How to Safeguard Your Home From Raccoons

You might be thinking: “Do I really need to worry about raccoons? They’re small, adorable and seem harmless.” Unfortunately, though they may look similar to the domesticated pets many of us love, raccoons are not docile – they’re wild animals.

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Because raccoons are wild, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened. When they feel vulnerable, raccoons may lash out by biting or scratching people or pets they encounter – which is especially dangerous because they are common carriers or serious diseases like rabies.

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Even if you don’t confront them, raccoons can damage the structure of your property if they get inside. As they make their way into your home, raccoons can wreak havoc by tearing off roof shingles and fascia boards, damaging rooftop ventilators and slashing through insulation.

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Inside your home, raccoons still need to go – but they won’t be using your bathroom. Instead, raccoons leave behind their droppings, which – in addition to being plain unsanitary – can carry harmful diseases and parasites.

Because raccoons are nocturnal, they’re likely living on a different schedule than your family – which makes them tricky to discover. So what can you do if you suspect that raccoons might already have already made themselves at home in your home? Look and listen. Look for telltale signs of raccoons, such as structural damage (like torn shingles), evidence of feeding (like ransacked trash), tracks and droppings. Listen for rustling or cooing sounds emanating from the walls – this could be a sign of a baby raccoon in hiding.

Whether you see signs of raccoons or not, it’s a good idea to regularly inspect your home’s exterior for vulnerable areas that raccoons might exploit in order to enter your house. Raccoons are especially likely to hunt down your home in the fall months, as they prepare for the cold winter.

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Raccoons are looking for a warm place to live (and, for female raccoons, potentially nest). The top places in a home that they’re drawn to? The roof and roof vents, attic, chimney, crawl space and under the porch or deck.

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Getting rid of raccoons once you have them is difficult and expensive, so the best way to curtail raccoon damage and keep them out of your habitat is to take steps to prevent them from ever getting in. One big step to prevent raccoons from getting in is to block their access. This means repairing any holes or reinforcing high-risk access areas, like roof vents or under the deck, with covers like heavy wire screening.

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Raccoons are hungry, so don’t tempt them to come to your home with the prospect of food. Never, ever try to feed raccoons by hand and don’t leave food out for them – this includes not leaving pet food outside, as raccoons likely won’t respect that the kibble was intended for the cat.

Even if you aren’t feeding wildlife by hand, you might still be – inadvertently – feeding them and keeping them around if you aren’t mindful of your home’s garbage situation. Keep your garbage inside until collection day if possible and at a minimum, ensure that the lids on outdoor trash cans are secure (whether through locking mechanisms, cords or weights). If you’re ambitious and have lots of garbage to deal with, consider building a locking enclosure to help keep raccoons away.

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Another way that raccoons can snack around your home? Your garden. Harvest any ripe fruits or vegetables right away and help make your house unsavoury to the critters by spicing things up – sprinkle chili pepper or cayenne pepper over the area. And, when you’re done with food and garden scraps, be sure to keep your compost in a container with the same level of security you use for your outdoor trash cans.

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When it comes to climbing, raccoons are basically parkour pros – so it’s smart to ensure there isn’t anything they can clamber up to gain easy access to your home. Put a smooth surface like plastic or metal at the foot of trees (so raccoons don’t have anything to grab onto to start their climb) and consider giving any tree branches that are placed close to your home a trim. Aim for at least six to eight feet of distance from your home, if possible.

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Looking for other ways to help keep raccoons away? Consider using senses to your advantage. Some studies have found that using audio recordings of repellent sounds – like predators such as dogs – may be a natural way to scare raccoons away from an area.

If you happen to catch a raccoon in your home, don’t panic, don’t confront them (remember, a threatened raccoon may attack) and don’t break out the poison (killing wildlife is illegal). Instead, your best bet is to contact your municipality or a trained, professional pest control company to help you trap and get rid of the raccoons.