Pest Control for Raccoons

Written by on May 16 2011

Pest control for raccoons is needed especially if you reside close to a park, or a wooded area.  Raccoons may be visiting your yard and garden, throughout the night or they may be checking out your trash cans for a late night snack.  Raccoons are very cleaver and mischievous, they will climb up a tree, jump onto your roof and check out your chimney. Raccoons will look into your windows and if windows are open, they may remove the screen and come inside. Raccoons are generally afraid of people, but that does not mean they will overlook an invitation to sneak into your attic, basement or enter your home through the pet door. If you find that raccoons are frequenting your yard on a regular basis then it is time to take in the welcome mat.

Raccoon Pest Control Instructions

  1. Remove raccoons from your yard by not feeding them.  Don’t get entrapped by the adorable babies.  Remember that they are wild animals and when you feed them you are putting them in danger because they do not learn how to forage in the forest.  Feeding raccoons will make them dependent on you and they will loose their fear of humans. This puts them in danger as they will not fear hunters.  Also if you stop feeding them they will become destructive until you feed them again. If you have outdoor pets, then remove their food bowls at night or better yet feed all pets indoors so there is no trace of food.
  2. Cut off the raccoon's water source.  Raccoons have nerves in the palm of their paw and the water feels good so they are constantly washing their hands in your fountain.  Deter the raccoon by shutting off the water source at night and remove outdoor pets’ water bowl.
  3. Make your yard uncomfortable by cutting back under brush, pruning trees and shrubs. If you have a massive wildflower garden or cottage garden then change the design by creating smaller gardens.  Clean up the wildlife habitat.  A manicured yard that offers no food source or hiding areas is not inviting to raccoon or other wildlife.
  4. Stop raccoons from entering your yard by deterring them with Shake-Away coyote small animal and deer repellent.  This product is effective provided you use it sparingly and you apply in a marking method.  Coyote's mark their territory and thus you must mark your yard.  It is best to use this product when no rain in the forecast.  Shake the granular sparingly around a tree, fence post, a large shrub the corner of your garage or your home.  Form a barrier that will keep the raccoons out of your yard. Avoid getting the granules wet.  Reapply every week to keep the product potent.

Standing Raccoon Postcard from zazzle.com

Raccoon Eating Cat Food Postcard from zazzle.com

Raccoon in Flower Garden Puzzle by zazzle.com

Tips:

  • Trapping is not effective simply because if there is one raccoon in your area there will be at least 30 to 50 more raccoons.
  • Poison is not recommended because it puts you, your children and the family dog in harm’s way.  Also it is not humane method for pest control.

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11 Comments

Written by Jasmine, 364 days ago.
I love raccoons, but I also understand why it is important to stop them from entering your yard :) The introductory part of this article took me back to my childhood; it reminded me of a cartoon I used to watch when I was little - so cute :)
Written by Sgolis, 332 days ago.
Jasmine: I updated this article with an photograph of a baby raccoon. He is small, light gray and adorable. I captured the image at dusk. I think you will like it. :)
Written by Sgolis, 349 days ago.
I like raccoons also. The babies are adorable and very trusting of anyone who puts out a bowl of water for them to wash their hands. I do not feed them but always provide water.
Written by PMBenfield, 338 days ago.
Great picture. In my neighborhood there are many of them due to the overbuilding and taking away their natural habitats. Good tips for keeping them away.
Written by careercounselor, 332 days ago.
You have some nice pictures of the raccoon's, kind of reminds me of the possums that show up in our yard at night, never thought of trying to get rid of them but this information is helpful.
Written by Sgolis, 310 days ago.
I use hunters soap and then camp out behind the grass garden to take the photographs of the raccoons that try to steel food from the cat bowl. I love watching them, they are so smart and clean too...always washing their hands. I don't like possums...they are only cute when they are babies.
Written by Sgolis, 266 days ago.
Careercounselor: Glad you like my images. I took them of the raccoons that visit my yard. I personally like the video as it points out the importance for locking the pet door. While the video is an actual occurrence..and is hilarious..you do not want raccoons to enter your home for food.
Written by careercounselor, 266 days ago.
I was thinking the photo would be nice to put on a greeting card. Especially with the nice background landscape of flowers.
Written by Sgolis, 266 days ago.
I have many wildlife products in my gallery, I think people like wildlife because they live in cities and only view animals in the zoo...seeing them in a natural setting...sitting on a log eating bird food is not something you see every day. (I am working on a unique shot of baby raccoons bathing in my baby pool...I will share it if I get a good capture.
Written by careercounselor, 266 days ago.
What a great idea, I would love to see that!
Written by Sgolis, 266 days ago.
My husband and I have been hiding behind a bush, watching them..they are about 4 lbs..and are so cute. There are 5 babies and they all get into the plastic baby pool to clean up. Tonight mom got in the pool and the babies all sat on her...reminded me of kids...Hubby holds the spot light and I am trying to get a great capture. I will definitely share the image with you.
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