Raccoon Prevention - How to Keep Raccoons Away
How To Keep Raccoons Away - Raccoons may appear to be
a simple, furry and cute animal that has adapted to scavenge
food and scraps from a variety of sources, but the reality is
that they are particularly hardy and adaptable, which is why you
can find raccoons almost everywhere in the United States. As a
pest animal, most people will come across raccoons when they see
garbage sacks that have been ripped open to get to a food
source, but they are actually omnivorous animals that can
survive on different food sources. When it comes to getting rid
of raccoons and making sure that they stay away, there are a
variety of different techniques that you can use, and most
people will find that a combination of steps will help to ensure
those pesky raccoons don't come back.
Maintaining The Fence Around The Property
There is a very good reason that most yards and gardens will have a fence around it, and this is really the first line of defense that your yard or garden will have against the raccoon. Making sure that the fence is in good condition is a very good start, but it is worth making sure that the mesh of the fence is buried a few inches in the soil, to prevent animals from burrowing underneath, while those fences that slope outwards at the top can also make it difficult for a raccoon to get in. If this isn't really stopping the raccoons from getting in, look to trim back any overhanging trees or hedges, and it may even be worth installing an electric fence that can be switched on during the evening and night, when the raccoons are most active.
Removing Food Sources For The Raccoons
The biggest attraction that will draw most raccoons to a particular location is if there is a good source of food there, and many domestic properties make it far too easy for these resourceful creatures. Garbage is one of the biggest food sources for urban raccoons, and most people will keep their trash in black garbage sacks, but by putting them in a container such as a plastic bin can help reduce the scent that spreads, while also making it much tougher for the raccoon to get to the food.
Pet food is another area where raccoons can be resourceful and steal food, and if you are leaving bowls out for cats or dogs on the back porch, this can often be eaten by the raccoons before your pets get there. Making sure pet food is securely stored, and served where only your pets can get to it will also help to keep raccoons away.
Changing Your Garden To Make It Less Attractive For The Raccoon
Raccoons like gardens that have food sources such as fallen fruit available, so remove this whenever possible, but also consider whether or not there is a lot of cover available for the raccoon. Because they are animals that can look to create a den near a domestic property, it is worth making sure that any cavities or spaces beneath sheds, decking, and porches are protected by a layer of wire mesh to keep them out. You might also want to consider removing wood piles and low shrubs, as raccoons love the cover that these features give them.
Trapping And Removing A Raccoon
When it comes to dealing with a raccoon problem, the most effective way of dealing with the issue once the raccoons are regularly visiting your yard or garden is to trap the animals and then to remove them from the area. A cage trap is the most common way of doing this, with the 'cat trap' size just right for dealing with a raccoon. Location is very important if you are trying to trap a raccoon, so look around your yard or garden for signs that the raccoon is active in a particular area, and look to place the trap in the area where the raccoon seems to be most active. Bait can really make a big difference, and sweet treats such as marshmallows and peanut butter can be just as effective as more traditional food such as meat, wet cat food and fish.
Should You Use Repellents To Keep Raccoons Away?
The idea that you can spray a repellent or simply switch on a repellent device and that will solve your raccoon problem is definitely an attractive way, and in a few cases these products may actually work. However, in the majority of cases repellents have proved to be ineffective at best, and most animal experts will recommend that you look to other ways of dealing with animal problems rather than spending money on an animal repellent. When you consider that you can spend over a hundred dollars on an audio repellent system, that is a lot of money to spend on something that has very little evidence to support it.
Go back to the main Raccoon Removal page for more information about raccoon prevention, and more information about how to keep raccoons away.
Read more About Raccoons in the educational articles I have written. I can give advice based off of my years of experience from how to Find and Remove a Dead Raccoon to what kind of Damage raccoons can do in the attic. Learn how to keep raccoons out of a chicken coop and get a raccoon out of a chimney. Learn what to do with a raccoon afte you catch it and if repellents will get a raccoon out of your chimney.
Learn if raccoon feces are dangerous to touch or breathe, and how to keep raccoons out of your bird feeder. Find out the best bait to trap a raccoon and how to know if there are Baby Raccoons in the Attic. I can also let you know if you should feed a baby raccoon you found.
Read my best advice for how to keep raccoons away from your property and what might be attracting them there in the first place. Read the steps that you should take if you find a a nest of raccoons in the attic, and learn if raccoons attack people. Learn how to keep raccoons off of your roof, out from under a shed or porch, out of your attic, and how to stop them from pooping in my swimming pool.
Learn if repellents will get raccoons out of your attic, and if mothballs or ammonia keep raccoons away. Learn how to keep raccoons away from your property, and if a raccoon that is active during the daytime rabid. Read my thoughts on if you should hire a pro or remove raccoons yourself, and what to do about a raccoon under the porch. Find out how to catch a raccoon with a snare pole, and even if raccoons make good pets. Read my thoughts of if you should ever poison a raccoon, and find out if a Pest Control Company will remove a raccoon. Learn if they live or travel in packs and what to do to geg raccoons out of the attic. I can let you know what to do if you find an orphaned baby raccoon wandering about and if a raccoon in the attic will have a nest of babies.
