a special door that lets the raccoon leave but not get back in. This is best used when you are sure there are no babies who cannot yet move on their own.
- Call a professional: Removing raccoons from buildings is often best left to animal control services or private wildlife control experts. They have the right tools and knowledge, and can deal with mother raccoons and babies properly.
Getting Professional Help: Wildlife Control and Animal Control Services
Sometimes, dealing with raccoons yourself is not possible, safe, or legal. This is where wildlife control or animal control services come in.
When to Call Professionals
- If a raccoon seems sick or is acting strangely (like being out during the day and acting aggressive or unafraid of people – this could be rabies). Keep a safe distance!
- If raccoons are living inside your house (attic, chimney, walls). This requires specialized removal methods.
- If you have tried humane methods and they haven’t worked.
- If you are uncomfortable trapping or handling wild animals.
- If local laws restrict trapping or relocating raccoons.
What Wildlife Control Does
- Assessment: They will visit your property to figure out why raccoons are there and where they are entering.
- Removal: They use safe and legal methods to remove the animals, often using live traps or special exclusion techniques (like one-way doors).
- Exclusion: After removing the animals, they can help you seal up entry points to prevent them from coming back.
- Repair: Some services also offer cleanup and repair of damage caused by the raccoons.
Hiring professionals ensures the removal is done correctly, safely, and legally, protecting both the raccoons and your family.
Table of Raccoon Removal Methods
| Method | How It Works | Pros | Cons | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Removing Food Sources | Takes away what attracts them (trash, food) | Prevents visits, humane, long-term | Requires consistent effort | General prevention, reducing visits |
| Securing Trash Cans | Makes garbage inaccessible | Very effective for a main attractant | Needs proper equipment (locks, heavy cans) | Protecting garbage |
| Raccoon Repellent (Scent/Taste) | Makes areas smell or taste bad | Easy to apply, initial deterrent | Needs reapplication, effectiveness varies | Protecting specific small areas (gardens) |
| Raccoon Repellent (Sound/Light) | Scares them with sudden sensory input | Motion-activated for targeted use | Animals may get used to it, can bother others | Scaring away initial visitors or from small areas |
| Fencing to Deter Raccoons | Builds physical barriers they can’t cross easily | Highly effective for specific areas | Can be costly, requires proper build (burying, overhangs) | Protecting gardens, pools, small yards |
| Humane Raccoon Trapping (DIY) | Captures raccoon in a cage | Direct removal | Legality issues with relocation, requires checking often, risk of handling wild animal | When you need to remove an animal from a specific spot |
| Wildlife/Animal Control Services | Professionals assess, trap, and remove | Safe, legal, effective, handles complex cases (attics, babies) | Costs money | Raccoons in buildings, sick animals, persistent problems, when DIY is difficult |
Making Your Yard Hard to Live In
Beyond just removing food and using deterrents, you can make your yard a less comfortable place for raccoons to den.
- Seal entry points: Check your house, shed, deck, and porch for any openings. Seal holes or gaps in foundations, broken vents, or spaces under structures. Use sturdy materials like thick wire mesh (hardware cloth) that raccoons cannot chew through. This prevents them from finding shelter.
- Trim trees and bushes: Raccoons can use overhanging branches to get onto roofs or into attics. Keep branches trimmed away from your house. Thick bushes can also hide dens.
- Secure pet doors: Raccoons can sometimes use large pet doors to get inside your home looking for food. Lock pet doors at night.
These steps help reduce the places raccoons might want to stay long-term.
Looking at Humane Methods Closely
The goal of humane raccoon removal is to solve the problem while respecting the animal. This is why removing food sources and using raccoon repellent and fencing to deter raccoons are often the first and best steps. They encourage the raccoon to leave on its own.
If trapping is needed, using raccoon traps humanely means using the right trap, checking it often, providing cover, and knowing the laws about relocation or having a plan for wildlife control to handle the animal. Leaving an animal trapped for a long time or relocating it far from its home range can cause stress and suffering.
Dealing with raccoons living in a part of your house requires extra care, especially if there are babies. Trying to remove a mother away from her young is not humane and can lead to other problems. This is often a situation where calling animal control services is the most humane choice. They are trained to deal with these family groups.
Preventing Future Visits
Getting rid of the current raccoons is great, but you want to stop new ones from coming. This goes back to the basics:
* Keep securing trash cans.
* Continue removing food sources.
* Keep up with maintenance on fencing to deter raccoons and sealing entry points.
* Be ready to use raccoon repellent again if you see new signs of raccoons.
Making your yard less attractive overall is the most effective long-term strategy for living peacefully without raccoon problems. It’s a continuous effort, not a one-time fix.
Considering Local Laws
Laws about trapping and relocating wildlife vary greatly by location. Before you use raccoon traps or plan to move a captured raccoon, check with your local animal control or state wildlife agency. Some places require permits, restrict where you can move animals, or only allow licensed wildlife control operators to handle certain animals. Ignoring these laws can result in fines.
Summary of Best Methods
The best ways to deal with raccoons involve a mix of prevention and deterrence.
- Remove Attractants: Focus on removing food sources and securing trash cans. This is the foundation.
- Deter Them: Use raccoon repellent and fencing to deter raccoons to make your yard unpleasant or hard to get into.
- Consider Humane Removal: If needed, explore humane raccoon removal methods like careful trapping, but understand the challenges and laws.
- Call Professionals: Don’t hesitate to use wildlife control or animal control services for difficult situations, sick animals, or when raccoons are inside buildings.
By taking these steps, you can manage raccoon visits and protect your property and family while being respectful of the wildlife.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Will mothballs get rid of raccoons?
A: Mothballs (naphthalene) are sometimes suggested as a raccoon repellent due to their strong smell. However, they are often not very effective because raccoons can get used to the smell. Also, mothballs are toxic to pets and children and their use outside can be harmful to the environment. Many experts do not recommend using mothballs for wildlife control.
Q: Are raccoons dangerous?
A: Raccoons are generally not aggressive towards humans, but they are wild animals. They might bite or scratch if they feel trapped or threatened. They can also carry diseases like rabies and roundworm. It’s best to keep a safe distance and never try to pet or feed a wild raccoon.
Q: Can raccoons get into my house?
A: Yes, raccoons are strong and clever. They can push or pull their way through weak spots, climb trees onto roofs to get into attics, or even come down chimneys. Securing potential entry points is important to prevent them from getting inside.
Q: What time of day are raccoons most active?
A: Raccoons are mostly nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. You are most likely to see signs of raccoons or the animals themselves from dusk till dawn. Seeing a raccoon out during the day does not always mean it is sick, but it can be a sign, especially if it acts strangely.
Q: Is it okay to feed raccoons?
A: No, you should never intentionally feed raccoons. Feeding them makes them reliant on humans for food, causes them to lose their natural fear of people, and can lead to more problems like property damage or aggression when they don’t get food. It also brings them closer to your pets and family, increasing the risk of disease. Removing food sources is key.
Q: How do professionals perform humane raccoon removal?
A: Professional wildlife control services use different methods depending on the situation. They often use live traps, but they are careful about where they relocate the animal or may take it to a licensed facility. For raccoons in attics or chimneys, they might use one-way doors or physically remove them and their young to reunite them outside before sealing the entry point. They prioritize the safety of both the animals and the humans involved.