How to Get Rid of Raccoons

Your complete guide to removing raccoons humanely

The problem with raccoons

Raccoons can be a major nuisance for homeowners and property managers. They are known to rummage through garbage cans, damage gardens, and even carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and pets. Getting rid of raccoons is important to prevent property damage and keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Signs of Raccoon Damage

What are the signs of Damage caused by raccoons?

Identifying the signs of a raccoon infestation is the first step in effective raccoon removal. Raccoons are nocturnal creatures, so you may not see them during the day. However, there are several signs of raccoon activity that you can look out for, including overturned garbage cans, damaged gardens or bird feeders, and tracks or droppings on your property. It’s essential to be aware of the legal considerations involved in dealing with raccoons in your area before taking any action.

Prevention of Raccoon and Wildlife problems

Prevention methods are critical for keeping raccoons away from your property. Start by securing your garbage cans with locking lids or bungee cords to prevent raccoons from accessing food sources. Sealing entry points to your property, such as gaps in your roof or siding, can also help prevent raccoons from getting in. Reducing access to food sources, such as bird feeders and pet food, can also help discourage raccoons from visiting your property. Finally, removing potential den sites, such as piles of leaves or wood, can make your property less attractive to raccoons.

Raccoon Repellents

You could also use repellents to deter raccoons from your property. Chemical repellents, such as predator urine or ammonia, can be sprayed around your property to create a barrier that raccoons will avoid. Natural repellents like hot pepper spray or mothballs can also keep raccoons away. However, it’s important to note that repellents may not be effective in all situations and should be combined with other methods.

Raccoon Removal

Trapping raccoons

Trapping can be an effective way to remove raccoons from your property. Several types of traps are available, including live and kill traps. Live traps are designed to capture raccoons alive so that they can be released in a safe location. Kill traps, on the other hand, are designed to kill raccoons. We do not recommend using them because we believe in dealing with raccoon problems humanely! When using traps, it’s vital to bait them appropriately and place them in the right location. Additionally, it’s crucial to handle trapped raccoons carefully and follow local laws and regulations.

Hiring a professional wildlife removal company

Suppose you’re uncomfortable dealing with raccoons alone or have tried other methods without success. In that case, it may be time to hire a professional pest control company. A professional can help identify the source of the problem and develop a plan to address it. When hiring a professional, choosing a reputable company with experience dealing with raccoons is best. Additionally, there may be legal and ethical considerations to consider when dealing with raccoons, so be sure to discuss these with the professional you hire.

Importance of taking action

In conclusion, getting rid of raccoons requires a combination of prevention methods, repellents, traps, and, in some cases, professional help. Immediately addressing raccoon infestations can protect your property and keep yourself and your family safe. Remember, prevention is everything with raccoons, so take steps to make your property less attractive to them. Be sure to handle raccoons with care and humanely!

Some more raccoon removal strategies:

Raccoons look like cute friendly creatures, but they can be dangerous if cornered or if you separate a mother from her babies. Raccoons will make a home in your attic or under your porch or deck or maybe in both locations if they have a need. To rid them of these homes it’s mostly being reactive and proactive. They are:

• Identify the raccoon’s points of entry into your home. Look for holes at least 3 inches in diameter.  If the raccoons are in your attic, look under nooks for holes, dormers for holes, or broken vents. You may hear them in your crawl space looking for broken vents or borrows. Seal off all points of entry as the first step except the one you suspect is most used. Stuff this entryway most used with newspaper.
• Dip 3-5 tennis balls with ammonia and toss them inside and around the places you think the raccoons are nesting. This will cause the raccoons to abandon the nesting site with their young. The smell of ammonia will make their living conditions unlivable.
• Check the newspaper you stuffed into their entry hole, if the newspaper was moved stuff it back into place. Keep checking the newspaper for 48 hours. If it has not moved then you should mentally seal up that last hole. Prepare one cup of cayenne pepper and 3-5 chopped habanero chilies’ in hot water, let it cool down, put on a pair of goggles, and spray the sealed entrance.  Raccoons’ sense of smell is very sensitive, and this spray should turn them away from their entry area.
• If you don’t want to go through the above and be proactive seal off any gaps in your fence.
• If you have a dog indoors this might help also. Letting the dog outdoors in the daytime will be a deterrent also. The barking of the dog and the dog’s natural habits will or should keep the raccoons away from your house. Please don’t put your dog outside during the day if it’s too hot or cold be faithful to your pet.
• A bird feeder with sunflower seeds might be tempting to a raccoon, hang or put your bird feeders out of the raccoon’s reach. Make sure you store your bird feed in a small metal-covered can.
• If you leave food and water source around outside, you’ll always find wildlife hanging around your home.  Clean up all the garbage, paper, food, berries, and fruit that fell from trees.  After the outside area has been cleaned up check around or inspect the area again to make sure your property is kept clean of the food animals looks for.
• Clean any picnic tables and chairs or any other place there may be crumbs laying around after use.

If you are having trouble getting rid of the raccoons you can hire a reputable raccoon removal company on our website.