Best Ways How To Prevent Raccoons In Yard Permanently

Do raccoons keep coming into your yard? What brings these masked visitors to your home? Mostly, they come looking for easy meals and safe places to rest. Finding ways to remove food sources and shelter is one of the best first steps to keep raccoons away for good.

Raccoons are smart, adaptable creatures. They can cause real problems, from making messes in trash cans to harming gardens and even structures. Learning how to effectively prevent animal damage is important for keeping your home and yard safe and clean. This guide will walk you through simple, effective steps you can take to make your yard less welcoming to raccoons and achieve lasting peace.

Image Source: wildliferemovalusa.com

Why Raccoons Visit Your Yard

Raccoons are always looking for food, water, and shelter. Your yard can look like a perfect spot for them.

• Easy Food: Leftover food in trash cans, pet food left outside, birdseed spilled on the ground, ripe fruits fallen from trees, or even yummy vegetables in a garden are all easy meals.
• Water Sources: Ponds, bird baths, or even pet water bowls offer a drink.
• Safe Shelter: Woodpiles, sheds, decks, or spaces under buildings offer safe places to hide, sleep, or raise young.

They are most active at night. This is when they often come out to search for food. If they find what they need in your yard, they will keep coming back. To prevent raccoons in yard permanently, you must make your yard unattractive to them.

Taking Away Their Free Meals

The easiest way to stop raccoons from visiting is to remove anything they want to eat.

Secure Your Trash

Trash cans are like a buffet for raccoons. They have strong paws and can often open lids or knock cans over.

• Use heavy-duty trash cans.
• Make sure the lids fit tightly.
• Look for cans with locking lids or clamps. You can buy straps or bungee cords to hold lids down.
• Store trash cans in a garage or shed until pick-up day if possible. This is part of how you secure trash cans.
• Clean your trash cans often. The smell of old food attracts animals. You can use a mix of water and a little bleach or vinegar.
• Put your trash cans out on the morning of pick-up, not the night before.

Remove Other Food Sources

Trash isn’t the only thing raccoons eat. Look around your yard for other food temptations.

• Pet Food: Never leave pet food bowls outside, especially overnight. Feed pets inside.
• Bird Feeders: Raccoons can climb poles and trees to reach feeders. Bring feeders in at night. Clean up spilled seed on the ground. Seed attracts many animals, not just birds.
• Fallen Fruit/Berries: If you have fruit trees or berry bushes, pick up fallen fruit every day.
• Gardens: A vegetable garden can be a big draw. We will talk about protecting gardens later.
• Compost Piles: Open compost piles are very inviting. Use a sealed compost bin instead of an open pile.

Removing these easy food sources is a key step in removing food sources for raccoons. It tells them your yard is not a good place to find a meal.

Making Entry Hard: Physical Barriers

Raccoons are good climbers and can squeeze into small spaces. Animal proofing yard means making it hard for them to get in or get to things they want.

Building a Raccoon Proof Fence

A regular fence might not stop a determined raccoon. They can climb over or dig under fences.

• Height: A fence should be at least 5-6 feet tall.
• Climbing Guard: Add a layer of wire mesh (like chicken wire or hardware cloth) that hangs loosely outwards from the top of the fence. Raccoons find this hard to climb. Or, install an electric wire at the top.
• Bury the Base: Bury the bottom of the fence or wire mesh at least 6-12 inches into the ground. You can also bend the bottom outwards in an L-shape and bury it. This stops digging.
• Material: Use sturdy materials like hardware cloth, not just plastic netting.
• Gates: Make sure gates are strong, fit well, and latch tightly.

Building a proper raccoon proof fence is a big step to securing your property line.

Securing Structures

Raccoons often try to get into sheds, garages, porches, or under decks for shelter.

• Check for openings: Look for holes or gaps around foundations, under porches, or in shed walls.
• Seal openings: Use strong materials like heavy-duty wire mesh (hardware cloth, minimum 1/2 inch) or metal flashing to cover any gaps.
• Check vents and chimneys: Use sturdy screens or caps on vents, chimneys, and crawl space openings. Raccoons can get into attics this way.
• Repair damage: Fix broken windows, screens, or boards right away.
• Secure pet doors: If you have a pet door, lock it at night or when not in use.

By sealing these entry points, you prevent animal damage to your buildings and remove potential den sites.

Protecting Gardens and Ponds

Gardens are tasty targets. Ponds offer water and sometimes fish.

• Garden Fencing: Use fencing similar to the yard fence recommendations around gardens. An electric fence wire placed a few inches off the ground and a few inches high can deter them.
• Garden Covers: Netting or cages placed directly over plants can protect them.
• Pond Protection: Cover ponds with sturdy netting pulled tight over the water. This stops raccoons from getting to fish or using the pond as a water source.

Using Raccoon Deterrents

Sometimes you need to make your yard unpleasant for raccoons, even if there’s no food. This is where raccoon deterrents come in. There are different types: scent, sound, light, and motion.

Smell-Based Deterrents

Raccoons have a good sense of smell. Some smells might bother them.

• Ammonia: Soaking rags in ammonia and placing them near problem areas or entry points might work. Caution: Ammonia is toxic. Use it safely and away from pets and children. Reapply often as the smell fades.
• Predator Urine: Some people use urine from animals that prey on raccoons (like coyotes). This can be bought at garden stores. Place it around the yard’s edge.
• Spicy Smells: Sprinkling cayenne pepper or a mix of chili flakes around garden beds might deter them. This needs reapplying after rain.
• Commercial Products: Many sprays and granules are sold as raccoon repellents. Their success varies. Read labels carefully and follow instructions.

Smell deterrents often need to be reapplied regularly, especially after rain. Their effectiveness can also decrease over time as raccoons get used to them.

Sound and Light Deterrents

Sudden noise or light can scare raccoons away.

• Motion Activated Sprinkler: These devices hook up to a hose. When a raccoon walks into the sensor area, the sprinkler shoots out water. The sudden noise and spray surprise the animal. This is often very effective.
• Motion Activated Lights: Bright lights that suddenly turn on can startle raccoons and make them leave. Place them where raccoons enter or feed.
• Loud Noises: Some people use radios tuned to talk radio or special sonic devices. Constant noise might bother neighbors more than raccoons, and raccoons can get used to sounds.

A motion activated sprinkler is one of the more recommended active deterrents because the combination of surprise, noise, and water is usually effective.

Other Deterrent Ideas

• Physical Texture: Lay down chicken wire or prickly mats flat on the ground in areas where they walk (like near trash cans). Raccoons dislike walking on unstable or sharp surfaces.
• Taste Deterrents: Some bitter sprays can be used on plants raccoons are eating. Make sure they are safe for plants and other animals.

Using a mix of deterrents, and changing them up sometimes, can help keep raccoons away more effectively than relying on just one method.

Cleaning Up Messes

Raccoons leave messes behind. Cleaning these up is important for two reasons:

1. It removes smells that might attract other raccoons.
2. Raccoon poop can carry harmful germs and parasites (like raccoon roundworm).

• Always wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up raccoon droppings.
• Use shovels or tools to pick up the waste.
• Bag it securely and dispose of it in the trash.
• Clean the area with hot water and a disinfectant (like bleach solution).
• Wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

Proper cleanup is part of overall backyard pest control.

When to Call for Help: Wildlife Control

Sometimes, DIY methods are not enough, or you have a bigger problem, like raccoons living under your house or in your attic. This is when you might need to call a professional wildlife control service.

• Den Sites: If raccoons have made a home in or under your house, removing them yourself can be tricky and dangerous. Professionals have the tools and knowledge to safely remove animals and their young.
• Trapping: While trapping might seem like an option, relocating raccoons is often not allowed by law and can be harmful to the animal. Professionals know the local laws and best practices for removal and relocation if permitted.
• Large Infestations: If you have many raccoons regularly visiting, a professional can assess the situation and recommend a plan.

A good wildlife control expert will focus on humane methods and also help you figure out why the raccoons were attracted in the first place, recommending steps to prevent them from coming back after removal. They can also help with animal proofing yard areas that you might have missed.

Combining Methods for Permanent Prevention

No single method is a guaranteed permanent fix. The best way to prevent raccoons in yard permanently is to use several methods together. Think of it as creating many layers of protection.

1. Make Your Yard Unattractive: This is the base step. Remove food, water, and shelter sources. This includes securing trash cans and removing food sources like pet food and fallen fruit.
2. Create Barriers: Make it hard for them to get in. Use a raccoon proof fence where needed, seal openings in structures (animal proofing yard), and protect specific areas like gardens or ponds. This helps prevent animal damage.
3. Use Deterrents: Add things that scare them or make them uncomfortable. Raccoon deterrents like a motion activated sprinkler or certain smells can help keep raccoons away from specific spots.
4. Clean Up: Regularly clean up potential attractants like pet waste or spilled food, and safely clean up any raccoon messes. This is part of general backyard pest control.
5. Stay Consistent: Raccoons are persistent. You need to be persistent too. Keep checking your yard, fixing problems quickly, and reapplying deterrents.

By combining these strategies, you make your yard a difficult and unwelcome place for raccoons, encouraging them to find what they need somewhere else. This layered approach is key to long-term prevention.

Checking and Maintaining Your Yard

Keeping raccoons away is not a one-time job. You need to regularly check your yard for potential problems.

• Walk around your property often.
• Look for new holes or gaps near your house or fence.
• Check that trash can lids are still secure.
• See if deterrents need refilling or reactivating.
• Clean up any new messes quickly.

Regular checks help you spot issues early before they become big problems. This makes your efforts to prevent animal damage more effective.

Working with Neighbors

Raccoons don’t just stay in one yard. They might move between neighbors’ properties. If your neighbors also have problems with raccoons, working together can be helpful.

• Talk to your neighbors about your efforts.
• Share tips and successes.
• Encourage them to also secure trash cans and remove food sources.
• If problems continue in your area, consider contacting local wildlife control or animal services for advice specific to your neighborhood.

A community effort can make a bigger difference in keeping raccoons out of the whole area.

Understanding Raccoon Behavior

Knowing a little about how raccoons act helps you predict what they might do.

• Nocturnal: They are most active from dusk till dawn.
• Opportunistic: They will eat almost anything and use any available shelter.
• Intelligent: They can learn and remember where they found food or how to get around barriers. This is why changing tactics or using multiple raccoon deterrents can be useful.
• Curious: They will explore new things and places.

Knowing these things helps you plan your prevention strategies. For example, making sure everything is secure before nightfall is important.

Different Tools for the Job

Here is a look at some of the tools and materials helpful for animal proofing yard and deterring raccoons.

Tool/Material	Purpose	How it Helps Against Raccoons
Sturdy Trash Cans	Store waste	Harder for raccoons to open or tip
Bungee Cords/Clamps	Secure lids	Keeps trash can lids tightly shut
Hardware Cloth (1/2″)	Fencing, sealing gaps	Strong mesh they can’t chew through or squeeze past
Electric Fence Kit	Adds a shock layer	Deters climbing or crossing a boundary
Motion Activated Sprinkler	Scares with water & noise	Provides a sudden, unpleasant surprise
Motion Activated Lights	Scares with light	Startles and makes them visible
Ammonia / Predator Urine	Scent deterrents	Unpleasant smells might make them leave
Spicy Sprays	Taste deterrent on plants	Makes plants taste bad
Netting / Cages	Cover gardens/ponds	Physical barrier to protect specific areas
Shovel, Gloves, Mask	Safe cleanup	Protects you from waste
Wildlife control Service	Professional help for big issues	Safe removal and expert advice on prevention methods

Using the right tools makes the job of backyard pest control much easier and more effective.

The Goal: A Raccoon-Free Zone

The goal is to make your yard such a hassle for raccoons that they decide to look elsewhere. It’s about removing the welcome mat of easy food and shelter and replacing it with barriers and unpleasant surprises. While you might not stop every single raccoon from ever stepping foot on your property, these steps greatly reduce visits and prevent animal damage.

Consistency is key. Keep up with your efforts. Check your yard regularly. Be ready to adjust your methods if you see raccoons finding new ways around your defenses.

Remember, raccoons are wild animals simply trying to survive. The goal is humane deterrence, not harm. By focusing on prevention and exclusion, you protect your home and keep the wildlife safe by encouraging them to stay in more natural areas.

Frequently Asked Questions About Raccoons

Are raccoons dangerous?

Raccoons can carry diseases like rabies and parasites like roundworm. They can also bite or scratch if they feel threatened. It’s best to keep a safe distance and not try to pet or feed them.

Will mothballs keep raccoons away?

Some people try using mothballs, but this is generally not effective. Mothballs are toxic and their use outside can harm pets, children, and other wildlife. They are not a recommended or safe raccoon deterrent.

Do loud noises really scare them?

Sudden, loud noises can startle them initially. However, raccoons are smart and can quickly get used to constant or repeated sounds. Motion-activated devices that create a surprise (like a motion activated sprinkler) are usually more effective than constant noise.

How do I know if raccoons are the problem?

Signs of raccoon activity include overturned trash cans, damage to gardens, disturbed bird feeders, tracks (they have five toes, like little hands), and sometimes droppings in noticeable places like on decks or patios. You might also hear noises at night, like rustling or thumping.

Can I trap and move a raccoon myself?

Laws about trapping and relocating wildlife vary widely by location. In many places, it’s illegal for someone who is not a licensed professional to trap and move wildlife. Relocating animals can also stress them and spread diseases to new areas. It’s usually best to contact wildlife control if you believe trapping is necessary. They know the laws and humane methods.

What time of year are raccoons most active?

Raccoons are active year-round, but you might notice them more in warmer months when they are raising their young and searching for food more actively. Late spring and summer are often peak times for nuisance complaints.

Will my dog or cat keep raccoons away?

While a pet might chase a raccoon sometimes, relying on pets is not a good prevention strategy. A confrontation between a pet and a raccoon can result in injury or disease transmission to your pet. It’s safer for your pets and the raccoons to use the methods discussed in this guide to keep raccoons out of the yard entirely.

Is there anything they absolutely hate the smell of?

There’s no magic smell that guarantees a raccoon will stay away forever. Ammonia and predator urine are sometimes used as scent raccoon deterrents, but their effectiveness varies and wears off. The most reliable method is removing food and securing your property, not relying on smells alone.

By using a mix of these methods and being consistent, you can greatly reduce raccoon visits and enjoy your yard without worry.