What scent will keep raccoons away?

Author: Tito Cummerata III  |  Last update: Saturday, February 14, 2026

Spices like cinnamon, black pepper or cayenne pepper bother a raccoon's sense of smell, forcing it to relocate to a more livable area. 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.

What do raccoons hate the most?

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.

How do I keep raccoons out of my yard at night?

It is fair game to frighten raccoons. Something as simple as scheduling the lawn sprinklers to go off at random times at night may keep raccoons off your property. Scarecrows, plastic owls, and motion-activated flashing lights will send raccoons looking elsewhere for food.

What smell do raccoons hate the most at night?

Racoons HATE the smell of hot pepper as well as onion, peppermint, garlic and ammonia.

What is the best homemade raccoon repellent?

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.

What scent will keep raccoons away?

Does spraying vinegar keep raccoons away?

Vinegar can help keep raccoons away from specific areas, such as garbage cans or garden plots. Spraying a mixture of white vinegar and water around entry points or areas of activity can also create an unwelcome environment for raccoons.

Does Irish Spring soap keep raccoons away?

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.

Does pine sol 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.

How to get a raccoon to leave?

Try hot sauce or a capsaicin-based repellant around the perimeter of what you're trying to protect. Install motion-activated lights and sprinklers. Set up a battery-operated radio tuned to an all-night talk show and turn it on for a few nights to drive raccoons away.

What food is poisonous to raccoons?

Be sure to keep these foods well away from raccoons and other local wildlife:
  • Chocolate, Cocoa and Coffee. Like dogs, raccoons cannot eat chocolate, cocoa or coffee. ...
  • Avocado and Guacamole. ...
  • Onions, Garlic and Spices. ...
  • Processed Sugars.

Do coffee grounds repel raccoons?

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.

What does Epsom salt do to raccoons?

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.

What does it mean when a raccoon is in your yard at night?

Raccoons are nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the night. It isn't uncommon to see raccoons scavenging for food during the day. Most of the time, you'll see them in your backyard at night. They come into your yard to search for food and shelter and not to cause deliberate harm to you or your pets.

What is raccoons biggest fear?

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.

What will raccoons not walk on?

Raccoons don't like to walk on plastic

Because their paws are so sensitive, raccoons don't like to walk on a double layer of plastic. Tape two painter's sheets or garbage bags over the latrine area for a couple of weeks.

Will a porch light keep raccoons away?

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.

What is the most effective raccoon repellent?

A smell deterrent involves using a scent that raccoons hate, like the following:
  • Peppers, especially hot and spicy.
  • Garlic.
  • Vinegar.
  • Citrus peels.
  • Ammonia.
  • Mothballs.
  • Epsom salt.
  • Coyote urine.

What does vinegar do to raccoons?

Raccoons do not like the smell of vinegar, so one way to remove them humanely is to place bowls of vinegar or rags soaked in vinegar around the area where the raccoons are staying. If possible, place the bowls or rags as closely as possible (or even inside, if it is safe) to the nest.

What to do if a raccoon is hanging around your house?

What to do if a raccoon is hanging around your house? If a raccoon is lingering around your house, it's important to remove any food sources that might be attracting it and secure garbage cans. Consider contacting a pest control professional for safe and humane removal.

What scent gets rid of raccoons?

Ammonia is another thing raccoons hate the smell of, so you can deter these critters by placing it around your property. Soak rags in ammonia and place them under your house, in the bottom of garbage cans and at the bottom of trees in your yard. You can also fill bowls with ammonia and place those accordingly.

What home remedy gets rid of raccoons?

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.

How long does Pine Sol smell last?

So fresh! Love love love the original Pine Sol, but this one is my favorite or the scented line! It has a very fresh and clean scent and doesn't leave my floors sticky after mopping them. The scent lasts for hours after using it and will fill your house after using it.

How to scare away raccoons at night?

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.

Will a fake owl scare raccoons away?

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.

Should you scatter soap in your yard?

Highly fragrant bar soap, like Irish Spring, scattered around your yard and garden can repel many types of animals that have a delicate sense of smell. Gather old soap remnants and hang them from trees or around the perimeter of your garden to stop mice and deer.

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