If you have a garden, you might be wondering how to keep raccoons away. After all, raccoons have a reputation for being messy and destructive. Disney films often feature raccoons as cheeky bandits who can destroy summer cabins and even open jars of pickles. However, they are not only messy – they can also be very smart. One common trick to get raccoons to leave your garden is to use a radio. The radio will give them the illusion of human activity, but they’ll quickly realize that the only purpose of the music is for food.
Another great tip for protecting your garden from raccoons is to install a high-quality electric fence. This fence should have wires buried six inches deep and extend out about 12 inches. The fence will keep raccoons from escaping, and will keep the critters from consuming your plants or vegetables. To protect your garden and other property, don’t leave any pet food or bird seed outside. Make sure you secure your garbage cans and pet doors at night.
Another way to deter raccoons is to spray your garden with animal repellent. These are typically made from substances that raccoons do not like, such as ammonia. You can buy them online or at some garden centers. A diluted solution of vinegar will work well as a repellent spray. You can also spread dog hair around your garden. Lastly, if you have a dog, smear it on the ground, as it will give raccoons a strong smell.
Another way to keep raccoons away from your garden is to avoid putting out bird feeders. While they are omnivorous, raccoons have a strong preference for certain garden crops, such as corn and grapes. They will eat anything, but they will prefer ripe fruit and vegetables. Likewise, they will raid chicken coops, steal the eggs and even kill the chickens. To prevent the problem, you need to start with prevention.
Another effective way to protect your prize fruits and vegetables from raccoons is to install an electric fence. These electric fences work by shocking raccoons. Since raccoons are able to climb, you should place the fence between six to twelve inches off the ground. If you install electric fences around your garden, make sure to place the fence 6 to 12 inches off the ground.
You may try spraying raccoon repellent on your garden. The raccoon repellent will not work as well if rain has been recent. The repellent mixture will be soaked up by the soil and lose its effectiveness. Alternatively, you can use a radio or lights to scare the raccoons away. Remember that raccoons will adapt to the barriers around your garden if they already live nearby. The best repellents are natural and do not require chemical applications or chemicals.
While the humane way to deal with raccoons is to release them, this should only be done if you have an established fence line. Moreover, releasing a raccoon into the wild is risky as it can carry rabies. Remember that raccoons can be amazing to watch. However, if you can’t keep them away from your garden, you may need to call a professional wildlife removal service.
