How to Get Rid of Raccoons: Protect Your Home and Garden

Raccoons are cute and furry creatures that can be a nuisance when they invade your home or garden. While their antics may be entertaining, they can cause damage to property and spread disease. This article will provide you with some tips on how to get rid of raccoons and protect your home and garden.

Identifying Raccoons

• Raccoons are medium-sized animals with grayish-brown fur and a distinctive black mask around their eyes.
• They have a bushy tail and sharp claws that are adapted for climbing trees and digging for food.
• Raccoons are nocturnal, which means that they are most active at night.

If you see a raccoon in your yard during the daytime, it may be sick or injured and should be avoided. Raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies, distemper, and leptospirosis, which can be transmitted to humans and pets. If you suspect that a raccoon is sick or injured, contact your local animal control agency for assistance.

Preventing Raccoon Infestations

The best way to deal with raccoons is to prevent them from entering your property in the first place. Here are some tips:

1. Secure your garbage cans with tight-fitting lids or bungee cords to prevent raccoons from rummaging through them.
2. Do not leave pet food outside, as this can attract raccoons and other wildlife.
3. Install motion-activated lights and sprinklers to scare off raccoons and other nocturnal animals.
4. Seal up any holes or gaps in your home’s foundation, roof, or walls to prevent raccoons from gaining entry.
5. Trim tree branches that hang over your roof or gutters to prevent raccoons from using them as access points.

By taking these preventative measures, you can reduce the likelihood of a raccoon infestation on your property. However, if you already have raccoons living on your property, there are a few steps you can take to get rid of them.

Trapping and Removing Raccoons

If raccoons have already taken up residence on your property, you may need to trap and remove them. However, it is important to note that raccoons are wild animals and can become aggressive if they feel threatened. For this reason, it is recommended that you hire a professional wildlife removal service to trap and remove raccoons from your property.

Trapping and removing raccoons yourself can be dangerous and may result in injury to yourself or the animal. In addition, trapping and relocating raccoons is not always effective, as they can easily find their way back to your property.

Humane Deterrents for Raccoons

If you do not want to trap and remove raccoons, there are some humane deterrents that you can try. Here are some options:

• Sprinkle cayenne pepper or predator urine around your yard to discourage raccoons from coming near.
• Hang reflective tape or old CDs from trees or fences to scare away raccoons with the flashing lights.
• Place ammonia-soaked rags or predator urine-soaked cotton balls in areas where raccoons are active to discourage them from returning.
• Install a motion-activated sprinkler system that sprays water when it detects movement in your yard.

These methods are generally safe and effective and do not harm the animals. However, they may not work in all situations, and some raccoons may become accustomed to these deterrents over time.

Conclusion

Raccoons can be a nuisance when they invade your home or garden, but there are steps you can take to prevent infestations and get rid of them if necessary. By securing your garbage cans, sealing up holes and gaps, and using humane deterrents, you can protect your property from raccoons and other wildlife.

Pros	Cons
Prevention is the best way to deal with raccoons.	Trapping and removing raccoons yourself can be dangerous.
Professional wildlife removal services can safely and effectively remove raccoons from your property.	Trapping and relocating raccoons is not always effective, as they can easily find their way back to your property.
Humane deterrents, such as sprinkler systems and predator urine, can be effective and do not harm the animals.	Some raccoons may become accustomed to these deterrents over time.

FAQ

Q: Are raccoons dangerous?

A: Raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies, distemper, and leptospirosis, which can be transmitted to humans and pets. In addition, raccoons are wild animals and can become aggressive if they feel threatened.

Q: Can raccoons climb?

A: Yes, raccoons are excellent climbers and can climb trees, fences, and buildings.

Q: Do raccoons hibernate?

A: Raccoons do not hibernate but may slow down their activity during the winter months.

Q: What do raccoons eat?

A: Raccoons are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods, including fruits, nuts, insects, small animals, and human food scraps.

Q: Should I feed raccoons?

A: No, it is not recommended to feed raccoons as it can lead to an infestation and increase the likelihood of disease transmission.

Q: How do I know if there are raccoons on my property?

A: Signs that raccoons may be present on your property include overturned garbage cans, claw marks on trees or fences, and droppings.