How do I repel raccoons?

4 Natural Raccoon Deterrents
  1. Scatter or spray pepper. Spices like cinnamon, black pepper or cayenne pepper bother a raccoon's sense of smell, forcing it to relocate to a more livable area. ...
  2. Soak rags in ammonia. ...
  3. Place mothballs around your house. ...
  4. Call Apple Pest Control.
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What smell will keep raccoons away?

Since raccoons have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find convenient food sources, one can take advantage of this feature by using scents they hate. Hot pepper, garlic, peppermint oil, onion, and Epsom salt are a few scents used to repel raccoons.
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How do you keep raccoons away at night?

Scare them with loud noises

Raccoons may be smart and wily creatures, but they're also easily shaken up. All it takes is a sudden loud sound and they'll go scampering away into the night. If you can get a device that puts together a loud sound and flashing bright lights, that would be even more effective.
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What smell do raccoons hate the most?

Raccoons enjoy the dark, so a strategically placed flashlight can be a deterrent. Because they're also put off by strange noises, playing a small radio may help keep them at bay. Finally, raccoons hate the smell of ammonia, so leave a saucer full of the stuff (or an ammonia-dipped rag) near the creatures' entry point.
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How do you get rid of raccoons fast?

If you're just dealing with adult raccoons, you can DIY their removal by trying bright lights and loud noises (like a loud battery-operated radio in the attic or fireplace) to scare them out. Also, try placing a bowl of cider vinegar at the base of the chimney — it's a smell raccoons find foul, so they'll run from it.
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HOW TO SAFELY KEEP RACCOONS AWAY FROM YOUR HOUSE/PROPERTY AND OFF YOUR FENCES



Will vinegar keep raccoons away?

Here are some tips on raccoon control to prevent them from identifying your home as a place to nest or frequently visit. Raccoons hate the smell of apple cider vinegar (and so do some humans!). Soak a cloth in apple cider vinegar and place it in an aerated container near the den. The smell will deter them!
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Why do raccoons keep coming back?

The availability of food sources in close proximity to potential den sites attracts female raccoons to nest. The presence of food sources is one reason raccoon populations can grow rapidly and become very large in urban and suburban areas. Eliminating food sources is the first step to deter raccoons.
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How do you make homemade raccoon repellent?

One homemade “taste” raccoon repellent recipe uses 1 bottle hot pepper sauce or 1 bottle cayenne pepper powder and mixes it with a gallon of water and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. The soap helps the liquid to adhere to what you're spraying, and should be sprayed on the entire area that you would like to protect.
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Does Irish Spring soap keep raccoons away?

Soap the yard

Raccoons use their superb sense of smell to forage for food, and some scents are really effective at keeping them away. The ingredients in Irish Spring soap are generally effective in keeping raccoons and other small mammals out of your yard.
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Do raccoons hate the smell of bleach?

You're done! Raccoons should be repelled by the bleach and leave your garbage alone.
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What will run raccoons away?

Raccoons aren't fond of spicy smells, so a cayenne pepper spray can be an easy and effective raccoon repellent. Mix a small bottle of cayenne pepper with a bottle of hot sauce, then add both to a gallon of water and shake well. Spray this pepper solution around your plants, bushes, and other garden greenery.
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Does Epsom salt keep raccoons away?

Epsom salt is a double benefit because not only will it deter raccoons, but it is an excellent fertilizer. Sprinkle some Epsom salt around places like garbage cans and gardens to keep them out.
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What time of night are raccoons most active?

Raccoons are nocturnal creatures. They usually sleep during daylight, and spend their nights foraging for food. Most often, raccoons leave their dens soon after sunset.
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What smells do raccoons hate or avoid?

Raccoons have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find accessible food sources. You can take advantage of this trait by using scents they dislike, such as hot pepper, onion, garlic, peppermint oil and Epsom salt to repel them.
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What gets rid of raccoons in your yard?

How to deter raccoons
  • Use light and sound. Raccoons are usually entering your yard to find a safe, warm and quiet place to nest. ...
  • Remove the Vegetation. ...
  • Plant cucumber. ...
  • Use ammonia or vinegar to steer them away. ...
  • Use garlic or cayenne pepper to make a repellant. ...
  • Use predator urine. ...
  • Close any access points. ...
  • Cover water Sources.
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Do raccoons hate mothballs?

Mothballs get rid of all kinds of critters

Raccoons dislike the strong smell of mothballs. Buy a box and scatter them around your property to prevent raccoons from taking up residence.
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Will human urine keep raccoons away?

Ammonia is a chemical compound naturally found in urine which raccoons find rather offensive. Wolf, coyote and mountain lion urine is sold as a raccoon deterrent. The ammonia present in human urine can also be used, although it is unclear whether it is effective at keeping raccoons away for long.
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Will a porch light keep raccoons away?

Yes, in most cases, porch lights keep raccoons away. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, which means they can be very sensitive to light. However, it doesn't mean that porch lights will scare every raccoon away. You should use this method together with other pest control repellents to increase its efficiency.
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How do I keep racoons off my porch?

We'll discuss each of these techniques in a bit more detail.
  1. Keep The Lights On. Raccoons are nocturnal. ...
  2. Introduce Loud Noises. ...
  3. Try Unpleasant Smells. ...
  4. Remove Food And Water Sources. ...
  5. Lock Your Coop. ...
  6. Use Hardware Cloth. ...
  7. Place Concrete Slabs Around Your Coop.
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What foods are poisonous to racoons?

Are There Any Foods They Can't Eat?
  • Chocolate, onions, raisins and macadamia nuts are toxic to raccoons.
  • Garlic and bread aren't toxic, but they can upset a raccoon's digestion.
  • Coffee, cocoa and candies can cause health problems in raccoons.
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Will red pepper flakes deter raccoons?

Sprinkle cayenne pepper on the ground in areas of noted raccoon activity. Capsaicin, the substance that makes hot peppers hot, deters all types of mammals. So using it as a raccoon repellent also keeps squirrels away.
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Where do racoons go during the day?

During the day, raccoons find shelter in all environments. In urban areas, raccoons sleep in abandoned cars, dumpsters, and sewer drains, but hide in attics, garages, and underneath decks in suburban areas. In the wilderness, they live sleep in tree hollows, under rocks, and vacant animal dens.
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Do raccoons stay in one place?

Most raccoons tend to stay in one place for longer time periods, but will have more than one nest to live in. To get a raccoon to leave, you'd have to take away their food. Generally, raccoons will not stay in one place when no reliable food source is available.
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Will raccoons leave on their own?

Homeowners with an infestation may wonder, “Will raccoons leave on their own?” Generally speaking, these pests won't leave without intervention because they have found food and shelter in the home, allowing them to avoid their natural predators during scavenging.
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How do you find a raccoons nest?

These dens can often be found in attics or spaces under porches where they have access to food sources such as garbage cans and pet food. Raccoon dens can also be found in spots such as woodpiles and old abandoned cars or trucks where there is a dry, dark area underneath to provide shelter from the elements.
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