Never try to catch or directly handle a raccoon. A panicked raccoon may run further inside your house and may cause damage. Contain pets in rooms away from the raccoon and close doors to other parts of the house. Open doors and windows near the raccoon that lead outside.
Never feed raccoons: Deliberate feeding of raccoons makes them more comfortable around humans and more likely to get into situations where they are unwanted or in danger. If there is no food and shelter to support them, most wild animals will go away and thrive in the natural habitat. Fasten garbage can lids.
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 can't bear the smell of ammonia and would leave the place immediately. Dip 5-‐6 tennis balls (as they will soak up ammonia well) and throw them at the place where you suspect them to live. You can also put a small dish of ammonia near garbage container to avert raccoons.
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.
Raccoon predators include cougars, bobcats, coyotes, and domestic dogs. Large owls and eagles will prey on young raccoons. The average life span of a raccoon in the wild is 2 to 3 years; captive raccoons have lived 13.
Do Deck and Patio Lights Keep Raccoons Away? Deck and patio lights can help keep raccoons away, as they add an extra layer of security to your property.
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.
They dislike bright lights: Raccoons are nocturnal animals, and bright lights can disrupt their natural cycle. They hate strong smells: Certain odors repel raccoons, including ammonia, hot pepper, and cinnamon. They avoid loud noises: Loud sounds can startle them and make them run away.
Common Reasons for Raccoon Approaches
Are Raccoons aggressive? Raccoons are generally not aggressive towards humans, but they may approach people if they are looking for food or water.
Raccoon droppings are long and thin with rounded ends. They are about 2-3 inches long and half an inch wide. They are dark because raccoons eat a lot of plants. You can see food bits like berries and seeds in them.
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.
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.
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.
Sprinkling cayenne pepper or a homemade spray made from hot peppers around your garden or trash cans can keep raccoons at bay. The intense sensation causes discomfort, prompting them to stay away. Black Pepper: Like its fiery cousin, the scent of black pepper can act as a raccoon repellent.
Skunks and raccoons are wild animals looking for a readily available food source, and feeding them will encourage them to keep coming back for more. While you might think you are doing a good thing by feeding skunks or raccoons, you could actually be jeopardizing the health of your family and your pets.
But what does a raccoon like to eat? The preferred raccoon diet consists of food found in or near water, such as crayfish, frogs, fish, snails, and clams. They also enjoy insects, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and even dead animals.
One of the most effective ways to scare a raccoon away is by making loud noises. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, and they prefer to avoid confrontation. If they feel threatened, they will likely run away. You can try clapping your hands, banging pots and pans, or using a loud whistle to scare them off.
In the case of animal control, it depends; they may humanely trap and relocate the animal, or they may refuse. There are a few determining factors in this, such as local animal control ordinances, the animal's behavior, and how much danger it poses to people or property.
It is not worth trying to fight a raccoon or any wildlife animal with your hands. The best solution is to always call for help, but in order to do so you need to run away! Even if the raccoon runs away, you should always call a wildlife expert near you after a raccoon attack.