How to Get Rid of Raccoons: Effective Home Remedies & When to Call the Pros

You’re facing a nuisance, and you want those raccoons gone! It’s frustrating to find your garden raided, trash bins overturned, or even worse, signs of them trying to get into your home. While these masked bandits might look cute, they can cause significant damage and even pose health risks. The good news is, you don’t always need harsh chemicals or traps. Many people look for home remedies to get rid of raccoons and explore natural ways to deter them. This article will delve into effective strategies, common questions like “does ammonia repel raccoons,” and provide a comprehensive guide on how to get rid of raccoons naturally.

Table of Contents

Understanding Raccoon Behavior: What Deters Raccoons?

Before diving into specific repellents and tactics, it’s crucial to understand what deters raccoons. Raccoons are highly adaptable and intelligent creatures, primarily driven by food and shelter. They are opportunistic scavengers with an excellent sense of smell and dexterous paws. Therefore, any effective deterrent needs to address these core motivations.

What do raccoons hate? Generally, raccoons dislike strong, unpleasant smells, sudden loud noises, bright lights, and anything that makes their foraging efforts difficult or uncomfortable. Their nocturnal nature means they prefer dark, quiet environments.

Home Remedies to Keep Raccoons Away: Natural Raccoon Repellent Solutions

Many homeowners prefer using home remedies to keep raccoons away due to concerns about chemicals around pets and children. Here are some popular and often effective natural options:

1. The Power of Smell: What Smell Do Raccoons Hate?

Raccoons have a highly sensitive sense of smell, making certain odors an excellent natural raccoon repellent. So, what smell do raccoons hate?

  • Spicy Scents: Capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper or chili powder, is a powerful irritant. Sprinkling a generous amount around garden beds, trash cans, or entry points can make raccoons think twice. You can also make a raccoon spray by mixing cayenne pepper with water and a little dish soap.
  • Peppermint Oil: Raccoons, like many other pests, dislike the strong aroma of peppermint oil. Soaking cotton balls in pure peppermint oil and placing them in areas raccoons frequent can be an effective raccoon repellent.
  • Garlic and Onions: The pungent smell of crushed garlic or chopped onions can be off-putting to raccoons. Scatter them around your yard or create a strong-smelling solution to spray.
  • Epsom Salts: While not a strong odor to humans, Epsom salts are believed to irritate raccoons’ paws. Sprinkle them around garden beds or entry points.
  • Coffee Grounds: Used coffee grounds have a strong scent that raccoons tend to avoid. Spread them around your garden or near areas of concern.

2. Using Ammonia to Get Rid of Raccoons: A Cautious Approach

One of the most frequently searched home remedies to get rid of raccoons involves ammonia. Questions like “using ammonia to get rid of raccoons” or “getting rid of raccoons with ammonia” are common. The idea behind ammonia raccoons deterrence is that the strong, pungent smell mimics the urine of a predator, signaling danger to the raccoon.

To use an ammonia solution for raccoon deterrent:

  • Soak old rags or tennis balls in household ammonia.
  • Place these soaked items in plastic bags with small holes punched in them (to control the scent dispersal and prevent evaporation).
  • Place these bags near trash cans, in attics, under decks, or in other areas where raccoons are active.

Important Note: While ammonia can be effective, use it with caution. Do not pour ammonia directly on the ground or plants, as it can harm vegetation and even other animals. Always contain it in a way that minimizes direct contact and dispersal. Also, be aware that its effectiveness can diminish over time as raccoons may become desensitized.

How to Deter Raccoons from Garden and Yard: Comprehensive Strategies

Beyond specific smells, a multi-pronged approach is the best deterrent for raccoons and the fastest way to get rid of raccoons long-term. Here’s how to repel raccoons from garden and how to keep raccoons out of your yard:

1. Remove Food Sources: The Golden Rule of Raccoon Control

This is paramount. If you’re wondering how to get raccoons out of your yard, start by eliminating what attracts them:

  • Secure Trash Cans: Use heavy-duty, raccoon-proof lids or bungee cords.
  • Clean Up Spills: Don’t leave pet food or birdseed out overnight.
  • Harvest Ripe Produce: Don’t let fruits and vegetables over-ripen on the vine or fall to the ground.
  • Compost Management: Use enclosed compost bins.
  • Secure Pet Doors: Raccoons are surprisingly adept at entering through unsecured pet doors.

2. Fortify Your Property: Physical Barriers

Physical barriers are highly effective deterrent for raccoons:

  • Fencing: Install sturdy fences around gardens. Ensure they are at least 3-4 feet high and ideally extend a few inches underground or are angled outwards at the top to prevent climbing and digging.
  • Block Entry Points: Inspect your home for any openings, such as uncovered chimneys, broken vents, or gaps under decks and sheds. Seal these access points securely. This is key to how to keep raccoons away from your house.
  • Secure Pet Food/Water: Bring pet food and water bowls indoors at night.

3. Scare Tactics: How to Scare Away Raccoons

Raccoons are wary creatures. How to scare away raccoons effectively involves creating an unpredictable and uncomfortable environment:

  • Motion-Activated Lights: Bright, sudden lights can startle raccoons and send them scurrying.
  • Motion-Activated Sprinklers: These are humane and effective. The sudden spray of water and movement can effectively repel raccoons.
  • Loud Noises: Radios playing talk shows or music, or even motion-activated alarms, can be a temporary deterrent.
  • Visual Deterrents: While less effective on their own, things like shiny reflective objects or even scarecrows can add to the overall deterrence.

When to Call the Professionals: How to Rid Raccoons Safely and Effectively

While home remedies to get rid of raccoons can be a good first line of defense and help you learn how to get rid of raccoons in yard naturally, sometimes the infestation is too severe, or the raccoons are too persistent.  If you’ve tried various animal repellent for raccoons and are still struggling with how to get rid of raccoons, it’s time to consider professional pest management.

Professionals have the expertise, specialized equipment, and knowledge of local wildlife regulations to safely and effectively remove raccoons and implement long-term prevention strategies. They can identify entry points you might have missed, humanely trap and relocate animals, and advise on permanent solutions to keep them from returning.

Don’t let raccoons turn your property into their playground. Taking proactive steps and knowing how to keep raccoons away is crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy home environment.

If you’re dealing with a raccoon problem that home remedies can’t solve, it’s time to call in the experts. Contact USA Pest Management today for effective and humane raccoon removal solutions. Call us directly or fill out our convenient online contact form at https://usapestmanagement.com/contact/!