How to keep raccoons away from your home and garden

Raccoons are found throughout North America, living in all habitats from deciduous forests to coastal plains and marshes. Unlike some species of wild animals, raccoons (Procyon Lotor) thrive even in urban areas. One of the reasons furry tabby mammals do well in a variety of environments is that they are intelligent and adaptable. “Raccoons are excellent climbers and can grasp and manipulate objects,” says Sheldon Owen, Ph.D., a wildlife extension specialist at West Virginia University. “But they can be destructive. If, for example, a raccoon finds a one-inch crack in the siding, it will dig, chew and figure out how to rip the boards off to widen the hole for a new den.” raccoons away from your home.

Understanding Raccoon Behavior

Raccoons opportunistic feederschewing everything that is available. Although they are primarily nocturnal, it is not uncommon to see them foraging during the day, Owen says. They eat plant and animal foods, including acorns, seeds, fish, frogs, crayfish, eggs and young birds, insects, berries and sometimes carrion. They are also known for digging through trash cans, raiding chicken coops and tearing up vegetable gardens. They are geniuses at exploring new food sources and will teach these tricks to their children.

While raccoons are fun to watch (when they’re not tearing up anything), you don’t want them near or inside your home because they can carry fleas, ticks, liceas well as several serious diseases and parasites. “They common carrier of rabies‘ says Owen. They can also transmit distemperwhich can affect unvaccinated dogs and wild canids, as well as ferrets, weasels and skunks.

When raccoons nest under a porch or deck, in a basement, chimney or attic, raccoon waste will accumulate and cause a foul odor. In addition, raccoon feces may contain Baylisaskaris roundworm eggswhich can infect humans and lead to nerve damage or blindness. Children are often more prone to infection because they play on the ground and may put their hands in their mouths.

Why do raccoons wash their food?

Raccoons are often washed off food or dunked in water before eating if they are near a water source. Although these animals appear to “wash” their food, the water is actually thought to help make their paws more sensitive to what they’re feeling, Owen says.

This may help raccoons more easily identify edible and inedible objects, especially when foraging in streams. However, washing is not necessary and the raccoon will still dine if there is no water nearby. This is another way in which these intelligent creatures have adapted to whatever environment they inhabit.

Read on to find out if you have a raccoon problem and how to get rid of them:

Signs of Raccoon Activity

If you find your trash can overturned and trash scattered all over the place, there’s a good chance a raccoon is to blame, Owen says. You can also see their traceswhich have long, thin toes and claw marks, front prints about 3 inches long and rear prints 3 to 4 inches long.

You may see raccoons come and go, or hear them whine or growl when they live in areas such as a chimney or attic. Or you may notice nesting materials blocking chimneys, under your deck, or in other sheltered areas on your property, such as a shed.

Creating a Raccoon-Proof Environment

Prevention methods

There are no effective repellents or devices to repel raccoons. “When they learn there is no real threat and there is still food, raccoons ignore these methods,” Owen says.

Removing potential food sources and excluding raccoons from the area is the most effective way to keep them away from your home. If they are not causing any harm and keep their distance, you can leave them alone. But if they’re too close for comfort, you can make your yard less attractive to them with these tips:

• Seal the holes. “Raccoons use multiple dens throughout the year, so look for dens in and around your home, shed or crawl space that could be expanded to provide access to a warm, secure location for a new den,” Owen says.
• Cut off limbs that touch the housemaking the attic too easy to access.
• Install chimney caps.
• Don’t leave pet food bowls outside. This is a surefire way to invite not only raccoons, but also other unwanted guests, e.g. mice, opossumsAnd skunks.
• Keep the bird indoors at nightand seal all cracks. Raccoons may reach in and pull chicks through the holes.
• Remove bird feeders if you suspect raccoons are attacking them..
• Store trash in containers with locking lids or use a trash can with a locking lid.. “Raccoons are stronger than you think and are agile enough to rip cords off a jar lid,” Owen says.

Professional help

If you have persistent raccoons in your home or a mother with children, you may have to Hire a Wildlife Removal Specialist– says Owen. Professional help is recommended, since the mother, if backed into a corner, will most likely protect her offspring. You also don’t want to accidentally leave babies behind because they will die in your home if you remove the mother.

Remember that Raccoons can transmit rabies to people and pets and distemper to unvaccinated pets.therefore, they should never be handled alive (or dead). If you find a raccoon acting disoriented, lethargic or aggressive, stumbling, curling up, and sleeping in open areas near your home, contact your home. State Department of Wildlife.