Raccoons: nature’s little masked bandits. They’re cute, clever, and determined to turn your backyard into their personal buffet.
If you're tired of dealing with overturned trash cans and mysterious holes in your garden, it’s time to outsmart these nocturnal nuisances. Here are some effective raccoon-proofing tips:
1. Secure Your Trash Cans
Tip: Raccoons are notorious for raiding trash cans. Ensure your bins have tight-fitting lids, and consider using bungee cords or locks to keep them shut.
One night, I was jolted awake by a loud crash. I peered out the window to find a raccoon perched atop my trash can, looking smug after its successful heist. The next day, I invested in raccoon proof locks. Let’s just say, the neighborhood raccoon wasn't too pleased with my upgrade and decided to give me the stink eye from the fence for the next week.
2. Remove Food Sources
Tip: Raccoons are opportunistic feeders. Make sure to bring pet food indoors at night and clean up any fallen fruit or birdseed.
3. Install Motion-Activated Lights
Tip: Raccoons prefer to operate under the cover of darkness. Motion-activated lights can startle them and discourage nighttime visits.
4. Fence Off Your Garden
Tip: A sturdy fence can help keep raccoons out of your garden. Make sure it’s at least four feet high and buried a few inches underground to prevent digging.
5. Seal Entry Points
Tip: Raccoons can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. Inspect your home, decks and crawl spaces for any openings and seal them up.
One winter, I discovered a raccoon family had moved into my neighbors crawl space. It was like an unwanted furry frat party in there. After calling Eastline they humanely evicted them. But we were not done yet! Eastline sealed every potential entry point, and had a lot of clean up to do. Raccoons stink! They used a sanitation product that killed all the potential viruses that raccoons leave behind as well. All said and done… the raccoons have moved on to greener pastures, and my neighbors crawl space is clean, and critter free.
6. Use Ammonia Soaked Rags
Tip: Raccoons dislike the smell of ammonia. Place ammonia-soaked rags around areas they frequent to deter them.
I placed ammonia-soaked rags around my yard, feeling quite pleased with my cleverness after my neighbors raccoon invasion! That is, until my dog decided the rags were a new toy. After a chaotic game of fetch with the ammonia rags, I decided to stick with more dog-friendly deterrents.
7. Set Up a Humane Trap
Tip: If a raccoon is particularly persistent, you may need to use a humane trap to relocate it. Be sure to follow local wildlife regulations, or call Eastline to come help out.
Keeping raccoons out of your backyard requires a mix of strategy, patience, and a sense of humor. With these tips, you can outsmart the clever critters and reclaim your outdoor space.
Remember, persistence is key, and a little creativity goes a long way. And if all else fails, give Eastline a call, they have professionals on call with years of experience.
