Raccoons can be a big problem! If you’ve ever walked out of your home in the morning to find trash scattered across your lawn, then you probably know what it’s like when raccoons run amok in your home. Those little bandits can be a real hassle if you’re not careful. Some especially ambitious raccoons can even figure out a way into your own house, getting caught in the attic or even in between the walls.
Yes, raccoon issues exist right here in Halton Region!
Some great ways to raccoon proof your home and trash?
Well, the first thing is to do is to try to identify what could be motivating a raccoon to visit your home. As nocturnal scavengers, they are primarily motivated by a desire for food, or shelter. This means that any especially strong food scents will bring them to you. Since they are urban animals, they tend to find places that are well stocked with food and settle down to enjoy as much as they can. Once a raccoon identifies your home as a food source or shelter, it will always be scavenging off of your property.
The biggest thing you can do to prevent new raccoon problems is to secure any food sources that a raccoon could get into.
The trash cans should either be brought inside of the garage or secured with a bungee cord to prevent them from getting in. Raccoon-proof trashcans can also be a good idea, as they are specifically designed to be resistant to unwanted invaders.
You should also remove potential food sources such as a bird feeder, as raccoons are not picky animals. A garden should be heavily fenced with strong, thick fencing that will prevent anything from breaking in. They are very intelligent animals, however, so if there is a way into your garden, the raccoon will most likely figure it out.
Be wary of sound devices or sprays that promise to scare raccoons off, they don’t particularly work. Most of these devices promise to emit a sound that can only be heard by a raccoon, but there have been multiple legal issues surrounding these claims. Sprays won’t work either, unfortunately. A flood light that is motion sensitive can be helpful to ward them off, as raccoons tend to avoid bright lights and loud noises.
Prevention is the best strategy when it comes to dealing with raccoons.
Checking your home to see if there are any entry points that a raccoon could squeeze through is a necessity. If you find openings that lead to the inside of your house, seal it up. Dealing with a raccoon once it gets inside your house will require the help of a professional most of the time, so focus on prevention as much as you can.
Remember, raccoons are smart creatures. They don’t want to work hard for their food and in the urban world, there are plenty of food sources to be found. Don’t give a raccoon family a reason to pick your home as their scavenging grounds. Instead, remove all food sources that you can fine so the raccoons move right past your yard.
