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Raccoons do like some things and hate some. The answer to how to keep raccoons away from your home lies in this statement. Raccoons are wild animals.
But they can live on our property if they find it suitable. After knowing what they like and do not, getting rid of them for at least a few days will be straightforward.
So, what are those things? Read this guide to know.
How To Keep Raccoons Away from Your Property?
They are nocturnal, meaning that they mostly roam at night. They often look for places for shelter. They are likely to visit your house when searching for food and shelter.
Raccoons are not very dangerous but may carry diseases, even rabies. If they bite you, you are in big trouble. They often attack small pets. So, it becomes a serious concern.
To avoid them infesting your property, it is better to contact a pest control service for professional help. Moreover, you can follow the below instructions for further or your DIY approach.
Wreck Their Comfort
Raccoons often look for comfortable places to seek shelter. Female raccoons are likely to select that place to give birth to babies. They often look for quiet, dark, isolated, and warm places to live.
Such places in your house are attics, crawl spaces, chimneys, and wood piles. To avoid them inhabiting these places, make sure to close entrances.
Try not to leave comfortable places for them. If you spot a raccoon in the backyard at night, use a bright light to deter it or make a loud noise.
Clean Your House
Raccoons have a good sense of smell. They use it to find food sources. If you have pets, make sure to protect pet food and enclose it. Use detergent to clean your house for the smell that can attract them.
This will also help you spot any possible entrances, small holes, and cracks. Also, it will help remove diseases that may have spread in your house due to raccoon infestation.
Remove Food Sources
Food is probably one of the biggest reasons raccoons come to your house. But what do they eat? Well, anything they can find.
However, trash bins are the primary source of food. Raccoons search open bins and leave the mess behind. This can be prevented by investing some money in good quality bins that can be easily sealed.
Try not to keep the bins in an open area. Closing containers containing water. Do not leave anything behind for raccoons to eat.
Take Care of Your Yard
The yard is among the most inhabited places by raccoons. If they find it suitable, they will likely inhabit it. Raccoons often dig up soil to look for worms. If your yard has fruit and vegetables, they will eat them and often return.
A yard is also a good place to find water. Remove standing water from your yard. Cover the swimming pool with pool blankets. Regularly remove fallen fruits, vegetables, and nuts from your yard.
Use Repellents
Now, it’s up to you to choose natural or artificial repellents. Both work well but vary in cost and safety. If you are concerned with safety and using natural items, you can rely on natural repellents.
Otherwise, buy a raccoon repellent and spray it in your yard and entrance. For natural repellent, you can use items they hate the most. For instance, strong smells and predator smells. For sound, use loud or their natural predators’ sounds.
Use vinegar and spray it in your yard and entrances. Motion-activated sprinklers and speakers can also work well but may have temporary effects because raccoons are highly intelligent. They will not see these things as a threat after a few encounters.
Call for Professional Help
There will be some situations where handling their infestation on your own could be difficult. If a family of raccoons or its kits live in your house, Blythewood Wildlife Removal will help you eliminate them without a dangerous attack. This agency operates in South Carolina and specializes in humane wildlife removal.
Final Words
Raccoons are not a real threat to humans and pets until they find your home a suitable place. However, they carry diseases that can even lead to death, and their excrement can also have harmful parasites. So, it is better to implement strategies to deter them or get professional help. We recommend the second method if the raccoon invasion is severe. I hope it helps you.
FAQ:
Raccoons are attracted to food sources, especially open trash bins, pet food left outside, and any areas where they can find water. They also seek comfortable shelter, making attics, crawl spaces, and other secluded areas appealing to them.
To prevent raccoons from entering your attic, make sure to seal any entrances, such as small holes and cracks. Regularly inspect your home for potential entry points and close off any comfortable spaces that could serve as shelter.
While raccoons are not typically aggressive, they can pose a danger to small pets, especially if they feel threatened. Raccoons can carry diseases, including rabies, so it’s important to keep pets safe and supervise them outdoors, particularly at night when raccoons are most active.
If you see a raccoon in your backyard, you can deter it by using a bright light or making loud noises to scare it away. It’s important to keep your distance and avoid direct confrontation, as raccoons can be unpredictable.
You should call a professional for raccoon removal if you suspect a family of raccoons is living in your home or if your attempts to deter them are unsuccessful. Professional wildlife removal services, like Blythewood Wildlife Removal, can safely and humanely handle infestations.