How to Get Rid of Possums and Raccoons

Wild animals are becoming more and more used to people. They are not very afraid of us and can become quite bold when they are looking for food. They can dig their way under fences, jump on our roofs from the trees, and raid our trash cans and anything else that they feel they want to explore. Many times, our most authoritative voice aimed at a midnight raider is met with a look that says, "You talkin' ta me??" As we pick up our scattered trash or poop-scoop their "leavings," we wonder about how to get rid of these annoying critters.

Well, it's not as hard as you might think. This solution might be something you will have to repeat on a weekly or monthly basis, but it will make your uninvited guests want to go elsewhere, and they will do it with enthusiasm.

Here are my sure-fire ways to get these varmints out of your back yard.

Instructions

1. Address an animal's basic desire to find food after dark. Nocturnal (night-time feeders) animals have two basic desires after sunset. One is to eat and drink and the other is to mate. The eating and drinking part is what you will concentrate on to address your "relocation" plan.

2. Examine the reason you are getting these visits. Do you have trash cans that raccoons tear the lids off of? Are they after your pet's food? Do they like to drink from your pool or birdbath? Maybe they are eating from the bird feeder. Identify why they are coming around.

3. Alter some things you do for a couple of weeks or more. Make sure that your trash can lid cannot be removed by a raccoon. This might mean purchasing another trash can that has top latches that can be secured, or maybe you can make holes in yours where you can tie it shut with rope. If you buy a new one, which might be easier, get one with a snap-on lid that a raccoon is not strong enough to remove. You can buy one at a building supply store for about $10. These lids are flexible but strong, and they snap shut. Animals cannot get in and smells do not get out.

4. Remove any sacks of animal food from your storage shed or outside area. Dog and cat food are some of their favorites as they are made from corn, chicken and fish. Yum! If you keep your patio door or window open, you might find you have not only had a yard guest but a house guest as well. Again, they are looking for food. Do not let any food smells attract animals after dark. During the daytime they are sleeping, so that is not a problem.

5. Remove any pet food on the floor if it is next to an open window or door. Otherwise, you might as well hang out a sign saying, "Coon Cafe is now serving Possum Pastry." Food should be picked up and put away. Water dishes should be put in an area of the home that is away from windows and doors. If you BBQ, try to clean the grill after you use it, or at least spray it down with non-toxic cleaning solvent to soak overnight with the lid closed.

6. Throw away pizza and other food boxes and bags before dark, in the trash can. Leftover backyard picnic or pool party chip bags and other snacks are a powerful attractor to your unwelcome moochers as are crumbs, leftover pieces of chips in the grass and glasses of wine, beer or sodas that have been dumped in the grass or hedges.

7. Become a Pied Piper leading the pests out of the area. You will set up a food station for them, or a trail of food leading away from your property. It doesn't have to be elaborate or visible to your neighbors. They don't need to know what you are doing, as they may object, saying it is going to attract animals. (We can only HOPE!) So, your plan is to share the food the animals are after or buy some just for them. You can buy a big bag of cat food with fish, the stinkier the better. They also love cans of cat food. Buy cheap, smelly fish or chicken. If you are using the trail method, leave a spaced line of food globs in the weeds, at the foot of trees, anywhere it will not be stepped in by someone, about every eight to ten feet going away from your property. Each night, start the line a bit further away, and put out about a tablespoon each time. You can do this down an alley, down the street, or whatever direction works for you. You don't want to put so much food down that they get full after the second snack. You are only encouraging them to go away. You can also go back the next day and see if it was eaten. Dry food is fine if you don't want to use canned. Make little piles or broadcast it a bit, but don't put out too much, just enough to keep them looking further and further away. Do this for a couple of weeks until you are in an area that is removed from your home. If there is a park nearby where there are trees they can sleep in, that might be a good destination. If you do not have a park, then a pond or lake, for a water source for them.

8. Set up a feeding station for them about a block from your house, with more food there, enough to satisfy them. Do not use plates. Neighbors will object and pick the plates up. Put it on the ground at a place that is not noticeable, like the bottom of a telephone pole or fence corner. Replenish nightly. You can move the station another block away in a few days. If you have stray cats in the area that might eat the food, put out a bit extra. Make a party of it.

9. Use a glass bowl at your feeding station if you are giving them water. It will not be noticeable. A raccoon washes it's food, so the water will need to be changed daily. If you place it in a recess in the ground no one will notice it. Raccoons will eat without the water, but they prefer it.

10. Be patient. This process will take about two weeks. At the end of that time, your guests will be in another area, dining on your offerings. Since you can do this for the price of a large bag of cat food ($10) it is much more reasonable than hiring a trapper. Dry food will last longer than wet. If they don't eat it the first night, it will still be good the second and third night, and ants won't spoil it as quickly.

11. Try these methods whenever you have a problem with wildlife. It also works with rats.