Different Ways to Get Rid of Raccoons

Intelligent and curious, the raccoon has adapted to living in our neighborhoods, eating out of our garbage and gardens, and making dens in our homes.  Dubbed “the masked bandit,” raccoons also carry disease and make messes of our yards.  If one has made its home on your property, you’re probably looking for a way to get rid of it.

Thankfully, there’s more than one way to get rid of a raccoon, so if the first solution doesn’t work, you can try others.  One of the benefits of raccoons being such a common problem is that there are many products commercially available, repellents, fencing, traps, and exclusion doors.  And if you get stuck, you can always call in the professionals.

Read on to learn more about different ways to deal with raccoons.

Getting rid of a raccoon problem isn’t just about removing the current animal.  Raccoons are common, even in urban areas.  Moving one out without taking any other actions is just opening a vacancy for the next raccoon looking for a den.  While some of these tips may not be effective at getting rid of the current problem, they will prevent the likelihood of it recurring.

Tidy Up

What brought the raccoon to your property in the first place?  The chances are that it was a combination of an available food sources and a safe place to make a den.  By clearing away food sources, you’re forcing the raccoon to hunt further for food.  Even if it doesn’t move on to a new den, you won’t be attracting any new raccoons once you’ve gotten rid of it.

• Don’t let your garbage overflow, and keep the lid on tight.
• Keep any outdoor pet food bowls empty overnight.
• Don’t put food scraps in the garden; use a compost bin. 

Raccoon Repellents

There are plenty of repellents for sale that claim to work for various pests, and raccoons are no exception.  There are a variety of sprays, powders, and granules that all promise to deter pests and send them running.  

Some people opt for home-made raccoon repellents for a cheaper, chemical-free alternative.  There are a variety of solutions that you can make by boiling water and adding your choice of spices, peppers, onions, and hot sauces.  Brew your own strong-smelling (and strong tasting) repellent, put it into a spray bottle, and apply liberally.

Because they are generally scent-based, it fades after a while and will need regular reapplication, especially after rain.

Whatever you do, don’t use mothballs.  Raccoons will ignore them, and they are highly toxic to humans and animals and will contaminate the environment.

Raccoon-Proof Fences

The best way to keep raccoons out is with a purpose-built fence.  Raccoons can climb over regular fences, but if you add a hot wire from an electric fence along the top, you’ll be able to keep them out.  It’s a good idea to extend the fence a few inches underground and install L-footers about a foot wide around the entire fence perimeter to prevent the raccoons from digging under them.

Exclusion Doors

An exclusion door is a one-way door that you place over the main entrance to the raccoon’s den to let it out, but stop it from getting back in. It only works if you seal up all the other openings.

Use steel mesh to close off any openings under your deck; installing L-footers is a good idea.  Even if a gap looks too small for a raccoon to get through, they may dig and make the opening large enough to crawl through.

You’ll also want to check the exterior of your house. Check near the roof all the way around to make sure there aren’t any gaps for the raccoon to climb into your attic.  Cover any openings with steel mesh, and prune any trees that the raccoon can use to get to the roof.

Raccoon Traps

Check with your state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife before trapping raccoons.  Some regions allow trapping with the possession of a permit or license, whereas others prohibit the practice entirely.  Even if you want to use a live trap instead of a lethal one, there are limitations on relocation too.  In some cases, the raccoon has to be released in the same place it was caught, or be euthanized.

Wildlife Removal Experts

When in doubt, or simply to save yourself the trouble, you can always call in the professionals. Wildlife removal experts have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to take care of the problem for you. They are also licensed and insured, so you don’t need to worry about permits, licenses, and special conditions and restrictions for killing or trapping the raccoon.