How To Get Rid Of Racoons In Yard

Raccoons are intelligent animals that play a role in our ecosystem. However, they're not exactly the best house guests. They go through the garbage, destroy buildings when making nests, and transmit diseases that can harm humans and pets.

It's no wonder so many people are desperate to find out how to get rid of raccoons! And if you're one of them, you've come to the right place.

1. Install a motion activated sprinkler

An unexpected blast of water is a natural raccoon repellent. Imagine how you would feel if you were creeping around where you aren't supposed to and you suddenly get doused with water coming from nowhere.

In the same way that you would run off, raccoons would too. Consistency is the key to getting rid of raccoons.

If you plan to use water to do that, you'll need to have a steady stream of water showering your yard. But then you'll have to be prepared for the increase in your water bill. Plus, you run the risk of overwatering your plants and destroying your garden.

The solution is to use a motion-activated sprinkler to keep raccoons out of your yard. The technology allows it to spritz water only when it detects movement.

This is a good way to repel raccoons and other pests as well. Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer is very popular among those who want to protect their yard from pests because of its wide range of customizable settings.

If you're using this to scare away raccoons, adjust the settings so that it will only turn on at night when these creatures are most active. You can position the sensor at raccoon-level height to make movement detection easier. Install within a 40-feet radius of where you see raccoons congregate.

2. Test out an ultrasound animal repeller

If you want to get rid of raccoons without harming them, you may want to invest in an ultrasound animal repeller. Sudden, loud sounds will scare these critters away.

There are some products that emit prerecorded animal distress calls and predator hunting sounds, while others emit sounds in frequencies that can only be heard by certain animals.

The Chanshee Sound Wave Speaker is a good choice because it combines sound and light to scare off animals. To keep raccoons away, you'll want to use setting 2 to emit sounds within the 19.5KHZ-24.5KHZ range.

You can choose other settings depending on the animal you want to repel. It has ultrasonic and sonic speakers that emit loud, raccoon repellent sounds.

This, combined with a bright, flashing LED light, makes it among the best raccoon deterrents on the market today. It has a sensor that can detect movement up to 33 feet away, and can be charged through solar energy or via USB.

Install your ultrasound animal repeller based on where you expect the raccoons to go. It can be hung over the garbage cans, driven into the soil, or placed on the balcony floor.

3. Use rodent repelling trash bags

One way to keep raccoons away is to ask yourself, "What do raccoons hate?" and then incorporate that into your pest control strategy. And that is exactly what the makers of rodent repelling trash bags did.

Mint-X Rodent Repelling Trashbags incorporates corn mint oil, methyl salicylate, camphor oil, and eucalyptus oil in the formulation of its plastic bags. The minty fresh scent will keep raccoons away as they hate this strong smell.

Because these aromatic additions are all-natural raccoon deterrants, they do not pose a health risk to those who take out the trash.

Those who are conscious of their environmental impact may find it helpful to know that this product is approved for use by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Use this trash bag for accumulated kitchen scraps and leftovers that are highly attractive to raccoons and other pests.

The minty fresh smell will mask the telltale smell of food, stopping them from opening it up the bags and going through your trash. At the same time, it also makes your garbage area a lot less smelly.

4. DIY Spicy raccoon repeller

Did you know you can make your own homemade raccoon repellent using some choice pieces from your spice rack?

Raccoons have a sensitive sense of smell that they use to sniff out food, predators, and potential mates. Because of this, their noses are easily offended by certain smells, one of which is pepper.

You can make a natural deterrent for raccoons by mixing a gallon of water with a bottle of hot sauce or a can of powdered cayenne pepper.

Adding a couple of drops of liquid detergent will help keep the mixture where you spray it, and allow it to stay longer on the surface without evaporating.

Fill up a spray bottle with the concoction and use it wherever you see raccoons go. If you want to keep raccoons off the deck, spray around the perimeter. If you want to stop them from getting at the trash, douse the garbage cans with the stuff.

A spicy pepper spray is the best raccoon repellent if you do not want any risk of toxicity. Just make sure to spray it on places that people or pets do not touch. While this spicy raccoon spray is not poisonous, it can be irritating when accidentally rubbed into the eye.

5. Use strategic placement of ammonia

The moniker "trash panda," would lead one to think that raccoons are messy animals, but that is far from the truth.

They make it a point to pee and poop far away from their den and food, so the stench does not disturb their sensitive sense of smell. And you can use this to your advantage.

So how do you keep raccoons away from your house using their pee and poop? Well, not the waste per se, but rather a component of that waste that is easily found in home improvement centers: ammonia. Ammonia is a chemical that gives urine that distinctive, pungent smell.

Raccoons take pains to pee elsewhere just so the scent doesn't interfere with their sleeping or eating. Ammonia and raccoons simply don't mix.

Note, however, that ammonia is not raccoon poison but a raccoon deterrent. They won't even go near the stuff, much less drink or nibble at it. It's a good way to get rid of them without hurting them.

You can make a raccoon deterrent by soaking rags in ammonia and leaving them where these animals come out to play. You can also leave a bowl of ammonia near the raccoons' entry points to your home.

It's a strong smell that even humans don't like, but when you see how quickly it fixes your raccoon problem, you'll know it's worth it.

6. Secure the trash can

If you're tired of picking up your trash from last night's raccoon feast, the first raccoon control method you need to try shouldn't focus on the animals, but what the animals are trying to get at the trash can.

Securing your garbage so that raccoons can't get to it is the most basic thing you can do to discourage them from visiting again.

Once you remove their access to food, they'll realize that it's useless to hang out in your property and seek greener pastures.

You should also buy a trash can made to withstand the pilfering of wild animals. Usually, these are heavy, durable, and have a lid that can be locked in place.

A DIY version of this is to thread a bungee cord through the lid and tie it to act as a lock. Raccoons are pretty smart, so if they can't pry open garbage can lid, they'll try to push it over to release the contents.

Build garbage can fence or garbage rack to prevent this. Make sure your trash cans are placed on even and stable ground to make it harder to tip over.

7. Remove food sources

Raccoons will eat anything edible that is left in your yard. And when they find that your home has a lot of food, they'll strongly consider making it their home too.

Check your home for possible food sources. If you leave pet food outside, move your dog or cat's feeding bowl inside to minimize raccoon temptation.

Make sure to pick up and properly discard berries or fruit that has fallen to the ground. This not only helps to deter raccoons but also makes your yard look cleaner.

If you take your garbage out the night before garbage collection, consider changing your schedule and doing it in the morning instead. Raccoons look for food at night, and when they come out and see there's nothing for them, they'll move on.

If you leave your trash out, install a motion-detecting light over it to scare away raccoons. You should also clean and disinfect your garbage can area regularly.

Remove anything that might have fallen out of your trash bags. Even if there is none, the stench of garbage may be enough to attract them. Cleaning it will get rid of the smell and any leftovers that these animals might forage.

8. Raccoon proof your bird feeders

You may have installed bird feeders with the intention of waking up to relaxing chirping, but you may get more than you bargained for.

Raccoons are just attracted to grains, nuts, and seeds as birds are. Your bird feeder may be the reason why you hear raccoon noises and have raccoon waste all over your yard.

The simplest way to get rid of raccoons eating from your bird feeder is to stop leaving out food for the birds completely. But if that isn't an option, there are ways to raccoon-proof your feeders. You can change your bird feeding habits.

Make sure to put only the amount of feed you are sure the birds will consume within the day, so there's nothing left for raccoons to forage at night. A more time-consuming alternative is to remove leftovers before nightfall.

You can try installing your feeder from an old clothesline, far away from branches that raccoons may be able to climb and jump from. Placing it on a thin rod makes it difficult for raccoons to grip, making it impossible to reach the food.

Another way to do raccoon pest control on your bird feeder is to purchase a raccoon guard to fit over the pole it is installed on. This makes the pole too wide for the creature to grasp.

9. Seal off your chimney

If you want to keep raccoons off your roof, you should seal off your chimney. This dark, tight space may not seem inviting to us, but to raccoon mothers, this is the dream maternity ward.

Yep, that's right. The most common reason a raccoon would want to enter your chimney is to give birth in it.

A chimney approximates tree holes and hollow trunks, which is where raccoons prefer to nest in the wild. Before sealing your chimney, first examine if there is already a raccoon family living in it.

Raccoon removal from chimneys is best done by pest control experts, as they can transmit diseases and become aggressive.

Once you've made sure it's empty, you can now go about sealing your chimney. You can use a spark arrester or a chimney cap that has meshwork to make the hole inaccessible.

If you're installing this yourself, be sure that it is screwed in tight. Raccoons are good with their hands and can make easy work on a poorly-secured spark arrestor or chimney cap.

While it's very effective at keeping raccoons out, this will require a little bit more maintenance on your part. Clean the meshwork every couple of weeks to ensure that the ash does not clog the grills.

10. Seal your roof, attic, and holes in your house

It's not just chimneys that raccoons like to hide out in. Any opening in your house to a dark and safe space is an ideal home for a raccoon family.

To prevent this from happening, seal all openings they might use to enter. If you happen to know that there are a couple of raccoon balls snoozing quietly in a certain part of your house, make sure to get them out first before sealing in the entrances.

You would not want to trap a raccoon inside your house! Call in the experts to do the job to maintain the safety of you and your family.

You may think that you should only focus on the large holes that raccoons can go through, but it's best to cover all your bases and seal holes of all sizes.

These creatures can easily use their claws to widen the openings. Keep an eye out for loose flooring and roof tiles or cracks in the siding and foundations. Once you've located all the possible openings, fill them in with the material of your choice.

Depending on where the hole is and how big it is, you can board it up with wood or concrete, or fill it up with caulk or expandable foam. There are many options in the hardware and home improvement sections.

11. Remove easy access to roof

Raccoons often enter the attic through the roof. This is an ideal place for them to make their nest and build their family, as it is dark and well-protected from the elements.

First things first: Make sure to keep your roof in good order. Ensure that there are no holes in the eaves and check for loose shingles.

If there are raccoons on your roof, chances are they've already done damage to infiltrate your attic. Ask the help of pest control services to get them out, and then work on preventing it from happening again by limiting access to your roof.

Typically, raccoons climb trees, vines, and poles to get up there. You can prune the branches that graze the sides of your house to remove their footholds.

If you would like to take more severe measures, avoid planting trees and vertically-climbing plants near your house. You can grow shrubs or low-lying flowers instead.

Downspouts act as ladders for raccoons to get to your roof. You can stop them from climbing by installing a protective collar on your downspout, available in hardware stores and home improvement centers.

Another way you can make your roof inaccessible is to line it with roof spikes. There are products available that are designed to be inconspicuous to save the aesthetics of your home.

12. Eliminate raccoons with a fence

A fence is a good way to keep pests out. Unfortunately, a simple physical barrier is not enough to repel raccoons.

These wily creatures can easily climb over or dig under the fence and get to where the food is, whether it's your garden, your fish pond, or your compost pit. You should also protect newly-planted turf, as raccoons enjoy rolling this back to look for grubs underneath.

To keep raccoons out of your yard, consider installing an electric fence. The jolts will repel raccoons and discourage them from entering. You can also opt to raccoon-proof your ordinary fence with the simple addition of a single electrified wire.

How is one strand supposed to deter this large animal? Strategic placement is key to making this effective as a raccoon repellant. Install it 8 inches from the ground and 8 inches out from the fence base.

You can charge this using a fence charger typically used in cattle fencing. This has a high voltage but low amperage. For garden crops, you may consider a two-wire system set lower to the ground. One should be around 6 inches high and the other 12 inches high.

If you use electric wiring, you can save on costs by activating it from sunset to sunrise. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, so this will be the time they'll likely try to cross the fence.

13. Scare them with loud noises

Raccoons may be smart and wily creatures, but they're also easily shaken up. All it takes is a sudden loud sound and they'll go scampering away into the night.

If you can get a device that puts together a loud sound and flashing bright lights, that would be even more effective.

There are motion-activated speakers made especially to repel wildlife. You can choose one that emits raccoon distress calls or sounds made by a raccoon's natural predators.

There are studies that show a recording of a dog bark is especially effective. They'll stay clear of your home if they think that bad things can happen to them there.

There are also those that emit sounds above or below the frequency of what can be detected by humans. This makes it less annoying for neighbors who might not enjoy the intermittent loud noises coming from your backyard.

Any loud and abrupt sounds will work, as well. You would too if you were stealthily creeping around and a loud crack goes off. It is important that the loud noise isn't continuous or at regular intervals. Erratic noises that are sudden and short are more likely to work.

14. Spray strong animal repellent concentrate

Raccoon repellents are usually made of very pungent, strong-smelling materials that are offensive to this animal's senses. Ammonia, spices, and vinegar keep raccoons away, but if you want something commercial-grade, you might want to try concentrate solutions.

Take Repels-All Animal Repellent Concentrate, for instance. This product's active ingredients include putrescent whole egg solids, cloves, and garlic oil.

It also contains vinegar, urea, and wintergreen oil. This unique blend irritates the animal's nasal passages, triggers the flight response. The animal smells it and leaves your property alone.

This is economical because it can be used to make several batches of spray. For example, a quart of this stuff makes two gallons of repellent. There are instructions on how much water to mix in. Whatever you do, don't mix this spray indoors.

The smell is very strong in liquid form. As it dries, humans won't be able to register it. But animals with more sensitive noses, including raccoons, will still find it very irritating. After diluting with the appropriate amount of water, put in a spray can for easy application.

Use liberally in areas where you know raccoons enter or hang out. This is non-toxic and made of natural ingredients, which makes it safe for pets and kids. However, it's doubtful they'll accidentally lick or eat it as it really smells horrible.

15. Call a professional

If you've tried a combination of methods including physical exclusion, repellents, and deterrents, and still see no improvement after several weeks, consider calling in pest control services.

A raccoon infestation that has gone on for too long can damage your house and expose your family to diseases. In this case, it's best to catch the critters and have professionals deal with them.

While there are dozens of raccoon traps available online, we strongly suggest that you do not attempt to do this on your own. Raccoons can get aggressive when threatened and can bite or scratch you.

More menacing than physical wounds is the chance of catching a disease. These animals carry microorganisms and viruses that affect people and pets.

Hiring professional raccoon catchers may be a little more expensive, but they have the expertise and equipment to carry out the operation effectively and safely. Look for a reputable and registered raccoon pest control company that follows state laws on environmental preservation, use of chemicals, and animal welfare.

Getting rid of raccoons is not the same as getting rid of other kinds of wildlife that encroach on a human property. Raccoons are quite smart, dexterous, and can be aggressive. Previous experience in raccoon control is excellent.

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