Raccoons stick around homes and yards to find things they need, such as food and shelter. Keep garbage cans and bird feeders closed and clean up regularly to discourage them.

They can tear off roof shingles or damage vents to gain entry into crawl spaces and attics, and they dig up gardens and lawns in search of grubs and insects. This wildlife can pose a health threat to humans and spread rabies and parasites.

Seal Off Entry Points

With rising raccoon populations, homeowners must take steps to prevent them from getting into their homes. This can be achieved by securing entry points with caulk, such as roof returns and loose soffit boards.

Also, ensuring that trash cans are properly sealed and a lid is always in place can help deter raccoons from tampering with them while looking for food. Regularly cleaning garbage cans and putting them in a garage or shed to store them when not in use can also be helpful.

Closing off access to crawl spaces and decks can also be an effective way to deter raccoons. Putting up a fence, installing a motion-activated lawn sprinkler, and scaring them with sound or movement can also help keep them away from the home. Additionally, irritants like garlic, peppermint oil, soiled kitty litter, and ground-up hot pepper can be sprinkled around the yard and garden to ward off raccoons.

Humanely Harass Them

Raccoons will often enter homes while searching for food and shelter. When this happens, they may tamper with trash cans and leave behind gnawed wires that are a fire hazard and can electrocute anyone who steps on them.

Homeowners can help keep raccoons away by putting out traps and using humane harassment techniques. Call a professional raccoon removal Toronto to clean the raccoon and install a chimney cap if the raccoon is in a chimney.

If a raccoon is in the attic, homeowners can seal off entries by viewing their home from the perspective of a raccoon to find any entry points and closing them with galvanized steel sheet metal or metal flashing.

After the raccoon leaves, homeowners can use one-way doors or an L-shaped barrier to prevent future denning, but only after ensuring no babies are present first. Hiring a full-service wildlife company is best because raccoons carry diseases and can cause serious property damage that requires specialized equipment.

Make Them Uncomfortable

Raccoons can dig up lawns, destroy outdoor garbage cans, and scavenge for food in attics and basements. They also nest in sheltered areas like crawl spaces, sheds and chimneys.

Luckily, there are many ways to make your home and garden unattractive to raccoons without harming them. Multisensory harassment techniques involving light, noise and smell can ward them off.

For instance, a radio tuned to a talk show will likely scare away a raccoon (don’t keep it on all night). Its smell is also sensitive to strong scents like garlic and pepper. Sprinkle ground-up garlic and cayenne on garden beds and around points of entry.

Similarly, a motion-activated sprinkler sprays water and drives raccoons off your property. They dislike being sprayed with cold water and will avoid your property. The best way to prevent a raccoon from getting into your house is by closing any entry points and eliminating potential food sources, like birdseed, pet food left outside overnight, vegetable gardens, and loose trash can lids.

Hire a Professional

When a raccoon makes your home its own, it can be very difficult to get it to leave. Raccoons are drawn to a home for protection from the elements and food, particularly mother raccoons with young. They can even carry dangerous diseases that could be passed on to pets or people.

The best way to prevent a raccoon from becoming a problem is to remove all food sources that might attract it. This includes locking garbage cans and ensuring no excess food is left outside, especially near the house.

Raccoons also tend to nest in sheltered spaces, like crawlspaces or attics. To discourage them, you can use bright lights and loud noises, as well as a bowl of cider vinegar, a smell that is unpleasant to raccoons. You can also find a specialist in raccoon removal in Dallas Fort Worth (or someone local to you) to trap and relocate them if necessary. They can help you identify entry points and seal them so raccoons and their friends can’t find their way back in.