Can you keep raccoons out of your yard? Yes, by employing a combination of preventative measures, deterrents, and, if necessary, humane removal techniques.
Raccoons, with their masked faces and dexterous paws, are a common sight in many suburban and urban areas. While often viewed as cute, these intelligent nocturnal mammals can become quite a nuisance when they decide your yard is their personal buffet or a cozy place to raise their young. They can raid trash cans, damage gardens, dig up lawns in search of grubs, and even nest in attics or sheds. Learning how to deter raccoons and prevent raccoons from making your property their home is key to enjoying your outdoor space without unwanted guests. This guide will provide you with expert advice and practical strategies for raccoon proofing your yard and, if needed, humane raccoon removal.
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Identifying Raccoon Activity and Entry Points
Before you can effectively stop raccoons, you need to know if you have them and where they are getting in. Look for signs of their presence.
Signs of Raccoon Activity
- Trash Can Chaos: Knocked-over trash cans, often with lids pried open and garbage strewn everywhere. Raccoons are notorious for their ability to get into even “animal-proof” bins if they’re not secured properly.
- Garden Damage: Plants dug up, fruits and vegetables missing, and evidence of digging in flower beds or vegetable patches. They are particularly fond of corn, berries, and tomatoes.
- Lawn Digging: Circular or irregular patches of disturbed soil. This usually indicates they are searching for grubs, earthworms, or other insects.
- Droppings: Raccoons produce scat that is typically tubular and may contain undigested food items like seeds, berries, insect exoskeletons, or fur. You might find these near their latrine areas, often on raised surfaces like decks, roofs, or logs.
- Scratch Marks: Raccoons have sharp claws and may leave marks on trees, wooden structures, or fences as they climb.
- Noises: If they have nested in your attic, chimney, or shed, you might hear scratching, scurrying, or chirping sounds, especially at night.
Common Entry Points and Attractions
Raccoons are opportunistic creatures. Your yard likely offers them food, water, and shelter. Identifying what’s attracting them is the first step in a successful control raccoons strategy.
- Food Sources:
- Garbage: The most obvious attractant. unsecured trash cans are an open invitation.
- Pet Food: Leftover pet food, even in bowls left outside overnight, is a major draw.
- Fallen Fruit/Nuts: Fruit from trees and nuts from trees like walnuts or pecans can be a buffet.
- Bird Feeders: Spilled seed and the seeds themselves are highly attractive.
- Compost Piles: Unsecured compost piles can contain many appealing food scraps.
- Grubs/Insects: Damaged lawns indicate they are finding food beneath the surface.
- Water Sources:
- Ponds/Bird Baths: Any standing water can be a drinking source.
- Leaky Faucets: Dripping water can also attract them.
- Shelter:
- Attics/Crawl Spaces: Accessible attics, chimneys, and crawl spaces offer safe, warm places to den.
- Sheds/Garages: Unsecured sheds or garages can provide shelter.
- Decks/Porches: The dark, enclosed spaces under decks and porches are ideal den sites.
- Brush Piles/Dense Vegetation: Thick undergrowth can offer cover and a place to hide.
Effective Raccoon Deterrents and Prevention Strategies
Once you know what’s attracting them, you can start making your yard less appealing. Deter raccoons with consistent and varied approaches.
Securing Your Trash
This is arguably the most critical step in preventing raccoon visits.
- Heavy-Duty, Animal-Proof Bins: Invest in trash cans specifically designed to resist raccoons. These usually have secure locking lids or heavy construction that raccoons can’t easily breach.
- Secure Lids: If your existing bins have lids, ensure they fit snugly. You can use bungee cords, heavy-duty clips, or even a large rock to keep them sealed.
- Store Trash Indoors: If possible, store trash cans in a locked garage or shed until trash collection day.
- Rinse Cans Regularly: Clean your trash cans to remove residual food odors, which can attract raccoons from a distance.
- Tie Bags Tightly: Double-bag smelly waste and tie the bags securely.
Managing Food Sources
Eliminate other potential food opportunities in your yard.
- Remove Pet Food: Never leave pet food or water bowls outside overnight. Feed pets indoors or remove food promptly after they finish.
- Clean Up Fallen Produce: Regularly collect any fallen fruit or nuts from trees.
- Secure Bird Feeders: Use squirrel-proof bird feeders or hang feeders high and away from easy climbing access. Clean up spilled seed underneath feeders.
- Compost Smartly: Use a sturdy, enclosed compost bin that raccoons cannot access. Avoid composting meat, dairy, or oily foods.
Making Your Yard Less Inviting
Modify your yard to make it less attractive for foraging and denning.
- Water Features: If you have a pond or bird bath, consider turning off pumps at night or removing water if it’s not essential.
- Grub Control: If lawn digging is an issue, address grub infestations. Healthy, well-maintained lawns are less attractive to raccoons.
- Trim Vegetation: Keep shrubbery and trees trimmed back from your house. This removes potential climbing access and hiding spots. Remove any brush piles or debris where raccoons might seek shelter.
- Block Access to Under Decks/Porches: Install sturdy hardware cloth or a raccoon fence around the perimeter of decks and porches to block entry. Ensure there are no gaps.
Natural Raccoon Repellent Options
While the effectiveness of raccoon repellent varies, some natural options may help.
- Strong Scents: Raccoons have a keen sense of smell. Some people have found success using strong scents that they dislike.
- Ammonia: Soak rags in ammonia and place them around areas raccoons frequent. The fumes are a strong irritant.
- Peppermint Oil/Cayenne Pepper: Some reports suggest these can deter raccoons, though they may need frequent reapplication.
- Predator Urine: Urine from coyotes or foxes can sometimes scare raccoons.
- Noise Deterrents: Loud noises can startle raccoons and encourage them to leave.
- Ultrasonic Devices: These devices emit high-frequency sounds that are inaudible to humans but can be annoying to raccoons. Their effectiveness is debated and can vary.
- Radio: Leaving a radio on a talk station overnight in an affected area can sometimes disrupt their activity.
- Motion-Activated Sprinklers: A sudden burst of water can be a highly effective deterrent. Raccoons dislike being sprayed unexpectedly.
Important Note on Repellents: Raccoons are intelligent and adaptable. What works one week might not work the next. Rotation of deterrents and combining methods is often more effective. Also, repellents need regular reapplication, especially after rain.
Building a Raccoon Fence
A properly constructed raccoon fence is a significant investment but can be one of the most effective long-term solutions for prevent raccoons from accessing specific areas, like your garden or trash bins.
Key Features of an Effective Raccoon Fence:
- Height: The fence should be at least 3 feet high. Raccoons are excellent climbers.
- Material: Use sturdy materials like heavy-gauge wire mesh or hardware cloth. Avoid chicken wire, which raccoons can easily tear.
- Mesh Size: The mesh openings should be no larger than 1 inch by 1 inch to prevent young raccoons from squeezing through.
- Buried Depth: Raccoons are diggers. Bury the bottom of the fence at least 6 to 12 inches into the ground to prevent them from burrowing underneath.
- Inward-Facing Latch/Overhang: To prevent climbing, consider adding an outward-facing, flexible wire extension (about 1 foot wide) at the top of the fence. This “coyote rod” or “latch” bends downward when a raccoon tries to climb it, causing them to lose their grip. Another method is to bend the top 1-2 feet of the fence outward at a 45-degree angle.
- Gate Security: Ensure any gates are also secured and do not have gaps at the bottom.
Types of Fences for Raccoon Control:
- Hardware Cloth Fence: Ideal for protecting gardens. Staple 1-inch hardware cloth to wooden posts, ensuring it’s buried and has the outward-facing overhang.
- Electric Fence: A double-strand electric fence, with the bottom wire about 4-6 inches off the ground and the top wire about 10-12 inches higher, can be a very effective deterrent. Raccoons will receive a mild shock and learn to avoid the area. This is a humane but firm method.
Table: Fence Material Recommendations
| Material | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware Cloth | Durable, secure mesh, prevents climbing & digging | Can be expensive, requires posts and installation | Gardens, trash enclosures |
| Heavy Gauge Wire Mesh | Strong, keeps out larger animals | Mesh size might be too large for young raccoons, can rust over time | Perimeter fencing, larger enclosures |
| Chicken Wire | Inexpensive, flexible | Easily damaged by raccoons, holes can be too large | Not recommended for raccoon control |
| Electric Fence | Highly effective deterrent, no physical barrier needed | Requires power source, initial setup cost, requires maintenance | Large areas, perimeter security |
Humane Raccoon Removal from Your Yard
If preventative measures aren’t enough, or if you have raccoons nesting on your property, you might need to consider humane raccoon removal. It’s crucial to do this legally and humanely. Always check your local wildlife regulations, as some methods and species may have specific protections.
When to Consider Removal
- Nesting: If you suspect a raccoon has given birth in your attic, chimney, or shed. Young raccoons, called kits, are born in spring and are dependent on their mother for several weeks.
- Aggression: If raccoons are exhibiting aggressive behavior (though this is rare).
- Persistent Damage: If despite all prevention efforts, raccoons continue to cause significant damage.
Methods for Humane Removal
- One-Way Doors (Exclusion Doors): This is often the most humane and effective method for removing raccoons from enclosed spaces like attics or sheds. A one-way door is installed over the entry point that the raccoon is using. It allows the raccoon to exit but prevents it from re-entering.
- Timing is Crucial: If you suspect kits are present, wait until they are old enough to travel with their mother (usually 6-8 weeks old) before installing a one-way door. Otherwise, you might trap the mother and leave her young behind, which is inhumane and problematic.
- Inspect Before Installation: Before installing a one-way door, thoroughly inspect the structure for all possible entry points and seal them all except the main exit where the door will be placed.
- Live Trapping: This involves using a humane live trap (a cage trap) baited with food.
- Legal Considerations: Live trapping regulations vary widely by location. Some areas require permits, and there may be restrictions on where you can release a trapped animal. Always check local laws before setting a trap.
- Proper Baiting: Use attractive bait like marshmallows, canned sardines, or cat food. Place bait inside the trap and a small amount leading into it.
- Trap Placement: Place traps on a level surface near areas of recent activity.
- Frequent Checking: Traps must be checked at least twice a day (morning and evening). Leaving an animal trapped for extended periods is inhumane and potentially illegal.
- Release Strategy: If you trap a raccoon, release it as far away from your property as possible, but also consider its survival. Releasing it in an unfamiliar environment with no food or water sources can be cruel. Many experts recommend releasing it within a mile or two in a suitable habitat.
- Professional Wildlife Removal Services: If you’re uncomfortable with the process or unsure about local regulations, hiring a professional wildlife removal service is the best option. They have the expertise and equipment for safe and humane raccoon removal from yard scenarios, including dealing with young.
Important Considerations for Removal:
- Rabies Risk: Raccoons can carry rabies. Never handle a raccoon with your bare hands. Wear thick gloves if you must approach one. If a raccoon appears sick or is behaving unusually (e.g., daytime activity, stumbling, aggression), do not approach it. Contact animal control.
- Kits: As mentioned, removing a mother raccoon without her young is inhumane and can lead to the kits dying, which creates a different problem. If you find a nest, it’s best to wait until the kits are mobile or to contact professionals.
- Relocation Challenges: Relocating wildlife is not always a permanent solution. Raccoons are territorial, and relocating one might simply open up that territory for another to move in. The key is to make your yard unattractive to them in the first place.
Raccoon Proofing Your Home’s Exterior
Beyond the yard, raccoons can target your house itself. Raccoon proofing your home’s exterior is vital.
- Chimney Caps: Install a sturdy chimney cap made of heavy-gauge wire mesh. This prevents raccoons from entering your chimney and nesting.
- Vent Covers: Secure all attic vents, dryer vents, and crawl space vents with strong hardware cloth. Raccoons can chew through flimsy plastic or metal.
- Secure Rooflines and Eaves: Inspect your roofline for any loose shingles or gaps. Repair them promptly. Ensure eaves are well-sealed.
- Shed and Garage Doors: Make sure shed and garage doors close tightly and are secured. Block any holes or gaps that might allow entry.
- Tree Trimming: Trim branches that overhang your roof or extend close to your house. This removes a common highway for raccoons to access your home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What do raccoons eat in my yard?
A: Raccoons are omnivores with a varied diet. They commonly eat fruits, berries, nuts, insects, grubs, earthworms, small rodents, bird eggs, and of course, anything they can find in your trash.
Q: Can I use mothballs to keep raccoons away?
A: While mothballs (naphthalene) are sometimes suggested as a raccoon deterrent, they are toxic to pets, children, and other wildlife. Their effectiveness is also questionable, and many experts advise against their use due to health and environmental concerns. There are safer and more effective raccoon repellent options available.
Q: How do I know if a raccoon has babies in my attic?
A: Signs include repeated noises from the attic, especially during spring and early summer. You might hear scratching, chirping, or even whimpering sounds. A mother raccoon will also make many trips in and out of the attic, often at dawn and dusk, to forage for food for herself and her kits.
Q: What is the best way to remove raccoons from my shed?
A: The most humane method is to install a one-way exclusion door over the main entry point that the raccoon is using. Before doing this, thoroughly inspect the shed and seal all other potential entry points. If you suspect young are present, wait until they are mobile or call a professional.
Q: Do raccoons come out during the day?
A: Raccoons are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. However, if they are hungry, feel safe, or have young to feed, they may be seen during daylight hours. Daytime activity can sometimes be a sign of illness like rabies, so caution is advised.
Q: How can I stop raccoons from digging up my lawn?
A: Raccoons dig lawns to find grubs and other insects. To stop raccoons from this behavior, address any grub infestations in your lawn. Ensure your lawn is well-maintained, and consider using natural grub control methods. Securing all other food sources, like trash and pet food, will also reduce their incentive to forage in your yard.
Q: Is it legal to trap and relocate raccoons myself?
A: Laws regarding trapping and relocating wildlife vary significantly by state and local municipality. In many areas, it is illegal to trap and relocate wildlife without a permit. Always check your local wildlife agency or animal control for the most current regulations before attempting any form of humane raccoon removal.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively control raccoons and prevent raccoons from becoming a persistent problem in your yard, ensuring your outdoor space remains enjoyable and free from unwelcome visitors. Remember that consistency and a multi-faceted approach are key to successful raccoon proofing and keeping these clever critters at bay.