What to Do When You Find Raccoons in Your Yard
The raccoon (affectionately nicknamed the “trash panda”) is native to North America and has been an ever-present critter in our lives. In fact, the first urban sighting was during the 1920s in Cincinnati, OH!
These animals are opportunistic scavengers, which explains why they’ve become such a familiar face in many neighborhoods. They’re also quite intelligent, which makes for some fun observations.
If you have raccoons in your yard, they might be amusing to watch at first. But the truth is, they’re a nuisance and are considered pests!
Are you now wondering what to do if you have raccoons in your yard? Read on to find out more!
Pick Up Fallen Fruits and Nuts
The number one reason why raccoons are attracted to a property is because of food. Remember: they’re opportunistic scavengers, so if they deem your yard as a rich food source, they’ll make themselves right at home.
While your trees and bushes are beautiful and give you delicious fruits and nuts, you’ll want to pick them in time. Otherwise, when they fall onto the ground, not only will this attract raccoons, but also other pests that are attracted to these treats.
So if you notice any of these tasty things on the ground, pick them up straight away.
Clean up Your Yard
While you’re picking up fruits and nuts in your yard, take some time to clean it up as well. When it comes to how to get rid of raccoons in your yard, this is one of the best methods. That’s because you’re getting rid of all possible nest sites, as well as eliminating easy ways for these pests to get onto your roof.
Don’t Leave Pet Food Outside
Does your puppy or kitty have a pet dish outside? It can be nice for them to eat out in the nice sun and gentle breeze. But raccoons will definitely be attracted to this free food!
The good news is, raccoons are nocturnal, so you can leave the dishes out during the day. However, you need to bring these dishes inside before the sun sets. Otherwise, you’ll be leaving out a buffet for these critters!
While we’re on the topic of pet food, you should also consider your bird feeders if you have any. There are some ways to deter raccoons, such as using shepherd’s hooks with pole baffles, or using hanging baffles. You can also bring in your bird feeders after dark.
Secure Your Trash Cans
Raccoons have a strong sense of smell and are smart creatures. They’ll be able to smell all your food scraps sitting in your trash can outside, and you can bet that they’ll get their paws on them if they can!
Trash cans with loose-fitting lids will be easy for these pests to get into. So you’ll want to replace them with heavy lids and/or tie down the lids so they can’t be opened without untying the cord or wire.
Fence off Other Food Sources
If you have a compost pile, garden, and/or pond, these are other places raccoons might try to find food in. To keep them out, fence these areas off.
Raccoons can dig under fences easily, so consider using an electric fence. It might sound cruel, but there are ones made with low enough voltage that all they’ll do is give the animals a small zap, which will discourage them from going any further.
Install Motion-Activated Speakers
Loud noises will scare any animal, and this includes raccoons! So you can get yourself some motion-activated speakers to place in your yard so when they come skulking about, they’ll be surprised with a loud noise from your speakers, such as a raccoon distress call or a dog barking.
If you get frequent raccoon visitors, then these speakers might annoy you and/or your neighbors. In that case, you might want to consider getting a speaker that emits low or high frequency noises that humans can’t hear. You’ll enjoy peace and quiet while the raccoons are deterred by the unpleasant sounds.
Get Help From a Pest Control Company
If you’ve tried all the above methods and raccoons are still calling your house their home, then it’s time to bring out the big guns.
A pest control company can come remove raccoons from your property in a safe manner. This will eliminate the need for you to try and remove them yourself.
On that note, you should never try and remove raccoons from your property on your own since they may have rabies. If you get scratched or bitten by these animals, there’s a chance you might get rabies as well. Not to mention, these wounds can be painful, and dealing with wild animals can be scary!
What’s even better about using pest control services is these experts won’t just remove raccoons from your property. They’ll also check it out and create a tailored plan so you can keep raccoons away.
Prevention is a key part of pest control, yet many fail to keep up with this action. When you have the help of pest control pros, they can remove raccoons and keep them away too!
We’ll Take Care of Raccoons in Your Yard
Raccoons in your yard might be fun at first. But you’ll soon realize that they’re an annoying pest that you need to get rid of.
So if you suspect there are some trash pandas on your property, or if you’ve actually spotted one (or a few), then you need the touch of a pest control company such as Amco Ranger. Not only can our expert team get rid of raccoons, but we can also put some effective prevention techniques into use to keep your home safe and sound.
If you’re thinking, “oh no, there’s a raccoon in my yard,” you need to act fast. Get in touch with us now to get a free quote and to schedule an inspection. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed!
