One way to discourage raccoons is to keep trash cans stowed away. Raccoons can find food in a variety of places including compost piles, bird feeders, and even on the ground. It is also possible to trap raccoons by driving at least 10 miles away from the area they are infesting. To prevent raccoons from pilfering trash cans, seal them shut with a lid.
To avoid attracting raccoons to your property, make sure that trash cans are locked and metal lids are used. Plastic lids are easy to bypass. If this is not possible, use bungee cords to close them tightly. If you must leave food out overnight, secure it properly. Bring the food inside at night. Make it as difficult as possible for raccoons to access it.
If you’ve already trapped a raccoon, seal up any other areas where they can gain access. Raccoons often enter homes through multiple entryways, including pet doors and garage doors. Make sure to seal any areas they might enter with a grate or metal mesh. Close windows and garage doors at night to prevent them from gaining access to your home. When preparing for a raccoon infestation, don’t forget to consider the following tips.
Hot peppers and cayenne pepper are potent repellents for raccoons. Hot peppers irritate raccoons’ sense of smell. Leaving hot peppers near raccoons’ entrances will discourage them and make them retreat. Peppermint oil is another popular deterrent for raccoons. Garlic releases a pungent smell that raccoons find offensive. Garlic and onion juice can also help.
Keep your yard clean. Raccoons will often seek food at night, so remove pet food and other food sources outside the house. You should also pick up fallen fruit. Raccoons are also attracted to citrus-smelling plants, so try to keep them away from citrus trees. Also, change your garbage collection schedule to early morning to keep raccoons away from your yard. When possible, keep your pets’ food dishes inside.
If you’ve spotted a raccoon, don’t be surprised if the critters are a nuisance. These animals are notorious scavengers and can eat anything – from your garbage to your pet food. Make sure to keep all discarded food out of sight and odor-controlled. If you can’t get rid of raccoons entirely, you can use scents to drive them away. If you have a large yard, consider using scents to keep them out of your yard.
Besides using natural repellents, you can also purchase ammonia, a compound that gives urine a pungent smell. Raccoons don’t want to live in homes with ammonia smell. This method works well without hurting the animals. If you can’t find a poisonous chemical to use on raccoons, you can try spraying them with ammonia to keep them away.
Using peppermint essential oil or peppermint spray is another effective method. Although it’s more expensive, peppermint repellent is an effective deterrent for raccoons. It’s also good fertilizer for your garden and doesn’t require any mixing. It can also be effective at removing adult raccoons and their babies. But if you’re not comfortable spraying or using this method, you may want to consider hiring a professional.
