Although they might seem cute and harmless, raccoons can be a danger to humans. Not only are these wild animals a health risk, but they can be particularly aggressive when they feel threatened. Once they settle on your property, they can prove difficult to expel, and you may end up needing a professional raccoon removal service to get the job done.
When it comes to these animals, there’s no doubt that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To that end, our experts present preventive measures you can use to keep raccoons away from your house, yard and garden.
1. Keep raccoons out of your garbage
The first way to keep raccoons away from your home is to be careful with your garbage. They won’t have any reason to come onto your property if you avoid offering them an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Start by getting yourself a metal garbage can, some elastic straps and a heavy concrete block. Every time you take out the garbage, put it in the garbage can, close the lid firmly, secure it with elastic straps and place the concrete block on top. If done correctly, this measure is very effective at keeping raccoons out of your garbage and away from your house.
2. Make sure there’s no food available in your garden
Like your garbage, your yard and garden can be an unintentional source of food for pests. Start by making sure no pet food gets left outside. If you have fruit trees, don’t let the ripe fruit accumulate on the ground—their strong smell may attract unwelcome critters.
You should also take precautions to keep raccoons away from your bird feeders. If you can, bring them indoors at night or install a device that will prevent pests from accessing them.
3. Secure your shed and garage
If you don’t want raccoons and other pests living on your property, it’s important to seal all of the holes and spaces they might use to take refuge. Raccoons love to hide in sheds and garages and will take full advantage of any gaps they find, so make sure to block off all potential access points. If you’re not sure you’re up to the task, there are exterminators that offer caulking and sealing services for pest control!
Do you have a question? Take advantage of a free consultation with our experts!
4. Make the raccoons feel unwelcome
If you want to keep raccoons away from your home, make sure they don’t feel welcome on your property. Putting a fence around your property can deter pests, but raccoons are excellent climbers, so the fence might need to be electrified to be fully effective.
You should also remove any piles of wood or dead leaves in your yard that might provide shelter for the animals. These sorts of preventive measures can make your property less appealing to pests.
5. Scare the raccoons away
Using devices that will scare raccoons away is another pest control strategy that you may want to consider.
The main problem with this type of tactic is that raccoons are quite smart and will quickly realize that the devices won’t do them any harm, rendering them useless. The best way to mitigate the problem is to switch out the devices regularly so that the raccoons don’t have a chance to get used to them.
There are many types of products available to keep raccoons away—motion sensors with automatic lights or sprinklers, radios and ultrasonic devices are all tools that can help deter pests and provide you with peace of mind.
Contact the experts at Elite Pest Control to keep raccoons away for good
If you have tried all of the aforementioned tactics to keep raccoons away but are still struggling with an infestation, don’t lose hope!
The team at Elite Pest Control can help you eliminate unwanted intruders. Our qualified technicians use a humane approach to trap raccoons and release them into the wild far away from your home.
If you are looking for more pest control tips or a trusted partner to get rid of raccoons on your property, contact us! We will be happy to help.
