How to Get Raccoons Away from Your House
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Raccoons can be a nuisance around your home, getting into trash cans, damaging property, and even carrying diseases. It’s important to know how to get rid of raccoons if they are causing problems in your yard or near your house. In this article, we’ll discuss the best ways to keep raccoons away from your home and how to humanely remove them if they are already there.
What Attracts Raccoons to Your Home?
Raccoons are attracted to food sources, shelter, and water. If you have a garden, compost pile, pet food, or garbage cans near your home, these can be attractive to raccoons. Raccoons are also attracted to dark, quiet places, so if your home has any nooks or crannies that they can hide in, they may take up residence.
How to Keep Raccoons Away from Your Home
The best way to keep raccoons away from your home is to make it an unattractive place for them to live. Here are some tips for doing so:
- Keep your garbage cans tightly sealed and away from your home.
- Remove any pet food or bird seed that is left outside.
- Secure your compost pile and keep it away from your home.
- Trim back any trees or shrubs that are near your home.
- Seal off any openings or cracks in your home that raccoons could use to get inside.
- Install motion-activated lights or sprinklers near your home.
- Use a raccoon repellent, such as ammonia or mothballs, around your home.
How to Humanely Remove Raccoons from Your Home
If you already have raccoons living near or in your home, you may need to take steps to humanely remove them. Here are some tips for doing so:
- Set up a live trap and bait it with food. Check the trap regularly and release the raccoon in a safe location away from your home.
- If the raccoon is in your attic or other enclosed space, you can use a one-way door to allow the raccoon to leave but not return.
- If the raccoon is in your chimney, you can use a chimney cap to prevent them from entering.
- If the raccoon is in your yard, you can use a repellent to discourage them from returning.
Pro Tip
If you have a raccoon problem, it’s important to take steps to prevent them from returning. Make sure to keep your garbage cans tightly sealed, remove any pet food or bird seed that is left outside, and seal off any openings or cracks in your home that raccoons could use to get inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do raccoons eat?
Raccoons are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They will eat fruits, vegetables, insects, small mammals, eggs, and carrion. They are also known to eat pet food, bird seed, and garbage.
Do raccoons carry diseases?
Yes, raccoons can carry a variety of diseases, including rabies, distemper, and leptospirosis. It’s important to avoid contact with raccoons and take steps to keep them away from your home.
