How to Keep Raccoons Away From Your Property

Raccoons are good climbers.

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are mammals that range from 2 to 3 feet wide and weigh between 10 and 30 lbs. They are known for the black mask around their eyes, which makes them look a bit mischievous. Unfortunately for homeowners, raccoons don't just look mischievous. Raccoons commonly damage gardens, homes and trash cans in an attempt to find food. Moreover, raccoons carry a number of diseases, including roundworm and rabies.

Instructions

1. Install an electrical fence. Ordinary fences will not prevent raccoons from entering your property. Raccoons are quite capable of climbing over a fence or digging under a fence. Moreover, raccoons will exploit a fence's weakness by ripping off loose boards or enlarging holes in wire fences.

2. Frighten the raccoons with motion lights, water-squirting units (essentially sprinklers activated by motion), or windmills that spin in the wind. Raccoons are intelligent animals and after observing these scare tactics they may deem them not serious and enter your property anyway.

3. Eliminate anything attracting the raccoons to your property. Raccoons enter your property in search of food. Take away this motivation by purchasing strong metal garbage cans, double-bagging the trash, and tying the lid down with bungee cords. Pick up all fruit from fruit trees, bring bird feeders inside at night and don't leave any pet food outside.

4. Trap the raccoons. If you are dealing with some particularly persistent raccoons you may be forced to trap and relocate them. Traps you buy at most home and garden stores should measure at least 10-by-12-by-32 inches. You can used canned tuna, prunes, peanut butter, grapes or just about any other food item as bait.

Tips & Warnings

• In addition to installing an electrical fence, wrap electrified wire over the trunk of any trees that surround your property. This will prevent raccoons from climbing the tree and leaping over the electric fence.

• Trapping and releasing raccoons is illegal in some states so contact your local animal control office before doing so.

References

• University of California: Raccoons