Hi folks,
I’m hoping to get some advice from people who’ve dealt with this before. Over the past few weeks, raccoons have been coming into our yard almost every night. They’re digging up the lawn and tipping over trash cans, but we really don’t want to hurt them. I’ve seen a lot of mixed suggestions online, and it’s hard to tell what actually works long term without causing harm.
What humane methods have worked for you, and what should we avoid doing altogether?
First thing I’d check is food sources. Once we locked down our trash cans and stopped leaving pet food outside, the raccoons lost interest pretty fast. They’re smart but lazy.
Motion-activated lights helped in our yard. It didn’t scare them forever, but it definitely reduced how often they came back.
We tried scent deterrents like predator urine. Mixed results honestly. It worked for a couple weeks, then they seemed to ignore it.
Glad you’re thinking humanely. Please avoid traps unless you know local wildlife laws. Relocation can actually be deadly for raccoons.
We installed a motion sprinkler system last summer. Surprisingly effective and harmless. After getting sprayed a few times, they stopped visiting.
Quick question for @HomeHacker did you have issues with false triggers? I’m worried it’ll go off all night.
@MonitorMarc Yeah, at first. Adjusting the sensitivity fixed most of it. Worth the setup time though.
Strong smells like ammonia-soaked rags near entry points worked for us, but you have to refresh them often. It’s more of a short-term fix.
Fencing with a slight outward angle at the top helped keep them from climbing in. Not cheap, but very effective.