How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Your Yard

In their hunt for food, raccoons can tear up your garden, trample your flower bed, and leave a mess by knocking over trash cans and littering garbage all over your yard. However, there are a few natural raccoon removal tips that can help get rid of raccoons in your yard.

Ways to Get Rid of Raccoons Around Your Yard

1. Eliminate food sources

Raccoons are scavengers that will look for food in many places. To get raccoons off your property, remove, enclose, or tightly seal potential raccoon food sources like trash cans, compost piles, pet food bowls, or bird feeders. Seal trash cans and compost in airtight containers, and keep them inside your garage, if possible. Don’t leave out bird feeders or pet food overnight, and store the excess food in a tightly locked bin.

2. Scare them off

Well-placed motion-activated lights or sprinklers could catch raccoons in the act and scare them off. Raccoons are skittish, and are unlikely to return if they don’t feel that your yard is safe. Install lights or sprinklers around your trash cans, garage, or other locations the bandits like to visit.

3. Use strong scents

Raccoons have highly sensitive noses and rely on their sense of smell to find food. However, there are several smells raccoons don’t like, such as vinegar, garlic and peppermint oil. Dilute these ingredients in a water solution and spray it around your property to create a pungent barrier that raccoons will avoid. For something stronger, many garden centers carry raccoon deterrents like ammonia or predator urine.

4. Hire a Raccoon Removal Professional

While the above tips can provide short-term solutions to get rid of raccoons, they are only temporary. Persistent and hungry raccoons will keep coming back. Although raccoons are normally docile, they will bite or scratch if they feel threatened when approached. Ultimately, the safest and most effective way to get them off your property is to hire a raccoon removal expert.

Effective Raccoon Removal Services in Central Florida

The experienced wildlife removal technicians at Critter Control® of Polk County use a proven, four-step method to remove nuisance pests humanely and safely, and keep them from returning. Our process includes a thorough inspection, complete pest removal, damage restoration and decontamination, and return infestation prevention.

To schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our effective raccoon removal services, call us today at 863-204-2815.