How To Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Waldorf Yard

Raccoons may look cute to some, but these nocturnal mammals can be a major nuisance when they invade your Waldorf yard. You should understand raccoons and their behavior in order to discourage these pests from stepping foot on your property.

Understanding Raccoon Behavior

Most people recognize a raccoon when they see one. This critter has a greyish coat, ringed tail, distinctive face mask, and small paws it uses for grabbing items. Raccoons prefer to live in forests but are highly adaptable and can easily live in coastal or urban areas. When living around humans, raccoons will emerge at night to rifle through trash cans or other food storage areas. They are especially attracted to areas with water, as this provides an easy source for a drink and is what they are used to living in the wild.

While not every raccoon you encounter will be dangerous, these mammals are still wild animals. They can carry diseases such as rabies, canine distemper, raccoon parvoviral enteritis, infectious canine hepatitis, and pseudorabies, in addition to leaving behind parasites like fleas and ticks on your property.

Typically, raccoons won’t attack unless prompted, but there is always a chance of spooking one hiding in your yard and ending up with a bite or scratch.

Raccoon Prevention Tips

If you want to discourage raccoons from entering your yard, there are several prevention tips that you can follow:

• Remove excess foliage from your garden, as raccoons are drawn to it as a source of food. You can also choose to plant cucumber around your property line; this plant emits a scent that raccoons will want to avoid. 

• Close any access points to secluded, darker spaces, as this is where raccoons will prefer to hide out during the daytime. Put up wooden boards and wire mesh to seal entrances into crawl spaces, under decks, or into sheds.

• Fix any leaks on your property and close off access to water sources such as fish ponds and birdbaths. Raccoons are seriously attracted to water sources, so removing their access to moisture can deter them from your property.

• Refrain from leaving pet food outdoors. Open access to pet food will draw raccoons to your property and ensure they stay nearby.

• Make sure all bird feeders in your yard are installed on thin poles and elevated off the ground to deter raccoons from accessing the birdseed as an easy source of food.

• Seal up all food waste and trash tightly and dispose of them promptly. The tight seal helps to keep the aroma from attracting raccoons to your trash cans. You may also want to reinforce any trash cans outside your home with bungee cords or cinder blocks to keep them sealed and prevent raccoons from taking the lids off.

Safe Raccoon Removal

Raccoons can be a challenge to deal with, especially as this critter brings the risk of diseases with it and commonly hides in secluded areas on your property. For the safe removal of an existing raccoon problem on your property, contact the professionals at Mike's Pest, Termite and Wildlife Control. Our experts can efficiently eliminate raccoons and leave your property free of this troublesome pest.