Raccoons may seem cute from a distance, but they can cause you lots of problems if they make a home on your property. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent a raccoon infestation.
Remove Food and Water Sources
The main reasons raccoons wander onto your property is to search for food and water. Trash cans, compost piles, and fruit and vegetable gardens are common sources of snacks for these critters. To avoid attracting raccoons, keep trash cans tightly sealed and stored inside. Regularly clean your yard by picking up fallen produce and raking up debris. Eliminate water sources by removing bird baths and tightening leaky faucets.
Reinforce Your Property
Raccoons look for dark and safe spaces to build their dens. Thick brush, debris piles, and crawl spaces under decks and porches are the perfect hiding spot. Maintain your lawn by trimming overgrown bushes and foliage. Enclose the empty spaces under your home with sturdy material such as sheet metal or wire mesh so raccoons can’t claw their way in.
Use Scent Repellents
Raccoons rely on their sense of smell to find food and alert them to predators. You can use their sensitivity to your advantage by overwhelming them with scented deterrents. Store-bought deterrents often include ammonia, a chemical commonly found in predator urine that raccoons will avoid. Vinegar and cayenne pepper can also be mixed with water and sprayed around your yard as a plant-safe raccoon repellent.
Scare Them Off
Since raccoons are nocturnal, they’re most active at night. They’re also naturally skittish and will run away at any sign of danger. Motion-activated lights and sprinklers placed strategically around your backyard can be effective at chasing them away.
Hire a Raccoon Removal Professional
While the above solutions may work temporarily, the best way to get rid of raccoons permanently is by hiring a pest control expert. That’s why if you have a raccoon problem in your Polk County home or business, you should rely on the professionals at Critter Control® of Polk County.
Remove a Raccoon Infestation with Critter Control® of Polk County
The experienced wildlife removal technicians at Critter Control® of Polk County use humane and effective methods to remove nuisance raccoons from your property and keep them from coming back. Schedule your inspection and receive a free raccoon removal estimate today by calling us at 863-204-2815.
