How to get raccoons out of your yard

Raccoons love yards with free food

Although raccoons may look sweet and cuddly, their presence is somewhat annoying and can be hazardous for humans and domesticated pets. By taking a few simple steps, you can make your yard less attractive and get the coons to move on for good.

Things You'll Need

• Old rags
• Ammonia
• Animal Urine

Instructions

1. First, you need to determine the problem you have are raccoons. This is usually fairly easy, you'll see he or she (or sometimes them) scurrying around in your yard. Raccoons are primarily active at night, so this will be the time you want to look out for them.

2. Once you've determined you have raccoons, survey your yard. What are the raccoons going after? Most commonly its food, whether it be pet food or water, peanuts left out for squirrels, or bird food. If this is the case, move your pet food and water inside and make sure the bird and squirrel food is placed in a container that raccoons can not reach. Make sure your trash bins are fully covered and secure, so the raccoons can not get into them.

3. After completing step two, if the raccoons are still refusing to relocate, you can try deterrents. Soak a rag in ammonia and place it where you normally see the raccoons. Place them all throughout your yard, at any place a raccoon may go. They don't like the smell and they'll stay away. You can also use predator urine that you buy online or at a specialty store. Many places sell it powdered as well which makes it easy to sprinkle around the perimiter of your yard. That may be the trick to make them think there is a coyote in the area.

4. If all else fails, you may want to contact your local wildlife refuge or wildlife removal specialist. They can give you different trapping options although once trapped, most raccoons are not able to be relocated and are euthanized.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use the ammonia, try to get the most stinky, smelly one you can. The scent will wear out after awhile so you will need to apply it every other day or so.

• Wildlife removal specialists often charge a hefty fee to remove raccoons. I would suggest trying all other approaches to naturally remove them first.

• Hand out fliers or talk to neighbors and encourage them to follow these same tips to move the raccoons out of your neighborhood.

• NEVER approach a raccoon. They look cute, but if cornered they will attack.

• If you have a problem with raccoons, keep your domestic pets in the house. Raccoons can kill an animal much bigger than them.