What is distinctive about raccoons is that they are extremely intelligent and inventive. It might be a sheer amusement to watch them, however, when it comes to the damage they can potentially cause to the human property, the scale of the problem a home owner faces seems worrying. The main challenge for the home owner is to find an appropriate way to get rid of these critters as it is extremely difficult to repel raccoons. In this article, we will review existing raccoon repellents and look at what scientists say about their usage. We will provide you with some recipes for natural raccoon repellents and tips on effective preventive measures. A variety of raccoon deterrents such as raccoon deterrent plants and spikes will definitely be helpful for your pest control strategy.
First of all, raccoons like visiting yards to dig up grubs and other insects in the soil what definitely affects the plants growing there. They are also eager to treat themselves to fruit and berries, pillaging the garden. Secondly, they tend to seek a shelter in buildings, mostly in the hidden places, to establish a den there. This is likely to result in unsanitary conditions on the occupied sites and may pose a risk to human health and pets as raccoons can carry dangerous diseases.
Raccoons can be distinguished from other similar animals by their black mask and tail with black-and-grey rings. They can be approximately three feet in length, with weight reaching 30 pounds. These critters are usually attracted by the areas where food is in abundance and no predators threaten their lives. This is one of the reasons why human settlements are so tempting for raccoons who can pillage the garden, get into the house to create a den there, particularly climb down chimneys, or forage into garbage cans searching for food.
Raccoons can cause a lot of damage to your house attempting to penetrate into the house, crawl space or attic. A significant amount of damage may be connected with the raccoons. So be sure to check and seal any access points {vents, crawls space lattice, ect} of about 4 inches. They are know to be able to squeeze themselves into some tight spots, so sealing gaps is a great preventative measure. Perhaps the most unpleasant experience in sharing the house with raccoons is that normally they use a certain site in the newfound shelter as a collective latrine. Apart from a foul odor, this poses the health hazard as raccoon are known as potential disease carriers, including roundworm and rabies. As Scott Oneto from the University of California Cooperative Extension explains,, the roundworm is spread in the animal’s feces, with the health risk remaining over the course of a long period of time.
According to Mr. Oneto, prevention is crucial in fighting the disease since no remedy has been developed yet to overcome it. Therefore, discovering the latrine in time is the premium effort. Check trees, barns, woodpiles, attics, and rooftops for a raccoon den and if any are found eliminate them and clean up the site. If you have noticed a raccoon which is too sluggish or, on the contrary, extremely violent or comes out in the daytime {as raccoons are nocturnal}, there is a likelihood of the critter being infected with rabies. When seeing a raccoon behaving like this, do not approach or touch it. Instead, call local animal control service and entrust the issue to professionals. About 40 percent of all raccoons are believed to be carriers of rabies, which poses a huge risk to any pet or person who may be bitten. An unvaccinated pet turns out to be the most affected. In cases where pets have been bitten by an infected raccoon, they both have to be euthanized in a vet clinic. No human lethal case related to raccoon rabies has been recorded yet. Appropriate caution and action will help avoid any disastrous effects to your home and family and furry friends.
Sometimes a raccoon may occasionally wander into someone’s property, this should not be considered as a reason for concern. In order to deter the critter from subsequent visits, take preventive measures and apply relevant repellents which are described below. But that’s not all the challenges the home owner is likely to face. Raccoon damage in the garden is a widespread problem, with sweet corn being a top priority in their diet. As a rule, raccoons are capable of overcoming all possible obstacles to get this delightful treat. To the farmers’ great sadness, this usually happens just before harvest. Apart from that, raccoons eagerly eat a variety of vegetables, berries, and fruit, particularly nuts and almost ripe watermelons. They also consume soil insects and cause turf damage as the critters dig it up in search of food.
When using repellents against raccoons, be aware of two key points. First, repellent should be considered as a short-term solution only. After a while, its odor evaporates and taste intensity decreases so that additional applications are needed to maintain the effectiveness. Even when the product shows positive results forcing the animal out of the property, it will not prevent the critter from returning especially if it is strongly motivated by the need to acquire food or establish a den. Moreover, as experts from the University of California put it, raccoons quickly adapt to offensive scents and subsequently will ignore it.
The second crucial conclusion you should take into account, which is deducted from the first, is that repellents and deterrents can be efficient against raccoons only when applied in combination with other methods. Such comprehensive approach envisages mounting fences, placing raccoon deterrent spikes, sealing gaps, setting traps and blocking access to garbage. Jeff Schalau, an associate agent with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, points out that repellents are effective under certain conditions. Namely, such solutions work in case the number of wild animals is small in the area, the inflicted damage is not considerable and the affected area is not large either.
Taking this into consideration, develop your own multifaceted strategy for the raccoon management depending on where the critter has settled. For example, if there is a den discovered in the chimney, first chase the animal out with the help of an ultrasonic device and then close the entrance with heavy metal screens. However, make sure that no raccoon is left inside before blocking the way out. Having discovered a raccoon in the attic, sprinkle mothballs there and the next day stuff a newspaper into the exit opening. Seal it permanently only when it becomes obvious that no animal is left inside and the paper remains untouched.
Robert A. Pierce, an extension fish and wildlife specialist with the University of Missouri says that there are no registered chemical repellents designed specifically to control raccoons, however, different substances have been tested to this end. With reference to conducted researches, he has highlighted mothballs which have proved to be potent at expelling critters from enclosed spaces, including attics and chimneys. Predator urine and ammonia can also be helpful for deterring raccoons as they are widely used in managing wildlife. Scientists stress that animals can become accustomed to one repellent which is why maximum impact will be achieved by applying a combination of differing solutions alternating between them.
Holly K. Ober, an extension specialist with the University of Florida, notes that existing solutions can be divided into several categories. These are odor repellents affecting critters by foul scent or by evoking fear of the predator presence, taste repellents containing repulsive bitter substances, and devices designed to frighten animals. The bulk of odor and taste repellents can be applied directly to foliage in the garden but not all of them are safe for eatables. Products with such active ingredients as urine from a coyote or other predators are intended to scare critters and are suggested for creating an invisible odor barrier around the perimeter of the garden.
Repellents with active ingredients including capsaicin, essential oils such as peppermint or citronella, castor oil and garlic are considered to be safe providing the manufacturer’s instructions are followed. Capsaicin, an extract from hot peppers, is particularly popular as a deterrent for many critters affecting them both by odor and taste aversion. Apart from commercially available repellents based on predators’ urine of such animals as coyotes, foxes, and lions, which may ward off raccoons, there is an option of exploiting the females’ fear of the male raccoons.
Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggest products containing the urine of male raccoons. Apply such stuff in the attic, basement or any other space where the female raccoon has supposedly established a den and she will immediately leave the shelter. The thing is that male raccoons, like many other animals, kill youngs that are not theirs what is the strongest motivation for the female to escape from the site with her youngs as soon as she smells the urine. According to the conducted study, no female raccoon evicted from the den with the help of this kind of repellent has come back to the treated site. Moreover, they do not try to get back even though chimney caps have not been placed. However, the scientists warn that even in products without expiration dates, this active ingredient is likely to lose efficacy over the course of three years or under extreme temperatures. For this reason, be sure to check the label for the production date.
There are some advantages and disadvantages of using odor or taste repellents. The first ones are preferable for applying to plants as they are available in the form of pellets and should not necessarily be put directly on foliage. Moreover, pellets are more rain-resistant. While taste repellents suggest that a raccoon has to take a bite of the plant and, therefore, damage it to experience a disturbing feeling. In order to keep raccoons from foraging in the garden, consider placing raccoon deterrent plants. Since the feet of these critters are sensitive, placing plants with thorns will discourage them from wandering into that patch of land. Pumpkins, cucumbers and globe thistle are likely to deter them from the garden. Also, plants with an offensive smell and bad taste, such as Habanero chilies and peppermint will be beneficial. The odor of garlic bulbs is disliked by raccoons as well.
Frightening techniques are effective as a short-term solution and include motion-activated sprinklers, ultrasonic devices, owl large eyes, gas exploders, predator calls and the like. But the effect of these devices is limited by the fact that raccoons are very smart and creative, moreover, they quickly become accustomed to these repellents inventing new ways to outmaneuver you. That is why you should use your imagination in order to best raccoons in resourcefulness. Buying several motion-activated sprinklers at once would be a smart move because in this case, the critters will not be able to knock down a device from behind as they have been repeatedly noticed doing.
Effectiveness Scale: 1 being the least, 10 being the most effective.
| repellent | type | advantage | disadvantage |
| Mothballs Effectiveness: 10 | odor repellent | Scientifically proven to be effective against raccoons; applied to drive raccoons out from attics and basements before sealing openings; have strong repulsive odor, cheap and available; can be placed in hard-to-reach areas. | Toxic; should be spread in enclosed areas as they can be eaten by a wrong animal; pose a risk to pets and humans; are not resistant to rains and winds; short-term solution. |
| Ammonia Effectiveness: 8 | odor repellent | Natural solution; incites fear of a predator’s presence; has a strong odor. | Toxic when ingested; not safe for children and pets and can be dangerous for the environment. |
| Castor oil Effectiveness: 9 | taste and odor repellent | Has bitter taste and foul smell; natural, it is not toxic and is safe for children and pets; suggested for the garden protection; resistant to rains; remains effective over longer period of time than ammonia; is not poisonous. | Needs re-application; the smell can be unpleasant to humans as well; be careful when spraying foliage with the solution. |
| Pepper Effectiveness: 8 | taste repellent | Natural; safe for children and pets; it is not poisonous. | Can irritate eyes and nose of humans and pets upon contact. |
| Essential oils (oils of peppermint, pine, cedar and other) Effectiveness: 8 | odor repellent | Natural; not poisonous; have a pleasant scent to humans; menthol is believed especially irritating to raccoons. | It should be highly concentrated to be effective; needs to be reapplied often; can be irritating to the skin of humans; short-term effect. |
| Garlic Effectiveness: 7 | odor repellent | Natural; safe for humans and pets; is used in creating a barrier along the perimeter of the garden. | Unpleasant scent can spread in the garden and be offensive to humans. |
| Predator’s urine Effectiveness: 7 | odor repellent | Natural; based on animal’s fear of predators. | Raccoons are believed to be fearless and intelligent which is why they may not buy into the trick. |
| Urine of the male raccoon Effectiveness: 10 | odor repellent | Scientifically proven effective solution to repel raccoons; based on female’s instinct to protect her young; evicted raccoons do not return to their dens | Active ingredient loses efficacy within three years or under extreme temperatures. |
| Planting pumpkins, cucumbers, and globe thistle Effectiveness: 7 | deterrent plants | Effective due to sensitivity of raccoon’s feet; add to diversity of the garden’s landscape; environmentally friendly solution. | Does not work when a raccoon is highly motivated. |
| Ultrasonic device \ motion-activated sprinkler Effectiveness: 9 | scare tactics | Eco-friendly; safe for humans and pets; once installed, does not involve further human participation; ultrasonic devices recommended for expelling raccoons from chimneys; motion-activated sprinklers suggested for the garden protection; not expensive compared to many other technical devices. | Raccoons quickly become accustomed to sounds and learn to avoid sprinklers; operation of motion-activated sprinklers may result in excessive consumption of water; short-term solution. |
Based on scientists’ recommendations, we have examined TOP-8 repellent available in the form of sprays, granules and technical devices. These are natural and safe for humans repellents which active ingredients include rosemary, pepper, garlic, and coyote urine. They affect the animal by taste and odor aversion or by making the critter think that a predator is near by. The male raccoon urine will force the female with her young from the den established in the house. The motion-activated sprinkler is the robust construction which is crucial in dealing with such strong animals as raccoons while the ultrasonic device will be helpful in chasing the critters out of chimneys. Two variations of deterrent lights, a portable solar-powered unit and a motion-activated one, will keep raccoons away while raccoon deterrent spikes will discourage them from foraging in the garden.
Although the raccoon urine is labeled primarily for hunting to mask human odor and create a scent cover, this stuff can serve as a repellent for female raccoons with babies which have settled in the building’s attic, chimney, basement or in other enclosed space. The volume of the bottle is two ounces or 60 ml, however, this amount will be enough for a long period of time as the liquid is very concentrated.
People who has tried this stuff claim that the smell is really terrible but it does the job. However, not all customers are satisfied with the results. As one of the users put it: “Don’t think it works, still have momma raccoon with babies in back yard.” Perhaps, this customer has not implemented a comprehensive approach to solving the problem.
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Creating obstacles for raccoons attempting to get into the yard can be efficient additional means to repel these critters. You may want to avoid using sharp barbed wires which sometimes make the yard resemble a prison and is likely to harm animals. A good alternative is placing Wall Spikes upon the fence so that the critters will not be able to climb over the barrier. Made from waterproof plastic, the spikes are 19.5 inches in length and designed to cause a discomfort to an unwanted intruder, be it a cat or any larger animal like a raccoon.
The wall spikes as one user puts it, the product’s efficiency is largely dependent on whether the animal’s paw pads are sensible. This is the case with raccoons as they can identify an object by touching it and usually examine the food with their paws. However, keep in mind that when hungry, raccoons are very persistent and can tear the most coarse material. Another product which can come in handy is a Cat Scat Mat, a plastic prickly material deterring animals from digging the turf. The mat which is 78 x 11 inches in length can be cut to size or used as a wide strip along the perimeter of the garden. This product is a bit more popular with customers. According to the manufacturer, the scat mat works not only for cats but other animals as well since stepping on plastic spikes causes discomfort to many critters.
Cat Repeller Fence and wall spikes. Price: Check current price
Cat Scat Mat. Price: Check current price
According to the manufacturer, this blend of peppers of different kinds is designed, among others, to repel raccoons from the attics, basements and other enclosed spaces of the building, as well as from the garden. It works through the odor and taste aversion, therefore, the solution has a wide range of usage. The product is available in the form of granules which are considered to be more resistant to rain and more durable than sprays. In particular, the effect of this very solution is said to last more than a month.
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This solution repelling raccoons is offered in the form of a spray. Its advantage over the previous product is that it can be sprayed in any hard-to-reach sites but is particularly recommended for gardens as it effectively covers all parts of the plants. The spray is based on white pepper and garlic, peppermint, rosemary oils. The stuff can be easily applied in the attic, basement, around trash cans, in semi-enclosed spaces and the like.
Among the negative feedback, there are claims that the concentration of the stuff decreases when used outdoors what is considered to lead to a poorer product performance.
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The product with an active ingredient coyote urine is announced by the manufacturer to be good at repelling raccoons and other nuisance animals due to their fear of predators, which presence is imitated by the stuff. Despite these claims, we should point out that the coyote urine has not been confirmed by researchers from the Ohio State University to be efficient against raccoons. The studies show that raccoons actually are not afraid of the sites treated with coyote urine. One of the explanations is that coyotes are not their major enemy and, therefore, often are not feared by raccoons.
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This device with two operation modes, at night and during daylight hours, is activated when movement is detected by its sensor. The advanced technology allows to reduce consumption of water and energy. The motion-activated sprinkler covering 1600 square feet is said to deter insects and small animals who driven out from the garden by water being sprayed by the device.
We recommend being creative in developing a strategy for raccoon control as these critters are intelligent and eventually will learn how to bring down this device which obviously obstructed their effort to pillage food in the garden. That is why a combonation of deterrents are recommended.
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This product is used in many countries as a predator deterrent and, according to the manufacturer, works against raccoons as well. It is energy-efficient and solar-powered, therefore, is considered environmentally friendly. Also, the device is maintenance-free, easy to deal with and is provided a three-year warranty from the manufacturer. The target of the predator deterrent are animals feeding at night-time when they can be easily frightened away if they are noticed by any creature potentially posing a risk. The two flashing lights of the device will look like a strange creature staring at them and the self-preservation insect tells them to run away from the site.
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The device is claimed to deter raccoons with ultrasonic sounds and flashing lights when they come to pillage the garden. Nevertheless, like the previous apparatus, this one is not considered to be effective once raccoons become accustomed to the human property they have visited. This observation was made by Jason M. Gilsdorf from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
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A good option for protecting the house is to install a wireless porch light which is activated when any motion is detected within its range. Although the product is not labeled specifically for raccoons, it is likely to frighten away any wild critter approaching the building. As we have stated regarding the ultrasonic device, raccoons are deterred both by sounds and lights which is why this device can also be helpful in managing these critters.
The product is environmentally friendly since it consumes less energy being activated only when someone is approaching the area. Moreover, when the light goes on unexpectedly for a raccoon, there is more likelihood of frightening the critter away. The porch light can be easily installed because it is wireless and can be placed in such spaces as the attic or the basement where raccoons tend to create a den. The device seems to be approved by more than a half of the customers. However, some of them report malfunctions under low temperatures.
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| Product | Type |
| Havahart Critter Ridder | consists of the blend of peppers; granules |
| Rodent Defense | consists of oils of garlic, peppermint, rosemary and white pepper; spray |
| Shake-Away Repellent | consists of coyote urine; granules |
| Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer | metal motion activated sprinkler |
| Predator Guard | solar-powered deterrent light |
| Hoont | ultrasonic device |
| LIGHT IT by Fulcrum | motion-activated deterrent light |
| Code Blue Actual Urine (2-Ounce) | raccoon urine, liquid |
| Ammonia | repellent, liquid |
| Cat Repeller Fence and wall spikes | deterrent spikes |
| Cat Scat Mat | deterrent spikes |
As we have learned, most of the raccoon repellents consist of natural ingredients which you probably have in your kitchen or can buy it from any store at a low price. Below you will find some useful recipes for deterring raccoons from your property.
Even the most effective repellents may be of no use when there is a favorable environment for raccoons. Taking in consideration that these critters have a strong motivation to get into the human property, in particular to create a den and find food, a number of rules should be followed to make your raccoon control effective. Below, we will give you some tips on what should be done before application of any repellent. First, reduce the availability of food sources and, second, decrease the accessibility of the attic and rooftop. To achieve it, you should take the following steps:
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I liked your extensive article. However, here's our situation:
Day 1: we tried spraying ammonia by attic entry points & sealed them but they ripped the metal screens to get in with baby raccoons. Day 2: we hired professionals to catch a mother raccoon (cage placed in backyard) and the professional retrieved 3 babies in the attic. we thought that was it so we re-sealed entries on roof by attic access with thicker wood planks and screws. we were going to follow with metal air vents Day 3: wood planks were ripped out with the screws! hired professional again with another cage. also inspecting attic for signs of raccoon.
what else can we do seems; it's like a never-ending horror story!!!!