Raccoons might be cute, but they can wreak havoc on your yard. You might wake up to trash strewn all over your property, a torn-up garden, or damage to your home from them attempting to get inside. For these reasons, you should never allow raccoons to stay on your property.
Raccoons are nocturnal animals, so it can be difficult to keep them away. By the time they are present on your property, you are probably already sleeping. Thankfully, there are ways to deter raccoons without getting into a confrontation with one.
Some of the easiest ways to keep raccoons out of your yard include removing potential food sources, securing trash cans, getting rid of water features, and fencing off your vegetable gardens. If these tactics are not working, you might want to consider contacting a professional wildlife removal service like Nuisance Wildlife Rangers.
In this article, you will learn:
- Why raccoons are attracted to your yard
- How to tell if raccoons are frequenting your property
- How to keep raccoons out of your yard for good
Why are Raccoons Attracted to Your Yard?
If you keep finding raccoons in your yard at night, you might be wondering what is attracting them. Three main factors make human property tempting to raccoons, including food sources, water sources, and shelter.
Raccoons will practically eat anything they can get their hands on. This is why you will find them rifling through trash cans for a midnight snack. If you tend to leave your trash can out and unsecured, you will eventually attract a raccoon or two.
Like all animals, raccoons need to drink water to survive. If your yard has a koi pond, bird bath, or another type of water feature, raccoons might begin to associate your property as a place to have a drink.
Lastly, if there is easy access to shelter, raccoons might start to nest on your property. They are great climbers, so they might attempt to get into your attic, crawlspace, or garage. If there are entrances on the roof into your attic, you can bet that raccoons will attempt to come inside after snacking on your trash.
If you have a raccoon problem, you should consider contacting Nuisance Wildlife Rangers. We will trap, remove, and relocate the raccoons humanely and ethically, ensuring that no animals are harmed in the process.
Signs of Raccoons on Your Property
Since raccoons are nocturnal, you might not see the animal while it is in your yard. Instead, you will have to look for signs of raccoon activity the next morning. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to tell if raccoons have been hanging out on your property.
The main signs of raccoons in your yard include:
- Tipped over trash cans
- Trash strewn around your yard
- Droppings that are cylindrical, dark-colored, and 2 to 3 inches long
- Noises at night, including chittering, thumping, or snarling
- Tracks on the ground that resemble small hands with 5 toes
You must keep a safe distance if you encounter a raccoon in your yard. They can become quite aggressive towards humans if they believe you are a threat to their food or young. Additionally, many raccoons carry rabies, which means getting bit by one is a huge risk.
How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Yard
If you notice signs of raccoon activity in your yard, you are probably wondering how to get rid of them. There are several ways to keep raccoons out of your yard, each one having to do with removing food and water sources that might attract them.
The easiest ways to keep raccoons out of your yard include:
Secure Trash Cans
The number one food source for raccoons comes from your trash cans. Because of how smart they are, raccoons can tip over trash cans to get their contents. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent raccoons from being able to get inside of your trash.
To prevent raccoons from frequenting your yard, use the following tips to secure your trash cans:
- Use a lock on the lid
- Tie the lid down with bungee cords
- Use heavy weights on top of the lid
- Store your trash cans inside a garage or shed
Remove Food Sources
Unfortunately, trash is not the only food source for raccoons. They will eat just about anything, which means your pet food bowls, bird feed, compost piles, and even small animals like chickens are not safe.
The best way to prevent raccoons from coming onto your property includes:
- Leaving pet food inside
- Bring bird feeders inside overnight
- Make sure your chicken coops are not easy to get inside
- Use compost bins with secure lids
- Clean up fallen fruits and nuts each night if you have fruit or nut trees
Protect Your Garden
If you have a fruit or vegetable garden, raccoons will be attracted to your yard because of their keen sense of smell. That being said, you probably don’t want to give up your garden just to prevent raccoons from coming onto your property. Thankfully, there are ways to protect your garden from these critters.
You can use a wired mesh fence or an electric fence around your garden to prevent raccoons from getting to your produce. Additionally, raccoons are not fond of bright lights, so you could install motion-activated lights near your fruits and vegetables.
Remove Water Sources
While you should focus on removing food sources from your yard, there are also water sources to be concerned with. Even if there is no food left out, raccoons might come onto your property for a drink.
The following water sources might attract raccoons to your property:
- Bird baths
- Koi ponds
- Swimming pools
- Bins or containers filled with water when it rains
- Pet water bowls
You should cover all water sources with a durable and heavy material every night. Doing this will prevent raccoons from being able to access the water, making them less likely to mess around in your yard.
Call a Professional
While raccoons hate the smell of things like cayenne pepper and predator urine, this often isn’t enough to deter them from your property. If your raccoon problem continues after removing food and water sources, it’s time to consider calling a professional. Thankfully, companies like Nuisance Wildlife Rangers use an ethical approach to animal removal, ensuring you do not have to feel guilty about hurting any raccoons.
Get Connected to a Professional Raccoon Removal Service
If you or a loved one is dealing with a raccoon infestation, Nuisance Wildlife Rangers are here to help. Whether the raccoons are frequenting your yard at night or getting into your home via the attic or crawlspace, we can help you remove them for good.
Contact us today for more information on how our raccoon removal service works.