Raccoons are common residents in urban and suburban environments, often drawn to residential areas by accessible food and shelter. Their intelligence and dexterity allow them to easily exploit weaknesses in a home’s defenses, leading to frustration for property owners. Effective management focuses not on lethal measures, which are often ineffective, dangerous, or illegal, but on a systematic, humane, and legal approach to remove attractants and secure structures. This strategy involves modifying the environment to make it an unappealing habitat.
Eliminating Food and Water Attractants
The most direct and effective method for discouraging raccoons is removing their primary motivation: easy access to sustenance. Raccoons are omnivores and scavengers. Securing outdoor garbage is the primary step, requiring the use of heavy-duty, animal-proof trash cans that have locking lids or are secured with bungee cords stretched across the top and hooked onto the handles.
Any outdoor pet food and water must be removed before nightfall. Similarly, fallen fruit or vegetables from gardens and trees should be harvested and cleaned up immediately to prevent providing a readily available meal. Because raccoons have a keen sense of smell, clean outdoor grills thoroughly after use to remove grease and food residue. Taking out trash only on the morning of collection, rather than the night before, minimizes the time garbage is exposed.
Exclusion and Securing Entry Points
Once food sources are managed, the next step is preventing raccoons from accessing structures for shelter and den sites. Raccoons are strong and able to tear at compromised materials to gain entry into places like attics, crawlspaces, and under decks. A thorough inspection of the building perimeter should identify areas of weakness, such as loose shingles, damaged vents, or gaps in the fascia.
To secure these points, use durable half-inch, 16-gauge hardware cloth, a welded wire mesh raccoons cannot easily chew through or manipulate. Chimneys should be sealed with a metal cap that bolts to the flue, as raccoons often use them as vertical den sites. For areas like porches and decks, install an L-shaped exclusion barrier by sinking the hardware cloth four to six inches into the ground and bending it outward at a 90-degree angle for eight to twelve inches. Trimming tree limbs that extend close to the roofline eliminates a common pathway for raccoons to climb onto the house and access the attic.
Non-Lethal Deterrents and Repellents
When exclusion is not immediately possible or to add a layer of defense, non-lethal deterrents can make an area uncomfortable for raccoons. Raccoons are startled by sudden changes in their environment, making motion-activated lights and sprinklers effective; the sudden burst of light or water often causes the nocturnal animals to retreat.
Scent-based repellents exploit the raccoon’s sensitive sense of smell to discourage their presence. Rags soaked in ammonia or white vinegar, or commercial repellents, can be placed strategically near potential entry points or around trash cans. Cayenne pepper or hot sauce sprinkled around the perimeter can function as a taste deterrent. However, these methods require frequent reapplication, especially after rain, because raccoons are intelligent and quickly adapt to disturbances that do not present a sustained threat.
Legal Considerations and Health Risks
Understanding the legal framework governing wildlife management is necessary before taking any action against a raccoon. In many jurisdictions, trapping and relocating raccoons is illegal without a specific permit from wildlife officials, and relocation is often prohibited to prevent the spread of disease. Furthermore, translocating a trapped animal is rarely humane, as research suggests a high percentage of relocated animals do not survive the move.
Raccoons pose several health risks to humans and pets, primarily through their feces and saliva. Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a parasite whose eggs are shed in feces, often deposited in communal sites called latrines. These eggs become infectious after two to four weeks and, if ingested by humans, can cause severe neurological damage. Raccoons are also a major vector for rabies, a viral disease transmitted through a bite or scratch contaminated with saliva. Any situation involving direct contact, a bite, or finding a raccoon latrine should prompt immediate consultation with a healthcare provider and a professional wildlife removal specialist for safe cleanup.