You can protect your garbage from raccoons in a few ways. Empty trash cans are one of the easiest places for these creatures to access. You can keep your trash cans inside a garage or shed if possible. Make sure your garbage is not odorous. If it is, raccoons will be less inclined to raid your garbage. If you have smelly waste, keep it in sealed garbage bags.
Double-bag your trash cans. Raccoons tend to raid trash cans at night, when they are most active. To prevent this from happening, put out your garbage cans in the morning instead of evening. If you do not have a heavy-duty garbage can, you can double-bag it. Double-bagging will prevent leaks and spills from happening. Raccoons cannot reach your garbage if you keep it upright.
If you have a fenced yard, put up heavy-duty garbage bags. Raccoons cannot withstand heavy trash bags or heavy-duty trash can lids. If your garbage can is unsecured, use a sheet tied to the handle and draped inside. If you see a raccoon, he will not enter the dumpster while you’re watching him. However, if you leave the trash can unprotected, he may wait until nighttime.
In addition to locking your trash can, you should also consider buying bungee cords to secure the lid to the can. Raccoons are dexterous, so they can break the lid and get inside the garbage. By purchasing one, you can keep your trash can safe from raccoons. They are often attracted to trash can lids, so using bungee cords will keep raccoons out of your garbage.
You can also consider installing sprinkler jets or motion-activated lights in strategic locations. Another effective deterrent is sonic pest repellers. These devices emit high-pitched sounds to frighten off many types of wildlife pests. Luckily, these methods will not cause permanent damage. And while you cannot guarantee that raccoons will not venture into your garbage, you can rest assured that your garbage is safe.
Another way to keep raccoons away from your garbage is to spray the can with ammonia. Raccoons do not like the smell of ammonia, so you may want to spray your garbage can with ammonia to keep them away. Hot peppers are also a big turn-off for these creatures. However, ammonia cleaners will not be as effective as ammonia, so you will need to use them as a last resort.
Another effective repellent is ammonia, a chemical contained in urine that repels raccoons. You can purchase ammonia at a home improvement store or online. Alternatively, you can use crushed garlic cloves or cayenne pepper, mixed with water. Cayenne pepper and garlic flakes can also be sprinkled around your property. However, you should avoid using mothballs and naptha flakes. While they repel raccoons, they are harmful to humans and other pets.
Another effective deterrent is bright lights. Raccoons are primarily nocturnal creatures. They search for food at night and sleep during the day. They are particularly deterred by bright lights, so you can install motion detector lights around your garbage cans. Another way to keep raccoons out of your garbage is to put up solar garden lights around your trash cans and place them in places where raccoons would otherwise be able to rummage through the garbage.
