Raccoons, known for the dark, mask-like pattern around their eyes, look like cuddly pets. However, these nocturnal animals can carry serious diseases and damage property. Raccoons are often found in backyards, garbage cans, vegetable gardens, and crawl spaces because of their willingness to eat just about anything. This is particularly true in the spring and summer when these wild animals gorge themselves on potential food sources to store body fat for the winter. If you find evidence that raccoons have been in your backyard, you will want to get rid of those raccoons immediately.
Remove Food Sources To Get Rid Of Raccoons
Raccoons are often drawn to a particular backyard because of food in open trash bags and containers. Getting rid of your raccoon problem may be as simple as purchasing metal or plastic trash cans that are difficult to open or keeping garbage containers with easy access sealed shut with bungee chords. Consider double-bagging smelly foods, such as meat products, that attract raccoons and other pests.
If you have fruit trees, clean up any fruit that has fallen into your yard. Raccoons are also drawn to bird feeders and pet food, so bring both in at night.
Use Scare Tactics At First Signs Of A Raccoon Infestation
Scare tactics, including a motion-activated sprinkler, loud noises, and motion-activated lights, may deter raccoons from invading your backyard. Raccoons are pretty smart and may return to urban environments once they realize there is no real danger of these natural repellents.
How To Get Rid Of Raccoons With Plastic Toys Or Bright Lights
Raccoons are smart, persistent, undesirable critters and intelligent animals with a strong sense of smell. Get rid of any raccoons in your yard using these scare tactics.
Materials Needed:
- Little plastic things in bright colors (toys, margarine or yogurt tubs, slightly-inflated balloons, etc.)
- Exterior-rated fluorescent lights on a timer
Step 1
Look for rolled-back sod (newly laid), holes dug in garden soil or mulch, broken limbs from shrubs and trees, footprints and tracks, disturbed pond water or muddy fountains, anywhere that raccoons might be looking for grubs or washing grubs found.
Step 2
In the evening (since raccoons come around after dark), place a few small brightly colored plastic toys or margarine tubs where the raccoons have been. Your goal is to distract the critters and upset their new regimen. They’ll keep coming every night even if there’s nothing to eat, but if they have a bright little “toy” to explore, they often forget their mission, distracted by a moment of play.
Step 3
Keep checking your raccoon area and placing the plastic “toys” in slightly different spots each evening. Also, putting a pebble or two inside plastic tubs offers yet another variation on this raccoon amusement.
Step 4
After a few nights, if you still haven’t gotten rid of your raccoons, install some exterior fluorescent flood lamps (available at your favorite hardware, home, or discount store) on ground-stake receptacles. Plug these into a timer set to come on around midnight for 4 hours. Aim the floods to illuminate the points where the raccoons enter your property, using two or more floods if necessary.
Step 5
The best way to get rid of raccoons is to alternate between toys and light.
Use Sound To Scare Raccoons To Get Rid Of Them
One of the most effective ways to eliminate raccoons is to use a radio or high-pitched sounds. They usually don’t like to be around humans, so they usually avoid areas with radios if a human voice comes from them. Make sure you use a waterproof radio so rain doesn’t damage it.
Control All Water Sources
One way to eliminate raccoons is to control the water around your home. They need water to survive, so you must ensure there isn’t a source near your home. Make sure your garden hose isn’t dripping water. Tipping your trashcans upside down would be best so they don’t store water. If a pet needs a water bowl, lock it up at night.
Trap Raccoons
Traping hungry raccoons from your backyard is the most effective way to remove them. However, trapping raccoons is illegal in many states, so be sure to check local ordinances. It can also be dangerous. Raccoons can carry Roundworm, Rabies, Leptospirosis, and Distemper.
Call A Professional Or Pest Control
Due to safety concerns, you should consider contacting your local small mammals control department or a private animal removal company if you have exhausted all other methods to remove the raccoons from your backyard.
Use Strong Odors To Get Rid Of Raccoons
You can also use the pungent smell of ammonia to get rid of raccoons. This chemical is found in predator urine and is very offensive to raccoons. You can put some ammonia on your raccoons’ entry points as a deterrent so they won’t scavenge from it.
These are a few tips to get rid of raccoons. You should ensure a heavy object is on top of your garbage can so they can’t remove the lid. You can also try splashing ammonia on your trash to eliminate raccoons. If you need to place meat in your trash, put it in double plastic bags so they won’t detect the smell.
