How to Chase Raccoons

Raccoons are cute when they look at them on TV, but they’re not cute when they’re littering the yard. Fortunately, you can use humane methods to keep raccoons around the house. Make trash cans unattractive to raccoons or they can’t get in. Eliminate or block access to potential food sources in your yard. Finally, you need to block the areas that can facilitate raccoons to enter the house.

Table of Contents

Chase raccoons away from the trash

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Secure the trash can lid. Use ropes, chains, or elastic bands to tie the lid of the trash can in place. You can also use weights, bricks, or other heavy objects to press down on the lid of the trash can. Use a weight of about 9 kg to prevent a healthy adult raccoon from getting into the trash. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If finances allow, you can buy trash cans with latches or locks.

Hussam Bin Break

Pest Control Specialist, Diagno Pest Contrp

Hussam Bin Break is an insecticide application specialist and chief executive officer of Diagno Pest Contrp. Hussam and his brother own and operate Diagno Pest Contrp in the Greater Philadelphia Area.

Hussam Bin Break
Pest Control Specialist, Diagno Pest Contrp

If the raccoon finds food in your trash once, it will keep coming back, and it will probably empty the trash to get the food inside.

Cleanup trash. Use the hose to flush the trash can about once a week. Sprinkle baking soda in the trash to remove lingering food odors. ^{[2] X Research Source} Turn the trash can upside down to prevent water from pooling and becoming a source of water for mosquitoes or raccoons.

Do not throw garbage out at night. Raccoons are active at night and trash cans are one of their favorite “hunting areas”. To prevent raccoons from getting into the trash, you should place the trash can in the garage or inside the house. Take the garbage to the landfill on the morning of the designated collection day. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Put leftovers in two layers of garbage bags. Raccoons’ sense of smell is very sensitive, so they detect food sources from far away. Put food in two layers of bags to prevent food odors from coming out. This is especially helpful if you have to leave your trash outside the night before the next collection day. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Eliminate food sources

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Clean up all food debris in the yard. Sweep berries that fall from the tree. Make sure the furniture (for picnics) or anything in the yard is completely free of food crumbs. Clean up the entire yard. Check one more time after cleaning. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Pay attention to pet food. Raccoons are omnivores so they won’t overlook any dog or cat food crumbs left in the garden. You can completely avoid this problem by feeding your pets in the house. If you have to feed your pets in the yard, you need to clean up every bit of dry or wet food left after mealtimes. If your home has side doors for dogs or cats, you should place food bowls away from these entrances. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Place bird feeders out of reach of raccoons. Even the sunflower seed feeder is attractive to raccoons. You should hang the bird feeder on a pole with a diameter of about 1.3 cm. Raccoons can’t climb such a small pole. Securely so that the pole does not fall. Store bird feeders in metal trash cans or indoors so raccoons can’t reach them. ^{[7] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

If this is not possible, store the bird feeder in your garage or tool shed just before sunset.

Protect the aquarium. As an omnivore, raccoons also like to eat fish. You can place concrete blocks, ceramic pipes, and mesh baskets inside the aquarium. These tools are shelters for fish. Alternatively, you can install a metal cover above the aquarium. Buy the strongest metal mesh that can support the raccoon’s weight. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Remove the entrance

Locate the entrances. Check houses, car garages and fences. Look for holes that are 7.5 cm in diameter or larger. Check the plumbing for scratches and body oil stains that raccoons leave when climbing. If raccoons are in the attic, you can check under nooks, attic windows, or broken vents. If you hear raccoons in the basement, you should check for a broken ventilation duct. Also, you should check for raccoon footprints, especially if it’s been raining lately. ^{[9] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to source}

Hussam Bin Break

Pest Control Specialist, Diagno Pest Contrp

Hussam Bin Break is an insecticide application specialist and chief executive officer of Diagno Pest Contrp. Hussam and his brother own and operate Diagno Pest Contrp in the Greater Philadelphia Area.

Hussam Bin Break
Pest Control Specialist, Diagno Pest Contrp

Avoid blocking raccoons’ paths during their nesting season. Hussam Bin Break, chief operating officer of Diagno Pest Contrp, said: “If a raccoon finds its way onto the roof, it can cause major problems. Raccoons can transmit diseases, spread lice, bite power lines and One way to keep them out of your home is to install a one-way gate so they can get out but not get in. However, it’s best to do this outside of your breeding season. raccoons, because raccoons can’t walk on their own for the first two months of life.”

Define the drive area. Raccoons do not use nesting materials like birds. The only way to identify their nest is through the droppings they leave behind. Look for brown cylindrical objects along with digested berries. Raccoon droppings are similar to those of small dogs. If in doubt, you should contact your local agricultural extension office. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Keep raccoons away from entrances and nesting areas. Put a cup of Cayenne pepper, 3-5 chopped Habanera peppers, and water in a pot, bring to a boil, then let cool. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray at the entrance that you identify. Because raccoons follow odors, this spray will make them unable to tolerate odors in the nesting area. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Put on goggles and a respirator before spraying in an enclosed area. Although essentially non-toxic, hot peppers can irritate mucous membrane tissue in the eyes and mouth. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Identify the main entrance. Test on roofs, floors or siding. Look for prominent signs such as newly dug holes, nesting material, stains or trapped hair in the entrance. If the entrance is in or near the floor, you can check for raccoon footprints on the ground. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Cover most entrances. Make sure raccoons are outside before covering any entrances. Usually, you’ll see a hole if you start looking between 8 and 11 p.m., when most raccoons are out looking for food. ^{[14] X Research Source} Use a 1.3 cm mesh mesh to cover the entrance. Then, use a glue gun or a glue gun to seal the wire mesh. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Tuck newspaper at the main entrance. Wait until the time from 8 to 11 pm. Gently insert newspaper into the hole. Check the newspaper the next morning. If the newspaper doesn’t move, the raccoon may have left. Insert the newspaper back into the hole. Continue monitoring for 48 hours. If the newspaper remains in place, you can seal the hole permanently.

If the newspaper had moved, the raccoon might have returned. Check for mother raccoons and cubs. If so, you should let the raccoon cubs grow up so that their mother can let them go. If you have an abandoned raccoon, you should call your local wildlife rescue center for assistance. ^{[16] X Research Source}
If there are no raccoons in the area, you can hire a professional to install a one-way door for raccoons to escape but not re-enter. ^{[17] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to source}
Do not use newspaper to completely block the ventilation duct.

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Cover the garden. Raccoons can easily climb over wooden or metal fences. They can also use nearby branches or shrubs to climb over fences. You should install electrical grids above and below the fence to prevent raccoons from entering. Cut down branches near the fence.

If you decide to replace the fence, you need to make sure the mesh is not wider than 7.5 cm. This will help prevent raccoons from entering the yard. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Advice

Read wildlife and camping books for tips on how to avoid contact with wild animals and raccoons.
Make sure there is no easy access to the attic (e.g. thin roofs or loss of roof).
If you leave food and/or water around, or even let your pipes drip, you’ll almost always see wildlife loitering around the house.
Do not install headlights or security warning lights just to keep raccoons away. These devices can be a nuisance to neighbors and are only a temporary solution. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Warning

Check your local animal welfare laws before using any raccoon repellent. Violations of these laws may result in fines and imprisonment.
Absolutely do not use chemicals to repel raccoons. Doing so may pose a risk to other animals.
If you need to scare raccoons, you can turn on flash lights or make loud noises. Approaching or trapping raccoons can be dangerous.
Watch out for diseases that can be transmitted by raccoons, such as rabies, spirochetes, ringworm and canine febrile illness. Raccoons can pass these diseases on to you and/or your pets. ^{[20] X Research Source}

Steps

Chase raccoons away from the trash

Eliminate food sources

Remove the entrance

Advice

Warning

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