Keeping raccoons out of your manicured gardens and home might seem like a challenge, but the right tips and tricks make it easy. Homeowners have a variety of safe, green, and humane options to use that deters these critters from moving in. Read the seven tips below to keep raccoons out of your yard and home. Keeping raccoons out of your yard is the first step to preventing a break in to your home.
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1. Physical Barriers
If you have a garden, these critters are eager to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Corn and vegetables are big-ticket items, and raccoons will help themselves during the night. Several types of barriers exist to keep raccoons from coming in. You can use the traditional sort, such as an actual fence, or use a specific material that will deter them from walking in around the garden.
Build the fence high enough to keep them from climbing over. Add a floppy fence on top of a sturdy one, so even if they start the climb up, the floppy fence will bring them back down. Apply a mesh cover or netting around the desired area to keep raccoons out. Consider planting squash around the garden. The prickly vines help prevent them from wandering through garden, and you’ll have squash to eat.
2. Reduce Water Sources
You want to eliminate sources of water. Raccoons like to wash their food before they eat it. They’re picky about clean food, and if water is around, they’ll use it. Bring your pet’s water bowls in at night to reduce the chance of raccoons stopping in your area. If you have a pond, consider putting some ammonia in to keep them from going in. Raccoons don’t find the smell of ammonia particularly attractive.
3. Close Holes
Raccoons like attics and decks, and if they have weak points or open gaps, raccoons will use them to their advantage. Make sure there are no holes in the roof, the soffits are secure, and the shingles are in good shape. Place vents securely over necessary areas to eliminate a massive hole for a raccoon to walk in. Vulnerable entrances provides ample opportunity for raccoons to get inside.
4. Bright Lights
These critters don’t like light. Set up several lights around the property, whether on a timer or motion activated, to spot these animals as they scurry across the backyard or front lawn. Bright lights discourage raccoons from setting up camp because they prefer the darkness. Use multiple lights to ensure they reach a variety of areas.
5. Seal It Up
Trash bins lacking secure lids are easy targets for raccoons. Their agile paws have no problem removing garbage lids. Consider bungee cords to keep lids sealed tight, or buy cans with locking lids so raccoons can’t open them. An even better step for added security is to keep garbage and trash cans in the garage when possible. As long as the garage is secure and closed, raccoons won’t be able to access the garbage.
6. Put Food Away
Don’t keep food outside when at all possible. Ensure garbage and food scraps are sealed up and put away. Raccoons will eat anything they find, and forgotten leftovers are prime targets. This includes pet food. Raccoons love this stuff, and they’ll eat it if it’s left in bowls outside. Keeping the outdoor area free of food means raccoons will continue moving to a more attractive site.
7. Trim Shrubs and Gardens
Trim plants and avoid wild overgrowth. A maintained lawn and garden is less likely to attract raccoons because there is less room for them to hide. Raccoons are good climbers, and they have no problem moving from an extended branch onto a roof. If the lawn looks vulnerable and wild, they’ll seek shelter around porches or roofs, thinking people are less likely to come by.
Avoid signs of raccoons on the property with the above tips to keep your home and lawn raccoon-free.
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