Good Lifestyle

Raccoons may look cute from afar, but they can transmit harmful diseases on humans, so it's best to keep them out of your garden and home. However, as Brad Woods , District Manager at Truech Wildlife Services , note, raccoons are opportunistic eaters and have adapted to living in close proximity to people – and they have an excellent sense of smell. To protect yourself from these creatures, you need to be aware of the smells that attract raccoons to your yard. Keep reading to learn more from Woods and other pest experts on how you can keep raccoons out.

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Trash is one of the biggest attractions for pests, and raccoons are no different. "The smell of waste can attract them from a distance" Bryan Clayton , CEO of Green Pal , tell Better life .

“If you want to completely prevent them from hanging around your house, you have to ask them to exclude your property as a potential shelter and source [of food],” explains Meg Pearson , head of training at critter control .

Therefore, use a tight-fitting lid on all trash cans. If that doesn't work, you can close the boxes with a rubber band to further prevent invasion. Also, it is important to ensure that all leftover food is sealed and contained or picked up immediately.

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Raccoons are omnivores, so they will eat anything that is easily accessible. “They eat all types of fruits, berries, nuts, acorns, corn, and other types of grains,” Pearson explains. Oranges, cherries, plums, apples or bananas are particularly pungent and attractive to raccoons, she notes.

Clayton suggests using strong, secure fencing around your fruit or vegetable gardens, especially when produce is ripening.

Woods says a raccoon's regular meals largely depend on where it lives. For those who live in residential areas, unattended pet food is very appealing because it contains ingredients like grains and corn, which are staples in a raccoon's diet that he can sniff.

"Remove all pet food overnight," suggests Pearson. You can also use a raccoon-proof feeder, but it's best to keep pet food inside.

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Similar to pet food, bird feeders contain an abundance of seeds and nuts that raccoons can smell. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

“Raccoons are nocturnal and are more likely to attack bird feeders at night,” says Clayton. Woods adds that simply placing them high up isn't enough of a deterrent since raccoons are excellent climbers. The best option is to remove the bird feeders at the end of the day and put them back in the morning.

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If you live on a farm or have chickens, the smell of the eggs they lay may actually attract raccoons.

Pearson says you can try deterrents around the area where your hens live or lay eggs, but keep in mind that they can be hit or miss. “Try things like peppermint oil, hot peppers, garlic, vinegar, ammonia…but, again, that's probably only going to work in the short term, if at all,” says -She.