How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Yard and Garden

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By kristara
User-Submitted Article

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Raccoons can be real pests. They knock over garbage cans and make a big mess. Raccoons will also eat your garden plants. Raccoons can carry rabies. Generally raccoons will attack if they feel threatened, cornered, rabid or if they have to defend their babies. Raccoon feces also carries dangerous and deadly parasites. If you do have raccoons who frequent your yard, use extreme care in handling their feces. Proper raccoon feces clean up is imperative to keep Raccoon Roundworm Infection, from infiltrating a child, pet or adult.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Spray your garbage cans and lids with hot pepper or ammonia. Fill a spray bottle with hot water and add 1 tablespoon of hot sauce. Shake well to mix. Spray on garbage can lids. OR Mix a 50-50 solution of ammonia and water, shake well to mix, spray garbage can lids and insides of garbage cans.
Step 2

Let your dog sleep on an old towel or old blanket for a few days. Cut the towel or blanket into strips. Leave the strips around plants, garbage cans and tie them to fence posts, deck railings or trees. Raccoons are afraid of dogs.
Step 3

Buy or make a noisy garden accessory such as a pinwheel that clicks as it spins or a nylon flag that makes a swishing sound. Raccoons are afraid of noises.
Step 4

Lay chicken wire on the ground around and in between your plants. Raccoons don’t like the feel of the chicken wire on their paws.
Step 5

Install motion sensor lights. The sudden light triggered by their movement will scare them.