Many people like to watch these smart animals from a safe distance, but if they move into your yard, they can do a lot of damage, from robbing your trash cans to eating your plants. Here, we’ll talk about some good ways to keep your yard raccoon-free and deal with common problems that raccoons cause.
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Keep your trash cans safe:
Raccoons are known for finding food in unlikely places, and trash cans that aren’t locked are like a gourmet spread to them. To keep them from digging through your trash, buy trash cans that are resistant to raccoons or use tight-fitting lids and bungee cords to lock the ones you already have. If you can, put trash cans in a yard or shed where kids can’t get to them.
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Get rid of sources of food:
Raccoons will eat anything that is available, so any food source will do. At night, take your pet’s food and water bowls out of the yard and clean up any fruits or vegetables that fell off. Also, make sure your outdoor grill stays clean. Raccoons are less likely to come to your home if you take away these food sources.
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Put up a fence around your garden:
Putting up a strong fence around your yard is a good idea. Raccoons won’t be able to get under a fence that is at least 3–4 feet high and goes down into the ground. Raccoons can also be kept away with electric fences that give them a safe shock if they try to climb.
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Cut down trees and keep branches neat:
Raccoons are very good at climbing, and they can get to your roof or attic through branches that hang over the edge. Cut back trees and bushes that make it easy to get to your property. Raccoons may be able to get to your home through tree pieces that you rip off.
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Places to block entry:
Check your house and any sheds for possible entry points. Surprisingly small gaps can fit raccoons through. Raccoons could get into your home through holes or gaps in the roof, walls, or base. Seal these off. Remember that raccoons are very good at lifting loose shingles or vents to get into your home, so fix anything that needs fixing right away.
Move-activated sprinklers and lights:
Raccoons like to hide in the dark. Motion-activated lights in your yard can scare them away and stop them from doing what they were doing. Motion-detecting sprinklers are another choice. When these devices sense motion, they send out a quick burst of water that keeps raccoons from coming into your yard.
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Take a look at a raccoon-proof garden:
If raccoons are always destroying your garden, you might want to put flowers and vegetables that they don’t like. Racoons eat everything, but they especially like certain plants. Find out which plants raccoons don’t like to damage and add them to your yard.
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Things that repel and stop:
There are many raccoon repellents and deterrents on the market. Some examples are chemical sprays, granules, or devices that make loud noises or bright lights when they sense motion. Some homeowners have good results with these items, but not all of them do.
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Help from a professional:
If rats keep coming into your yard or become a bigger problem when they get inside, you might want to get professional help. Wildlife removal professionals know how to safely and gently get rid of raccoon problems, which may include trapping and moving the animals.
Always be careful when trying to control raccoons because they are wild animals that can carry diseases. When dealing with rat problems, it’s usually best to be kind and responsible. By using these tips and tricks, you can help keep your yard raccoon-free and make sure that your family and these interesting urban animals will be safe and comfortable.
At Raccoon Control Barrie, we love helping out the communities we are a part of. We are local technicians who want to make a difference in people’s lives by doing what we do and know best. Our line of work is risky, yet rewarding after seeing clear results and seeing smiles return on people’s faces. We believe in the safe and ethical treatment of all raccoons and make sure that their well-being is never compromised during or after the raccoon removal process. Raccoons are very unpredictable animals that can act very friendly or very aggressive.