Raccoons may be small and cute animals but don’t let that fool you – they can wreak havoc on a property. Whether digging through garbage, rummaging through gardens, or finding their way into attics, dealing with raccoons can be an annoying problem to homeowners. Fortunately, there are several humane ways to keep raccoons off your property before resorting to drastic measures like trapping them or expelling them from the land permanently. This article will explore some of the best preventative and solution-based methods for handling any potential issues with raccoons around your home or other areas of residence. Let’s get started!
A Closer Look At Why Racoons Are A Big Problem For Homeowners
Raccoons are endemic across North America, and their presence can lead to significant problems for homeowners. These animals are natural scavengers, so they will eat almost anything they can find in your garbage, leading to property damage and environmental health issues. Additionally, their cunning problem-solving abilities mean that raccoons can quickly learn how to access their compost containers, bird feeders, and pet food and even get into buildings.
Some species of raccoon may even carry dangerous diseases that can affect humans and other animals. In short, simply living in the same proximity as these animals presents a serious risk to your health and well-being – homeowners should take all necessary steps to prevent raccoons from wreaking havoc on their property.
Best Ways To Get Rid Of Raccoons On Your Property
Have no fear – there are numerous effective ways to keep raccoons off your property. Here are some of the best solutions that can help you deal with these animals:
Secure Your Trashcans
Keeping raccoons off of your property begins with securing your trashcans. Raccoons are scavengers and will be attracted by the smell of food coming from open or loosely-lidded garbage cans, so it is essential to ensure that all trash receptacles are completely secure and keep your garbage stored inside until the day of collection.
You may also consider purchasing animal proof-trash containers specially designed to prevent animals from accessing them. Taking these steps will go a long way towards keeping raccoons away from your property and preventing them from damaging your belongings in search of food.
Block Access To Hiding Places
Raccoons are voracious scavengers and opportunistic in their search for food, shelter, and warmth. One of the most effective ways to get rid of these unwelcome visitors on your property is by blocking their access to any hiding places, like sheds, attics, basements, chimneys, etc., that could serve as potential habitats.
Take care to eliminate possible nesting spots by securing or replacing loose boards or shelves and closing off other openings with wire mesh. Doing this will make it harder for them to wander around your property uninvited and less likely that they’ll settle down in an accessible spot altogether.
Eliminate Possible Water and Food Sources
One of the best ways to get rid of raccoons on your property is to eliminate water sources. Raccoons need a water source to stay hydrated; if they can’t find it nearby, they are likely to look elsewhere for it. To ensure that raccoons don’t have any water access, ensure all outdoor faucets are turned off, and there are no standing puddles or easily-accessible ponds near your property.
Additionally, try to reduce the amount of clutter around your property as much as possible – avoid leaving potential food sources out, like birdseed and pet food, and regularly clean up any fallen fruit from trees. Removing these common food and water sources can make it much harder for raccoons to survive in or near your space. These steps may not eliminate all raccoons on your property, but they will help you control the population and reduce their presence.
