Raccoons are high on the list of things that go bump in the night for property owners. These furry mammals are familiar visitors to Texas properties, and they enjoy a good dig through trash cans. Understanding why raccoons love trash cans helps you create solutions to finding your waste strewn across your yard.
Understanding Raccoon Behavior
If you notice raccoons getting into the trash, they’re probably looking for a meal. Raccoons are omnivores with a keen sense of smell that tells them where they can find food, waste, or scraps. As human living areas extend into wildlife habitats, these mammals have adapted their diet to what’s available — and that’s often our leftovers.
Securing Your Cans to Keep Raccoons Out
The best way to prevent raccoons from getting into the garbage is to secure your cans. These critters have dexterous paws. They’re also physically agile and can hop onto lids or push cans over with ease.
You can buy self-locking trash cans or take steps to raccoon-proof your current ones by:
- Placing weights on the lids.
- Using bungee cords or thick ropes to tie lids down.
- Keeping them in your garage or a locked shed.
- Placing them on stable ground where they won’t fall over.
- Putting them under a bright or motion-detecting light.
How to Deter Raccoons From Your Yard
In addition to securing your trash cans, you can make these minor changes to keep raccoons away from your house and yard.
1. Clean Cans Regularly
To reduce strong smells from your cans, ensure you clean them consistently. With soap and a hose, you can remove the key attractant for raccoons — smell.
2. Use Strong Scents and Repellants
Wildlife and animal repellents use taste and scent to deter raccoons from your yard. Sprinkle or spray an animal repellent around your yard’s perimeter, garden areas, and wherever you keep your trash cans. You can also spray some onto cans and trash bags.
You can also use some household items to counter raccoons’ exceptional sense of smell, like:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ammonia
- Hot pepper
- Peppermint oil
- Vinegar
- Epsom salt
3. Add Sensory Deterrence
Raccoons are nocturnal scavengers, which means they’re more likely to visit your yard in the night. They prefer darkness, still and quiet. You can disrupt these conditions and keep critters away with motion-activated lights, sprinklers, and sound devices.
4. Remove Other Food Sources
As scavengers, raccoons can eat almost anything if it hasn’t gone bad — including nuts, fruits, vegetables and other foods that may grow in your yard. To discourage them from these food sources, you can remove fruiting trees, fence your garden, or consider electrical enclosures.
Get Professional Help With Urban Jungle Wildlife Removal
Did a raccoon make it past the trash into your attic or house? Turn to Urban Jungle for help with raccoon trapping and removal in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston. Contact us to get started today.
