Raccoons are a menace that can wreak havoc on your home. Learn how to get rid of raccoons from your deck and keep them out for good in 2022.
The “how to get rid of raccoons for good” is a question that has been asked many times before. The answer is to use repellent and traps.
Humans and raccoons, on the whole, get along. Raccoons in the wild are frequently found in woodland regions near a water supply. However, as the population of cities has grown, these resourceful scavengers have become more dependant on people for food and shelter. When these fuzzy creatures make their home under your deck, problems begin to surface. We’ll go through how to get rid of raccoons from beneath the deck in this post.
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Are Raccoons a Threat?
Raccoons, like any other wild animal, are erratic. They have powerful jaws and claws, and they will attack if they feel threatened.
Raccoons may wreak havoc on your home and property. They ruin gardens, dig up vegetable patches, and wreak havoc on garbage cans. Because of their proclivity for crawling through trash, dangerous microorganisms may attach to their hair and claws.
They’re also the most prevalent carriers of rabies and may transmit illnesses including Tetanus, Roundworm, Salmonella, and Listeriosis. Humans and dogs alike may be at risk from these illnesses. If a raccoon has bitten or scratched you or your pet, get medical assistance right once.
Why are there raccoons under my deck?
For a mother raccoon and her young, decks and patios are perfect subterranean dens. During the summer, they provide a secure, quiet, and dark environment for a mother to nest.
Because of the quick availability to food, your home will be a desirable location. Raccoons are scavengers by nature and will eat everything they can get their hands on. This might come from garbage cans nearby, pet food, or your garden beds.
The good news is that these subterranean dwellings are only utilized for a few months on average. The mother raccoon and her kids would have left your deck by the end of the summer. You may, however, risk Raccoons returning the next nesting season or the mother becoming territorial if they feel threatened.
Raccoon Signs Under Your Deck
If you think you may have a raccoon problem, go around your house to determine if you’re having any of the following problems:
Organic things like as newspaper, clothes, or straw may be spread around your property as nesting materials. Mother raccoons may collect these things from your garbage or even take them from the clothesline in order to build a cozy home for their young.
Raccoon Paw Prints And Droppings: Raccoon paw prints look like little human hands with claw marks at the end. Their feces are black tubes that measure around 2-3 inches in length. The presence of fruit and twigs in racoon droppings distinguishes them from those of domestic pets. Prints and droppings may be found in your garbage cans, flower pots, and garage on a regular basis.
Patrolling: Because raccoons are nocturnal animals, you will most likely see them patrolling your house at night. Raccoons are inquisitive creatures, so they’ll peer through windows, climb trees, and check your shoes.
Raccoons are nocturnal animals, thus the majority of their noises will be heard at night. They may make a lot of noise, particularly while they’re feeding their young. Babies may make noises such as banging, scratching, whining, or high-pitched screeches.
Raccoons have most likely picked your house as a food source if your garbage bins have been flipped over and trash has been spread about. Chewing electrical wires, clogged gutters, dug-up entrance points to the deck, and gnaw marks around windows are all possibilities.
Meet with a professional to discuss the situation.
It’s critical to get advice from a wildlife expert on how to get rid of raccoons. This will assure both your and the animal’s safety. Hiring a wildlife removal firm is often the safest and simplest approach to keep raccoons off your deck. Many animal removal firms, on the other hand, are not registered or regulated, so be sure they follow humane methods before using them. Competent raccoon removal professionals will often offer a variety of ways to guarantee that the mother raccoon relocates on her own time rather than being trapped. The death of a mother raccoon’s offspring is almost certain if she is trapped. As a result, wildlife removal specialists, like you, should only employ this procedure as a last option.
What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of A Raccoon
Observe the animal till it departs.
If you are not troubled by the animals, your first choice for getting rid of your raccoon issue is to wait until the end of summer. Raccoons only stay in their subterranean burrows for a short time, so expect them to leave in a few months. During the nesting season, it is normal for a mother raccoon to relocate her offspring to several locations. As a result, your deck may be one of numerous dens.
If you discover that the mother and babies have fled, you may block all access points to the deck to prevent future creatures from utilizing it. However, perform the paper test first to be sure the raccoons have truly fled. Gather some newspaper and place it inside the den’s entrance. Watch the raccoon for three days and nights to see whether it returns. If the newspaper is still in place and you haven’t heard any further sounds, have a look around to make sure the mother raccoon has gone. After that, you may use galvanized steel mesh to close off your deck. Because raccoons are great diggers, the mesh should be installed at least 6 inches deep. In the future, this robust metal should deter raccoons.
Make the Raccoons feel uneasy
A raccoon has picked your deck as a safe haven for her young because it is dark, quiet, and dark. The raccoon and her young will ultimately leave your property if you gently tease the mother into believing that your deck is no longer safe. Incorporating light, sound, and scent into your raccoon-proofing strategy is critical. The harassment tactics must be put near the den’s entrance in order for the raccoon to notice them when she enters and exits the deck.
If you’re attempting to get rid of raccoons from your deck, be persistent. Animal removal using the ways listed below may take many days and nights.
Raccoons are nocturnal animals which dislike strong lighting in their environment. For animal removal, use a strong light at the den’s entrance. Make sure you have choices that are fire-safe, such as outside lighting or a mechanic’s light. Once they notice their house light up, raccoons may expel themselves from your deck.
Sound: Another great way to get rid of raccoons is to make a lot of noise. Raccoons and other creatures are threatened by the sound of human speech. Get a radio, put it near the den, and listen to a chat show. Make sure the volume is high enough to frighten and upset the mother raccoon. To frighten the raccoons away, use additional loud sounds like pounding, smashing pots, and screaming.
Smell: Getting some rags and soaking them in Apple Cider Vinegar or ammonia is another animal eradication approach. Place the rags all around the deck, particularly near the den’s entrance. There are several raccoon repellents on the market, but the reality is that the majority of them are ineffective. Experts agree that smell deterrents are the least efficient option, but when used in conjunction with light and sound, they will encourage the raccoon to go.
What You Should Not Do
Trapping and transferring a raccoon live is the least humane method, contrary to popular opinion. It is also prohibited in numerous places in the United States and Canada. Raccoons that have been relocated may become exceedingly anxious and succumb to the removal procedure. This strategy often leaves raccoon babies behind, who will perish without their mother. Even if the raccoon is transported with her kids, it is usual for mom to leave her young in order to live in the new region.
One-way doors: Despite the fact that many humane removal firms recommend it, this is not always the best solution. This approach involves locating the raccoon’s access point to the deck and installing a one-way door over it. They will be shut out the next time the raccoon exits its lair. Raccoons, on the other hand, are exceptionally robust and intelligent creatures. They may attempt to rip the door down or just discover a new entry point if they are eager to get back into their house.
In addition, these doors should only be utilized from October to December, when young raccoon offspring are unlikely to be present. You risk separating a raccoon mother from her young if you apply this strategy any other time of year, confining them within the deck. The infants will starve if the young raccoons are too young to follow their mother. Raccoons are very protective moms, so while she strives to safeguard her young, she will inflict significant damage to your property and deck.
Raccoons: How To Stay Away From Them In The Future
Raccoons are intelligent creatures that have proved their ability to grasp and solve challenges in several study investigations. This indicates that they have a good memory and will recall your deck as a safe area to scavenge food, water, and raise young. Follow these basic methods to prevent their repeated and harmful visits:
Blocking off your property with a robust fence is one of the simplest methods to keep these dangerous creatures out. Choose a fence that is tough for an animal to climb, such as bricks or concrete, if at all feasible. If you’re using a wooden fence, check for any holes or cracks that a raccoon may use to climb or slip past. Make sure the fence is at least a foot and a half in the ground to prevent raccoons from digging below it. Strong metal wire should also be used to enclose dark regions such as beneath your home and on your deck.
Seal off your garbage: If your rubbish is easily accessible, raccoons will frequent your property. Raccoons have been known to open bin lids and even knock garbage cans over in their quest for food. A garbage can lid strap is a simple and inexpensive solution to secure your waste.
Hide Pet Food: Raccoons like pet food and will frequent your home in quest of more convenient meals. Before it becomes dark, make sure you carry any pet food inside the house.
The “what gets rid of raccoons in your yard” is a question that many people ask. There are many ways to get rid of raccoons from under the deck, but the best way is to make sure there is nothing for them to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a raccoon out from under my deck?
A: You may want to call a professional or emergency services for this type of wildlife removal. However, if you already know how to catch them and release them back into the wild there are multiple ways they can be done with success. For example, trapping animals involves placing bait in an area where they will venture in order to eat it, therefore getting caught by a trap that has been set up specifically for their species (for example – raccoons).
What scent will keep raccoons away?
A: The smell of pepper will keep raccoons away.
What will make a raccoon go away?
A: Raccoons are afraid of humans, animals like coyotes and bobcats. If you have a feral raccoon living in your attic, the following will help disperse them:
1) Remove trash cans from around the property; there is no need for those to be on site if they arent being used.
2) Sprinkle catnip on the floor near where they live so that this can repel them away from their base.3) Install motion activated sprinklers near their hiding spots
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