What smell do raccoons hate the most?

Author: Clark Hahn  |  Last update: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Hot pepper, garlic, peppermint oil, onion, and Epsom salt are a few scents used to repel raccoons. Read on to see how you can discourage these pests from entering your house and make sure that they're out for good.

What smell keeps raccoons away?

  • Citrus: The smell of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits is often off-putting to raccoons.
  • Vinegar: The strong odor of vinegar can deter raccoons from an area.
  • Peppermint: The scent of peppermint oil is another repellent that can keep raccoons away.

What do raccoons fear 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.

What is the best homemade raccoon repellent?

Scatter Or Spray Pepper Around Your Home

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.

Will vinegar keep raccoons away?

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 smell do raccoons hate?

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.

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.

How to scare away raccoons at night?

Easily Deter Raccoons with These Tips
  1. Homemade Pepper Spray. Raccoons aren't fond of spicy smells, so a cayenne pepper spray can be an easy and effective raccoon repellent. ...
  2. Epsom Salt Sprinkle. ...
  3. Fix the Fence. ...
  4. Take Away the Trash. ...
  5. Raccoon Deterrent Lights. ...
  6. Deter Other Predators.

Does pine sol get rid of 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.

What does Epsom salt do to raccoons?

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.

What is a raccoon's worst enemy?

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.

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 sound do raccoons hate?

1. Pots and Pans. If you hit pots and pans together, or strike them with a wooden spoon, they make a loud clanging noise that is likely to scare off any wild animals in your yard, including raccoons. The benefit of this method is that you probably already have all the materials you need available.

Do mothballs keep raccoons away?

Raccoons dislike the strong smell of mothballs. Buy a box and scatter them around your property to prevent raccoons from taking up residence.

Do raccoons hate the smell of bleach?

Bleach, which can irritate a raccoon's nasal passages, is another surefire way to send the critters to better-smelling food sources. Simply pour bleach into a spray bottle and give the trash can lid a good spraying each time you put a new trash bag in, and raccoons will stay away.

Does human urine repel raccoons?

Since urine can smell similar to ammonia, it is thought by some to have a similar repellent effect for some raccoons. Furthermore, the smell of ammonia may indicate to the raccoon that the area and/or food source has been compromised.

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.

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.

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 get rid of raccoons permanently?

How Do I Permanently Get Rid of Raccoons?
  1. Cover and secure your trash cans so raccoons cannot access the contents.
  2. Remove any possible food sources like cat or dog food, compost piles, and trash.
  3. Treat your lawn to remove grubs.
  4. Block access to hiding places like under a deck or entrances to the crawl space and attic.

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.

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 smells bad to raccoons?

Smell Deterrents
  • Peppermint oil.
  • Onions.
  • Peppers, especially hot and spicy.
  • Garlic.
  • Vinegar.
  • Citrus peels.
  • Ammonia.
  • Mothballs.

What not to do with raccoons?

Here are some things to do, and some things not to do, to help keep raccoons wild and minimize conflicts:
  • NEVER feed raccoons or other wildlife (other than birds)
  • NEVER approach or touch raccoons.
  • Don't leave bowls of pet food or water outside unattended.
  • Keep garbage in sturdy containers with tight fitting lids.

What do onions do to raccoons?

Onions, Garlic, And Spices

While onions and spices are safe and even beneficial to humans, they are toxic to many animals. This is because the disulfides and sulfoxides found in onions and many popular spices can induce anemia and mortality in tiny carnivores at the blood level.

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