How to Keep Raccoons Out of a Trash Can

Raccoons are smart, stealthy and extremely messy. It is no coincidence that they wear the mask of a bandit. Here are some tips for keeping your garbage in the can, where it belongs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mothballs
• Plastic Bags
• Bungee Cords
• Plastic bags
• motion detection lighting
• portable radio
• baby powder
• cinder block or brick
• motion detection sprinklers
• old stinky socks

1. Purchase trash cans with tight-fitting lids.

2. Use a bungee cord to secure the lid to the can. Hook one end of the cord to the handle on the can, run it through the handle on the lid and secure on the opposite side.

3. Wrap particularly stinky garbage in double plastic bags before placing it in the garbage. Melon rinds and corn cobs are favorites of hungry raccoons.

4. Use motion detection sprinklers or lighting near the trash can area. Stealthy raccoons will shy away from detection.

5. Leave an article of human scented clothing near the trash can area.

6. Dust the trash can lids with baby powder. Raccoons don't like the feel of dust on their paws.

7. Consider enclosing the trash bin area with fencing. There must be no gaps between boards or gates. Think Fort Knox.

8. Place a heavy object, such as a cinder block or a brick, on top of the garbage can - the heavier the better.

9. Play a portable radio near the garbage area at night. Select an 'all-talk' station. Keep the volume low if neighbors are nearby.

10. Place mothballs around the garbage area. The unpleasant scent will mask the inviting odor of ripe garbage from sensitive raccoon noses.

Tips & Warnings

• Raccoons are wily and will overcome obstacles over time. Use several of these steps at the same time and change them frequently.
• These cute critters are opportunists always on the hunt for an easy meal. If you find your trash scattered to the four winds every morning, chances are that raccoons are the culprits.
• Do not confront a raccoon. They are wild animals and may carry disease. Call the local Animal Control Agency if the problem persists.

[rajnsharma]

on 6/29/2009 Check out www.raccoonsolutions.com My husband and I live in downtown Toronto, and we have nowhere to put our green bin except on our front porch. Raccoons used to visit our trash almost everyday and leave a mess for us to clean up. We both hated the job of picking up the ransacked garbage and putting it back in the bin but since I started using Raccon Green Bin Solution, I don't have to deal with this anymore.

[Anti-raccoon]

on 5/1/2007 We live in Florida and have trouble with the raccoons getting it to our trash cans. Overturning them and household refuse strewn and shared by all the neighbors. Cans do not have a locking for the lid, however, we have found a device advertised on E-Bay for just that job. It is a spring clip, fixes to the lid and can wall.
Our Community now use it. The raccoon can’t get in, in fact we have watched him look at our can and pass- by.
Hopefully when the Community gets all cans fitted with the device the raccoons will look elsewhere for food and this critter will be gone.

on 8/8/2006 Take sponges saturated with ammonia and lay one at the places that you suspect this animal. Trust me, it will not come back. I did this and the animals never came back. Also, mopping your floors with ammonia helps to keep bugs away as well!

on 7/26/2006 Pour ammonia inside your trash bag prior to closing it, and also pour an additional cup of ammonia over the trash just before your close the barrel. The ammonia is strong, but the raccoons leave the garbage alone!

on 3/29/2006 Pour a about a 1/2 cup of ammonia in the bottom of the garbage can. Keeps raccoons, cats, dogs, and just about anything else away.