Ethics aside, this may not be the wisest course to take, because if the poison works and the animal dies, youll be left with a noxious odor and a mess you surely wont enjoy cleaning upassuming you can even find the dead raccoon and that its in an accessible location. Privacy policy. Heres What to Know, Lavender: Why It Works to Repel Flies And How to Use It, Why Bats Will Leave On Their Own (And What To Do If They Dont), 9 Plants That Coyotes Eat: A Coyote Meal Guide. Make sure if you have chickens that they are secured in the coop at night to avoid attracting any wildlife, especially raccoons. Take care to avoid exposure to roundworm eggs, which can be found in raccoon feces. Heres how our team can help: Want to control the raccoons on your property without hurting them? A widely used essential oil, peppermint oil is profound across many industries and works well to keep raccoons at bay. When they start to rely on people for their meals, they lose their natural instincts and may become more aggressive. If you can make your house free from any food source that these critters might find, itll be less likely for them to stay inside your property. University of North Texas Press. 9 Scents That Raccoons Hate (and How to Use Them) Or, if possible, put it in a place like a dog house or pen where it is more secured than just out in the open. If you see a raccoon, keep your distance and observe from afar. You can then use one-way doors to get raccoons out of attics or crawl spaces, or invest in the help of an animal control professional who can make sure that mothers and their litters are unharmed and not separated. [Related Post: What Frequency Do Raccoons Hate? Its no secret that raccoons are a nuisance. They range anywhere from 10 to 30 pounds and theyre usually about 3 feet long. 1. You might see these tracks on deck railings and trellises or really anywhere that a raccoon might be climbing. This is the first rule of dealing with a raccoon. Maybe there was concern that other people would pick them up or maybe she put the baby back in with the litter after its trip to the bar and no one could tell which one it was. 3 Ways to Get Rid of Raccoons - wikiHow Heres your ultimate guide to dealing with various pesky pests. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Zack DeAngelis, the creator of Pest Pointers. [Chorus] And we'll all dance along to the tune of your death. If you ever come across a raccoon, dont try to corner it or block its escape route. From a raccoon's point of view, humans make excellent neighbors. The Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses offers information relating to zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to people), including aspects of human and pet health, infection prevention and control, and vaccination. Ever see your dog growl, runoff, and pee? While raccoons can make a real mess of your yard, strewing trash in all directions over a surprisingly broad radius, they can wreak even greater havoc indoors, endangering your familys health and safety. After youve calmed down, the next step is to make yourself big. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Add a motion-activated sprinkler If you have raccoons in your garden or yard, consider adding a motion-activated sprinkler. The two good methods of killing a trapped raccoon are a carbon dioxide chamber or a lethal injection, either of which will give the animal a quick and painless death. References. 2023 The Humane Society of the United States Privacy policy and terms. Now suppose, during this chasing, your dog, somehow, was able . You can even deter raccoons from coming with cayenne pepper. The more familiar a predator is in your area, the more effective itll be as a deterrent. Do Raccoons Attack Dogs? Myth or Threat? - Sweet Dog Life There are various ways a raccoon can enter your house through the roof. So, its less likely for them to continue their search for food. See My Chemical Romance Live. PLEASE NOTE: scents are not as reliable as physical deterrents for deterring raccoons. Animals are agile, and usually get to where they want to go if theyre determined enough. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 296-301. The way they eat chicken is a sure sign youre dealing with a raccoon. Its the first that we recommend because its almost always available in every household. After youve shown the raccoon that youre the boss and that youre bigger than it is, now you want to scare it so it stays away from you. This is an important one, especially when you are considering how to remove the raccoon from your house. AMERIMAX HOME Aluminum Flashing works great for putting around tree trunks to help prevent raccoons from climbing up trees near your home. Keeping raccoons away: How to get rid of the little rascals The spacing should be small with openings not greater than 24 inches. First, raccoons are wild animals and should not become dependent on humans for food. We have helped thousands of residents with wild raccoons in Dallas. You can learn more about why raccoons actually eat garbage here! I Tried a Hands-Free Dog Leash, and I No Longer Dread Walking My Dog, Control Summer Wasps by Eliminating the Queen in the Spring, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. So, be sure to clean this area as soon as you evict the raccoons that are taking up residence with you and seal off any entry points. In this article, well explore some of the biggest mistakes people make when dealing with raccoons, and how to avoid them. Aside from scents that irritate them, another deterrent that you can use against raccoons is predator urine. For safetys sake, ideally, you should hire a professional service to clean up a raccoon latrine. Before you do anything, make sure you're dealing with a raccoon (and not your neighbor's dog). They are very delicate and particular when it comes to how they eat. Convincing the raccoon to leave is only half the solution. Here are some easy ways to get rid of raccoons. Sleep all day party all night right? To get rid of raccoons in your yard or garden, we recommend the following: Raccoons are excellent climbers, and, while it can be alarming to find them on your roof, its a common experience for many homeowners. attentiveness vs attention absolutely never do this when dealing with raccoons. US Government Printing Office. Remove all the adjacent areas that raccoons can use to reach your house! Bright lights, loud music and wire mesh are the way to go. Just to add when you shop using links from Pest Pointers, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. Worms & Germs Blog is an educational website coordinated by Drs. Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020. Raccoons: Coexisting with Wildlife - San Diego Humane Society If coyotes get too close to your property, youre often left, Read More Will an Air Horn Scare a Coyote? How to Catch a Raccoon in the Attic, Roof, Ceiling, House Without habitat modification, the methods above will be less effective over time. However, the scent that it produces will diminish over time. Female raccoons are just a tad bit smaller than male raccoons, scents that raccoons hate and how to use them, Strong Strap Universal Garbage Can Lid Lock Utility Strap, Raccoons are avid climbers and love to climb trees, Raccoons are good with their hands at getting things open, PREDATORGUARD Solar Powered Predator Deterrent Light. Heres a full list of plants that raccoons love (newsflash, its literally everything!). COMPANIONP LANTING: BASIC CONCEPTS& Resources. Because raccoons are nocturnal, daytime activity may also indicate rabidity. Its the most effective, but we discussed it last because it wont be easy without temporarily forcing raccoons to leave your property. #3. Raccoons are often portrayed in movies and memes as funny little creatures that get themselves into trouble. While eviction fluid has been used for quite some time, theres still needs to be more validity on the method. Mammals of . Aside from cutting off the branches adjacent to your house, you may also have to clean the fruits that fall from trees regularly. To determine if an opening is being used, block the hole loosely with wadded newspaper. If so, allow the babies to grow a few weeks, otherwise they will die without their mother. It also gives them easy access to any food source that they might find inside your house. Just to recap A raccoons sense of smell is its most efficient way to find food, but you can also use it to your advantage when youre trying to keep them out of your house. Prune tree limbs near fences. Fencing is the most sure-fire way to keep raccoons out of the garden. Terms and conditions. These fragrant flowering plants are easy to grow, making them a favorite of many gardeners. While theyre not out to destroy your home sweet home, it is important to get them out and keep them out. When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. Ammonia, a common household cleaning agent, mimics the smell of urine, which raccoons hate. How to Get Rid of Raccoons (Homeowner's Guide) - Bob Vila Its easy to apply and doesnt require mixtures to be effective. Raccoons in the wall make noise at all hours of the night and can damage your insulation, wiring, and more. If youd like to skip this section and get right to the good part, take a look at our guide on the scents that raccoons hate and how to use them as repellents! A woman picked up a baby raccoon from a litter of 13 and took it to Mr. Quiggleys Dead Dog Saloon, where it interacted with multiple people. Heres a collection of the most insane pest control ideas weve ever seen. Seems like common sense, and yet people picking up cute raccoon kits and taking them somewhere (though not necessarily a bar) seems to happen all the time. If you must feed your pets outdoors, feed them only at certain times of day, and remove anything uneaten. Raccoons are attracted to food, and if they find it on your property, they may return again and again. They like to live in the hollows of trees, but they will settle for just about anything ranging from brush piles, other animals old homes, the ground, in haystacks, and even in places like barns and urban areas. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. So make sure you trim the trees around your house and put metal flashing on the trunks of trees to help prevent raccoons from climbing them. As, Read More Will Lights Keep Coyotes Away?Continue, Coyotes can become a huge nuisance if left to roam free around your property. However, raccoons are susceptible to kicking the bucket early and a lot of the time you see raccoons, they are young. Are you one of those people who think raccoons are cute and harmless? However, heres a list of things your neighbor really wants you to STOP doing. Once you know how theyre getting in, determine if its a mother raccoon with young. Gentle techniques may be all you need. The aroma will keep them away from your trash bins without harming the raccoons or your kids or pets. But wait, theres more! Raccoons can carry a roundworm parasite that is potentially dangerous to humans and care should be taken in dealing with feces left by raccoons. Raccoon Control Tips & Tricks You should always use caution when dealing with wild animals such as raccoons . You can even deter raccoons from coming with cayenne pepper. If you notice your shingles are starting to come up, you might have a raccoon problem. Lets get you out of there. This could be simplified to take them anywhere. The more people encounter the raccoon, the more people might be exposed to the pathogens it carries. It almost always leads to separation (and probably death) of the young raccoons, unless done by a professional who knows how to reunite mothers with their offspring. Here are a few simple steps that you can follow to ensure that these little rascals stay out of your property for good. Leave in place for two to three days. Check shingles, gaps near the chimney, and any other holes that may be present. While gnats can come, Read More 7 Things To Do If You Find Gnats In Your HouseContinue, Crows are among the most intelligent birds in the world, but this intelligence makes them a nuisance when they realize they may benefit from hanging, Read More 11 Simple Tips To Keep Crows Off Your Balcony For GoodContinue, No one wants to have swarms of flies in their yard or home, and if you have been burdened by some flying critters then you, Read More 8 Scents That Flies Hate (and How to Use Them)Continue, Your email address will not be published. Make sure you take these steps to help you better keep your home free of raccoons and stress. So another viable option for you is to use a scent that most critters hate. They cause damage when they get into your attic. This solution directly applies to squirrels too as they are notorious tree climbers / attic jumpers! If you have a family of raccoons on your property, or theyve managed to make it inside, leave it to a professional to handle the issue. To get rid of raccoons indoors, you may be tempted to use poison. Luckily for me, Vito isnt the biggest pest in my life. Deter raccoons from visiting your property by using motion-activated sprinklers, securing trash cans, bagging all household trash and containing it securely, keeping pet food inside, and using exclusion fences to protect areas like compost piles and fish ponds. Flies are a very common household pest that you likely want to, Read More Lavender: Why It Works to Repel Flies And How to Use ItContinue, Bats are fascinating, often misunderstood creatures that are essential characters in our shared environment. If youre in need of an exterminator or wildlife professional, you can learn more about our nationwide network of pest control professionals. They also use nearby tree limbs or shrubs to help them over fences. If you have a raccoon problem, here are a few steps you can use to manage the raccoon population on your property: If you have a raccoon in the attic, its likely a female with babies. Add one small canister of cayenne and one bottle of hot sauce to a gallon of water, then spray the solution all over your garden plants, bushes and shrubs, and reapply after a rainfall. (1950). If the newspaper goes undisturbed, and the weather has not been particularly cold or stormy, no one is using it as an entryway. Raccoons are one of the most commonly dealt with nuisance animals. Theyre all-natural trash bags that have a mint fragrance, which raccoons dislike. Make sure you arent leaving things out that the raccoons might like to munch on. The key signs of a raccoon infestation are both visual and audible. I'll never let you go. Motion-activated floodlights can also serve to deter raccoons. Raccoons love chickens. Raccoons like all sorts of food from clams in the river to apple cores out of your garbage can to eggs right from out of your chicken coop. They have adapted to living with humans, and are in fact now considered more urban animals than wild animals. If you have to, you can throw things at the raccoon if you need it to back up. Once you find possible points of entry, are sure no raccoons are inside, and have completed any necessary cleanup, cover all openings with heavy material, such as wire mesh, sheet metal or metal flashing. This may be because they require frequent reapplication. They've really learned to adapt to their environment - it's one of the reasons why they're becoming more common in cities than in forests. Here are a few smart ways to get rid of them: If you have a raccoon in the wall, the situation can become stressful very quickly. You can identify a raccoon infestation by looking for signs like knocked-over trash cans, tracks, droppings, and strange sounds like mewing, whistling, and growling. Whether or not your pet is likely to . Raccoons have learned to live alongside people because it gives them easy access to food and shelter. You want to intimidate the raccoon so it knows not to mess with you. A raccoon will make a nest in tree hollows, or use the tree to access a nest that is located higher up from the ground. Raccoons can be very damaging, and waiting too long to address the problem will only make the infestation worse. Wildlife can't see through the fence so they may not try to enter. If a raccoon is trapped by a dog, they may fight back to defend themselves, which can injure both your dog and the raccoon. Raccoons and many other animals can fit through much smaller spaces than you would think. If you dont have a fruit tree nearby, youll be more than fine in this field. Preventing more raccoons from entering your house is very important, too. Sure, raccoons are sort of cute, but know this: If it feels threatened, a raccoon can be dangerous, particularly if its carrying a disease (e.g., rabies).