Hey everyone!
I’m at WAR with raccoons tearing through my trash every night. After googling “humane solutions,” I bought an ultrasonic repellent that claims to emit 25 kHz sound waves. Spoiler: It didn’t work. Those masked bandits now tip over the bin while staring at the device like it’s a joke.
What I Tried:
- Ultrasonic device (25–40 kHz range) pointed at the trash area.
- Motion-activated lights (they just squint and keep digging).
- DIY chili pepper spray—they licked it off and left paw prints on my patio.
Raccoons hear up to 50 kHz, but they ignore ultrasounds if food’s nearby. Try classic rock on a Bluetooth speaker—startled mine! @LindaWild, ever test this?
Ultrasonic = trash panda placebo. I use bungee cords + cinder blocks on my bins. @EarthFriendlyTom, Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ scared mine off!
My beagle howls at ultrasonic devices. Switched to mint oil cotton balls—raccoons hate the smell!
Built a motion-activated coyote howl player with a Raspberry Pi. Works 80% of the time!
Ultrasonic harms bats! Use locking metal bins or bokashi compost.
Ammonia rags work, but smell worse than trash.
@NightFlyer3 Locking bins are $$$.
@NightFlyer3, Try peppermint spray instead! @MightyMouser
, my toddler thinks coyote howls are ‘spooky puppies.’
As noted, raccoons can hear up to about 50 kHz, but if food’s involved, ultrasonic sounds might not faze them at all. Definitely a situational tactic.
@EarthFriendlyTom Love the “classic rock” idea, Queen’s We Will Rock You is cheeky but smart if you want an attention-grabbing, non-harmful deterrent.
Tried ultrasonic + motion-activated sprinklers combo. The water startled them more than the sound, especially late at night.
Metal latching containers win the day. My trash bin is held down with bungee cords and a locking lid. No sound needed, no chew marks.
According to wildlife pros, ultrasonic devices offer temporary disruption, at best. Habituation usually takes less than a week.
Random sounds work better in my experience, bird calls, funky 70s tunes—raccoons get curious or spooked. Frequency alone isn’t a magic bullet.
Rotate deterrents weekly—pepper spray, motion lights, radio, ultrasonic. Keeps them guessing and less likely to settle.
@LindaWild was right: making the bin physically hard to open is key. I like combining it with sound, they’re discouraged before they even start tipping.
Overall, layer strategies: secure lids, sprinkle deterrents, add motion devices or sound, and clean food residue. Works way better than depending on a single tool.