Since raccoons have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find convenient food sources, one can take advantage of this feature by using scents they hate. Hot pepper, garlic, peppermint oil, onion, and Epsom salt are a few scents used to repel raccoons.
If the spot is on a deck or patio, you can just move around some furniture. Put a planter or a table in the spot the raccoon usually uses. Raccoons reuse the same spot because it's habit—break the habit and they might move on.
The scent of used coffee grounds is also great for repelling raccoons. Using it is as simple as spreading the coffee grounds around areas frequented by raccoons. In case the smell wears off, keep replacing the repellent with newly used coffee grounds until the raccoons are fully gone.
Raccoons use their superb sense of smell to forage for food, and some scents are really effective at keeping them away. The ingredients in Irish Spring soap are generally effective in keeping raccoons and other small mammals out of your yard.
No, raccoons generally dislike the strong smell of vinegar. The pungent odor can irritate their sensitive noses, encouraging them to avoid treated areas. While vinegar is not harmful to raccoons, its scent is enough to discourage them from lingering.
Keep Pests Away
Do you have a raccoon problem? Try mixing a 50-50 solution of full strength Pine Sol and warm water, and spraying your garbage cans with it. The pine smell is repulsive to most animals.
Continuing in the vein of undesirable scents, Epsom salt is another ingredient that keeps raccoons away. For the most effective protection, sprinkle Epsom salt both inside and surrounding your vegetable garden. Racoons will generally keep a safe distance from that smell, avoiding your garden and coops.
Raccoons stay away from animals that are their natural predators. These natural predators include; bobcats, coyotes, the great horned owl. You may have picked up a pattern here- raccoon predators are typically large.
As nocturnal animals, most raccoons prefer to stay out of the spotlight. Bright lights that resemble daylight can scare raccoons away. The Urban Wildlife Rescue Organization also suggests using a hot sauce repellent.
Raccoons are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day. In more natural settings, they usually find a high-up spot in a tree. In cities and suburbs, they may choose a rooftop, window ledge, or balcony instead. Unless there are visible signs of illness or injury, it is usually best to monitor overnight.
By mixing cayenne pepper and onion in boiling water, you can create a natural raccoon repellant. You can also add hot sauce to the mixture. To be effective, you'll need to spray your yard and house baseline at least twice a week and any time it rains.
Top Scents That Raccoons Despise
Hot Peppers and Cayenne Pepper: A pungent smell that most humans find spicy and stimulating, raccoons hate the smell of hot peppers. Sprinkling cayenne pepper or a homemade spray made from hot peppers around your garden or trash cans can keep raccoons at bay.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon is another excellent spice to use because, in addition to creating a strong odor that raccoons despise. However, it will only irritate a raccoon's sense of smell momentarily. As a result, you should use it on a daily basis and directly on the paths that raccoons use to get to their food.
Raccoons hate the smell of vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar. You can simply fill a spray bottle with it, add a bit of water, and spray it wherever you imagine raccoons may be trafficking. You can also soak cotton balls with them and place them strategically around your house.
For them to confuse a static, plastic, never moving owl with a real owl is unrealistic. They may be confused for a while at the appearance of the “guy on the block” but that won't last for long. Predators, run, fly, chase, peer around, etc. and don't spend weeks on end sitting on the same post.
Scientific Evidence. As of right now, there is no scientific proof that mothballs keep raccoons away. In fact, the National Pesticide Information Center states that mothballs are not registered for use as a raccoon repellent and should not be used for this purpose.
Wind Chimes
Wind chimes shouldn't disturb your neighbours or keep you up all night. Nevertheless, for wind chimes to be effective as a raccoon deterrent, you would have to move them around your yard frequently so the raccoons don't have a chance to adapt to them. Even that might not be successful.
Use ammonia when cleaning out your trash cans, as raccoons find the scent of ammonia to be very unpleasant.