How to Deter Raccoons from Your Deck
Contents
Are you tired of raccoons raiding your deck and making a mess? Raccoons are smart and persistent animals, and they can be difficult to deter. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to keep raccoons away from your deck. In this article, we’ll discuss the best ways to deter raccoons from your deck.
Overview
In this article, we’ll cover the following topics:
- The Basics of Deterring Raccoons
- Tips for Keeping Raccoons Away from Your Deck
- Using Repellents to Deter Raccoons
- Frequently Asked Questions
By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of how to keep raccoons away from your deck. Let’s get started!
The Basics of Deterring Raccoons
The first step in deterring raccoons from your deck is to understand why they’re there in the first place. Raccoons are attracted to decks because they provide easy access to food, water, and shelter. If you have a bird feeder, pet food, or other sources of food on your deck, raccoons will be drawn to it. Additionally, raccoons are attracted to the shelter and protection that decks provide.
Once you understand why raccoons are attracted to your deck, you can begin to take steps to deter them. The best way to deter raccoons is to make your deck less attractive to them. This can be done by removing any sources of food, water, and shelter.
Tips for Keeping Raccoons Away from Your Deck
Here are some tips for keeping raccoons away from your deck:
- Remove any sources of food, water, and shelter from your deck. This includes bird feeders, pet food, and any other sources of food. Additionally, make sure to keep your deck clean and free of debris.
- Secure your garbage cans. Raccoons are attracted to garbage, so make sure to keep your garbage cans securely covered. Additionally, make sure to keep your garbage cans away from your deck.
- Install motion-activated lights and sprinklers. Motion-activated lights and sprinklers can be an effective way to deter raccoons from your deck. The lights and water will startle the raccoons and make them less likely to return.
- Trim trees and shrubs near your deck. Raccoons use trees and shrubs to access decks, so make sure to trim them back to make it more difficult for raccoons to access your deck.
- Install a fence around your deck. A fence can be an effective way to keep raccoons away from your deck. Make sure to use a fence that is at least six feet tall and has a tight mesh to prevent raccoons from climbing over it.
Using Repellents to Deter Raccoons
In addition to the tips above, you can also use repellents to deter raccoons from your deck. Repellents are substances that are designed to make an area less attractive to animals. Common types of repellents include ammonia, mothballs, and predator urine.
When using repellents, it’s important to remember that they are only effective for a short period of time. Additionally, repellents can be dangerous to other animals, so it’s important to use them with caution.
Pro Tip
A great way to deter raccoons from your deck is to install a motion-activated sprinkler system. The motion-activated sprinkler will startle the raccoons and make them less likely to return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep raccoons away from my deck?
The best way to keep raccoons away from your deck is to make it less attractive to them. Remove any sources of food, water, and shelter from your deck. Additionally, install motion-activated lights and sprinklers, trim trees and shrubs near your deck, and install a fence around your deck. You can also use repellents, such as ammonia, mothballs, and predator urine.
What attracts raccoons to decks?
Raccoons are attracted to decks because they provide easy access to food, water, and shelter. If you have a bird feeder, pet food, or other sources of food on your deck, raccoons will be drawn to it. Additionally, raccoons are attracted to the shelter and protection that decks provide.
