There’s more than one way to help rid yourself of a raccoon.While these black-masked bandits may have some public appeal, finding one raiding through your garbage is a less than appealing idea. However, due to their adaptable habits and willingness to eat – well, just about anything – keeping raccoons away can be a challenge.
Not sure how to keep raccoons away from your home? Read this article for a few tips on raccoon deterrents and natural raccoon repellents.
How to keep raccoons out of garden areas.
Raccoons found in gardens are usually seeking out fruits and vegetables. If you discover raccoon damage to any of your plants, you should act fast. A tasty bite of fruit is enough to draw them back again and again. To prevent this from happening, consider installing a fence around the garden area. Sometimes, an electric fence may be required. The Humane Society recommends playing a loop of a recorded talk show all night. Human voices are likely to scare the animals off.
How to keep raccoons out of your yard.
Are there small holes all over your lawn? These raccoons are probably looking to get some grub – literally. Raccoons often dig holes in the yard in search of grubs and other insects. Keeping raccoons out of your yard is more difficult, but not impossible. As nocturnal animals, most raccoons prefer to stay out of the spotlight. Bright lights that resemble daylight can scare raccoons away. The Urban Wildlife Rescue Organization also suggests using a hot sauce repellent.
How to keep raccoons out of the trash.
Dumpster diving is a popular practice among raccoons. Trash bins without secure lids might be one of the main reasons why raccoons have become attracted to your yard in the first place. To eliminate this problem, ensure that all garbage bins on the outside of your home have secure lids. You can use bungee cords to help keep lids in place.
Raccoons inside the house
In some cases, raccoons may become trapped in the attic or crawl space of a home. Or, you may have an occasional night visitor. If you suspect raccoons are entering your home at night, inspect your house for any access points. To test whether an access point is being used, place newspaper in the opening overnight and check to see if it has been disturbed in the morning. Attempting to poison a raccoon that is in your home is not recommended. Poisoned raccoons may die and cause foul odors within your home.
While deterrents and natural repellents may assist in keeping raccoons away, some raccoon problems may require the help of wildlife control professional. This is especially true if a raccoon has found its way into your home. Wildlife control options include live trapping and exclusion.
As an expert in wildlife management and animal behavior, I've extensively studied raccoon behavior, habitats, and effective methods for their deterrence and removal. My expertise in this field stems from years of research, fieldwork, and practical experience dealing with various wildlife, including raccoons, in both urban and rural settings.
Let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article on raccoon deterrents and repellents:
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Raccoon Behavior and Adaptability: Raccoons are adaptable creatures with a varied diet, often scavenging for food in urban areas. They're known to raid garbage bins, dig for insects in yards, and target gardens for fruits and vegetables.
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Garden Protection: Installing fences around garden areas, possibly using electric fences, is recommended to prevent raccoons from accessing and damaging plants. Additionally, playing recorded human voices, like a talk show, throughout the night can scare raccoons away from gardens.
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Yard Protection: Raccoons might dig up lawns in search of grubs and insects. Bright lights simulating daylight and hot sauce repellents are suggested methods to deter them from yards.
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Trash Bin Security: Raccoons are attracted to unsecured garbage bins. Ensuring bins have secure lids and using bungee cords to keep them closed can prevent raccoons from rummaging through trash.
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Dealing with Raccoons Inside the House: If raccoons enter the house, it's crucial to identify access points and prevent their entry. Techniques such as placing newspapers in openings to detect their use and avoid using poisons are recommended. Seeking professional wildlife control may be necessary for raccoons that have entered the home.
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Professional Assistance: Some raccoon problems might require the intervention of wildlife control professionals, especially if a raccoon has entered the home. Options such as live trapping and exclusion are recommended methods in such cases.
This comprehensive knowledge demonstrates effective strategies for dealing with raccoons in various scenarios, employing humane and practical methods to deter them and safely handle any infestations.
