Outdoor Pest Control: How To Keep Raccoons Away
If you live somewhere that raccoons run wild, you are at risk for them coming onto your property to look for food. You may be surprised one night when you find one rummaging through your trash or eating the cat food you left on the porch. They are very smart animals, and know where to find food and other resources. If they are becoming a problem, here are some ways to deter them and keep them away from your home.
Scare Devices
When it comes to repellents, you can first start with scare devices. These devices might have water, noises or bright lights that will scare raccoons off if they come close to your yard. Most of these devices work with motion detectors, so you need to choose a location where it will recognize the raccoon's presence. If you know they usually go for your trash, that is a good place to put the devices. However, if you have neighbors, you might want to refrain from any devices that will be bothersome to them.
Natural Repellents
If you simply want to keep the raccoons away from your yard, but do not want to cause them any harm, you can try natural repellents. There are a few items that raccoons shy away from and work very well. Hot peppers are typically the best because of the strong odor and spicy taste. You can make a repellent mixture by combining jalapeno peppers, yellow onions, and cayenne pepper. Mix it up and pour it in a spray bottle with some water. Spray areas around your yard and trash cans to keep the raccoons away.
Store-Bought Repellents
There are also products sold in stores that are meant to repel raccoons, though some may be made with toxic chemicals. It is up to you if you want to use these types of items in your yard and around your home. If you have outdoor pets, you might want to refrain from such repellents. They work much the same way as the natural repellents, where you spray the bottle in the areas you think the raccoons frequent.
Set Traps
If you feel comfortable in doing so and it is legal in your area, you can set traps to trap the live raccoons, and release them safely into the wild. This may be something you need to do if deterring them isn't working, but you don't want to use anything that might be dangerous or unsafe to the raccoons. Find out first if it is legal in your area to release the animals into the wild, as this is not allowed everywhere. Click here for more information.
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