In some households, especially in the suburbs, raccoons can be a major problem. Despite the cuteness, this mammal is capable of causing various disturbances to the surrounding. They do not merely cause mess around the trash can, but may also prey on domestic poultries. Since raccoons often wander around the garbage and other dirty spots, they have the possibility of carrying bacteria which may spread diseases. Not only they try to find food sources outside the house, but can also move inside the house for shelter. Thus, people start to find effective ways to get rid of the pests and keep them away from the property.

Inspecting raccoons

1. Outside the house, the area around the trash can is the most attacked area. You might see some raccoons toppling the trash can and try to find their meal. If you found out your garbage scattered around the can, raccoons might have invaded it the previous night.
2. Bird feeder—if you install any, is also the thing liked by raccoons. Empty bird feeders and scattered bird fed around the soil might be a sign that the thing has been invaded by raccoons.
3. Raccoons also dig up the lawn. Hence, you need to check the lawn for holes which raccoons might have made. Raccoons dig up those holes to find small insects to feed.
4. Inside the house, the attic is the place most prone to raccoon invasion. If you see a damage in a form of an entrance hole, your attic might have been infested by raccoons. They go inside the house for a shelter during mating season. Here, they are going to nurture the babies. If you hear squeaking sound during the night, followed by various noises in the attic, it might be your time to double check for raccoon infestation.

Keeping raccoon away

Since raccoons may cause severe damages and spread diseases, while their cuteness keeps you from killing the creatures, it is the best way to keep them away from the property at all. Keep reading to find the best methods you can employ to keep the mammals on the bay.

1. Raccoons are extremely attracted to trash cans, in the finding of edible meals. Hence, you need to be able to protect this can from their attack. A thick plastic trash can which has screwed so that the lid can be fastened can be a good choice. However, raccoons have got sharp teeth which enable them to chew plastic. As a better alternative, a metal trash can which cannot be easily toppled can be used. If your environment is prone to raccoon infestation, avoid using a trash can without a lid, since exposed garbage is an invitation for various pests, including raccoons.
2. Your yard and garden are also susceptible to raccoon attack, since they may dig up the soil looking for insects for foods. To prevent raccoons from foraging in your yard, sprinkle ground black pepper and cinnamon mixture onto the soil. Raccoons should not like the smell, as it disturbs their sense of smell and thus, keeps them away from the yard.
3. Inside the house, the attic can be a shelter for raccoons. To avoid them from invading your attic and nurture the babies there, soak some clothes into the solution of ammonia and put those in some attic corners. Make sure you place the soaked clothes in darker, undisturbed corners, as these are usually liked by raccoons.
4. In some cases, raccoons invade a house through an opened chimney. To avoid this, install a chimney cap which enables your chimney to be closed anytime it is not in use.

Getting rid of raccoons

Despite various treatments you have performed to keep raccoons at the bay, these critters are intelligent and strong and thus, can still find a find a way to forage around the house and yard. If this is what you experience, immediately treat the animal to get rid of it from the house, before it causes damages or spread diseases. You can choose one of the most effective methods in dealing with the pests invading your property.

Alive trapping

Many people do not have the courage to shot raccoons as they look very much alike to common house pets, such as cats and dogs. Hence, getting rid of raccoons using trapping method may be effective. This is humane and hygienic since you will not get into a business with raccoon carcasses. To perform this, set a trap with foods to attract raccoons. You can put almost any foods as a bait to catch raccoons—cat or dog food, peanuts, fish, chicken, and even corns. Once it is trapped, relocate the animal to another place away from the property without killing it.

Lighting

Raccoons are nocturnal and are reluctant to look at shiny objects, including heavy lights. To get rid of raccoons foraging in your yard, install a motion-detection lighting around the suspected areas. This will distract the raccoons and instantly keep them away from the property. This is an effective method if you prefer not to hurt the raccoons but do not want to see them coming into the yard anymore.

Raccoons repellent

A mixture of grounded garlic, pepper, and chili which is sprinkled over the yard soil and any other suspected places will irritate the raccoons’ paws and thus, keep them away from the property.

Raccoons professional exterminator

This can be a choice if you have a severe infestation of raccoons around the house. Professional raccoon exterminator will be able to locate its nests and thus, relocate any existing mother and babies. Untreated baby raccoons will grow in a bigger population which brings disturbing effects to the entire households.

Preventions

Raccoons can be very intelligent and hard to be trapped. They invade houses for foods and shelters and they are persistent about this. A mother raccoon won’t even leave the nest it has built in the attic for the babies. Hence, being aware of raccoon’s behavior and some risk factors which may bring them to the house can be a good preventive method in keeping the pest away. Here are some ways you can do to deter the colonies from the property.

1. Put picket fences around the yard and the plantation you want to protect. You can cover the fences with fine-mesh wire to keep the raccoons out of it. You also need to seal off all possible entries around the house, especially the attics. When not used, close the chimney with a chimney cap to avoid raccoons from invading through it.
2. Keep the trash can clean and tidy and remove any scattered garbage around it. If needed, spray ammonia solution around the can to deter raccoons.
3. Remove all compost and fell fruits if you have some fruit trees. Also, empty the bird feeder at night. You can calculate sufficient amount of bird foods which can be consumed entirely in one day so that there is nothing left for the mammals.
4. Set some concrete traps for avoiding raccoons from getting some water from the fish pond which may end up preying on the fish. To do this you will need:

• A mold—bucket, can, recycled gallons, or anything to be used to mold the concrete.
• A bag of concrete mix.
• Iron spikes or nails

First, pour the concrete mix to any container you choose. Arrange the spikes, nails, pieces of glass, or any other sharp objects in concrete. Afterward, add some water to the mix and wait for it to set within several hours. Once the concrete sets, put the raccoon’s traps inside the fish pond, in some spots susceptible to the infestation.

5. If you notice severe raccoon attack, install an electrical wire fence around the garden to prevent the colonies from preying on the plantation. Do the same prevention method regarding poultry cages to avoid raccoons from preying on the chickens.

Place some mothballs around the windows and other possible entry points. Raccoons cannot stand the smell and so they will be kept out by this mothballs. Mothballs can also be helpful inside the attics since it can deter not only raccoons but also various smaller insects which can be the food sources for the raccoons and its babies. Make sure you leave the attic clean to limit any bugs which raccoons may feed on.