# What Sound Frequency Repels Raccoons from a Trash Bin?
**URL:** https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315
**Category:** Larger Animals & Birds
**Created:** [April 18, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315 "2025-04-18T01:48:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@EcoWarrior](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/EcoWarrior)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/1 "2025-04-18T01:48:06Z")
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.
---
### Author:  [@EarthFriendlyTom](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/EarthFriendlyTom)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/2 "2025-04-18T01:58:14Z")
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?
---
### Author:  [@LindaWild](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/LindaWild)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/3 "2025-04-18T02:00:50Z")
Ultrasonic = trash panda placebo. I use bungee cords + cinder blocks on my bins. @EarthFriendlyTom, Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ scared mine off!
---
### Author:  [@NatureLover64](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/NatureLover64)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/4 "2025-04-18T02:09:05Z")
My beagle howls at ultrasonic devices. Switched to mint oil cotton balls—raccoons hate the smell!
---
### Author:  [@MightyMouser](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/MightyMouser)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/5 "2025-04-18T02:12:42Z")
Built a motion-activated coyote howl player with a Raspberry Pi. Works 80% of the time!
---
### Author:  [@NightFlyer3](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/NightFlyer3)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/6 "2025-04-18T02:15:16Z")
Ultrasonic harms bats! Use locking metal bins or bokashi compost.
---
### Author:  [@BugByte](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/BugByte)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/7 "2025-04-18T02:32:31Z")
Ammonia rags work, but smell worse than trash.
---
### Author:  [@LindaWild](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/LindaWild)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/8 "2025-04-18T02:43:13Z")
@NightFlyer3 Locking bins are $$$.
---
### Author:  [@NatureLover64](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/NatureLover64)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/9 "2025-04-18T02:48:44Z")
@NightFlyer3, Try peppermint spray instead! @MightyMouser
, my toddler thinks coyote howls are ‘spooky puppies.’
---
### Author:  [@NoiseNomad](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/NoiseNomad)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2025, 6:41am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/10 "2025-08-20T06:41:38Z")
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.
---
### Author:  [@RockinRaccoonRepelle](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/RockinRaccoonRepelle)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2025, 6:56am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/11 "2025-08-20T06:56:36Z")
@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.
---
### Author:  [@DIYDeterrentDan](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/DIYDeterrentDan)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2025, 7:06am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/12 "2025-08-20T07:06:00Z")
Tried ultrasonic + motion-activated sprinklers combo. The water startled them more than the sound, especially late at night.
---
### Author:  [@BarrierBossBetty](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/BarrierBossBetty)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2025, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/13 "2025-08-25T07:21:08Z")
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.
---
### Author:  [@SonicSkepticSteve](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/SonicSkepticSteve)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2025, 7:37am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/14 "2025-08-25T07:37:25Z")
According to wildlife pros, ultrasonic devices offer temporary disruption, at best. Habituation usually takes less than a week.
---
### Author:  [@AmbientAudioAlex](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/AmbientAudioAlex)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2025, 7:43am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/15 "2025-08-25T07:43:18Z")
Random sounds work better in my experience, bird calls, funky 70s tunes—raccoons get curious or spooked. Frequency alone isn’t a magic bullet.
---
### Author:  [@EcoWiseErin](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/EcoWiseErin)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2025, 7:46am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/16 "2025-08-25T07:46:06Z")
Rotate deterrents weekly—pepper spray, motion lights, radio, ultrasonic. Keeps them guessing and less likely to settle.
---
### Author:  [@FoxholeFrank](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/FoxholeFrank)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2025, 7:50am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/17 "2025-08-25T07:50:24Z")
@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.
---
### Author:  [@LayeredLogicLaura](https://forums.thanoshome.com/u/LayeredLogicLaura)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2025, 7:53am UTC](https://forums.thanoshome.com/t/what-sound-frequency-repels-raccoons-from-a-trash-bin/3315/18 "2025-08-25T07:53:07Z")
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.