Raccoon Control

Under the cover of darkness, these trash bandits stroll the neighborhood in search of food (from your trash cans) and shelter (under your deck or in your attic). How do you prevent them from hitting your house? Read the following raccoon control tips.

Raccoon Control

One of the main reasons a raccoon will visit your home is in their search for food. The best way to help prevent them from doing any damage is to not make it easy. Eliminate any potential food source that may attract them, and they’ll move on to the next neighbor. Here’s how:

• Remove any trash or food scraps from around your home.
• Secure garbage bags and bins and don’t leave them out at night.
• Periodically clean your trash cans for any leftover scraps or smells.
• Clean up fallen berries, fruits, and birdseed from around your trees and bushes and keep all plants well pruned.

If your yard is attractive enough, they may also stick around to find shelter near their favorite food source. This could be in your attic, under your porch, or hiding out in your bushes. Once you’ve pinpointed why they’re there and where they’re hiding, it will be easier to find the right control method.

Repel or Trap

Controlling the raccoon population around your home is a multi-step process. Some methods may work better than others, and a combination of methods may work best.

1. First, you can try to repel them by making your yard less desirable by taking away the sources of food.
2. You can also use electronic or chemical repellents around the perimeter of your home or targeted areas. Electronic methods are meant to scare raccoons away with either water, light, or sound. Chemical repellents can be applied around their favorite areas.
3. For more persistent raccoons, block them out of the area with a gate or fence. However, they may learn how to climb over them, dig under them, or unlatch them, so plan accordingly.
4. If they keep coming back, start setting traps. A live trap is designed to catch the raccoon so you can release it far from your home. Just make sure you’re following your local trap and release laws.

If you’re still unsuccessful in raccoon control or need help navigating the local laws and control methods, call Cardinal Pest for help. Our wildlife control specialists will evaluate your situation and come up with a plan to get your yard back under control.