Survival instincts attract raccoons and other wildlife to your yard. Food and shelter are often the primary motivators. Unfortunately, if a raccoon finds what they need on your property, you will need to call wildlife control for raccoon removal.

Raccoons are determined and capable creatures. If something on your property contributes to their survival, they will not vacate easily, which is why wildlife prevention is crucial.

3 Things Attracting Raccoons

What do you need to survive? Like most living things, you need food, water, and shelter; raccoons are no different. The animal’s survival depends on its ability to locate these essentials. Your job as a homeowner is to ensure they don’t find them on your property. To better prepare, it helps to know what raccoons are looking for.

1. Food

Raccoons are not picky eaters; they are foragers. People don’t call them trash pandas for no reason. A raccoon can make a hearty meal from your leftovers.

Also, if you feed your pets outside, raccoons will find the scraps in the yard or on the patio. A raccoon might even find access to your garage and locate the pet food bags you have in storage.

While larger animals, a raccoon will make a meal out of almost anything, including bird seed. Bird feeders are prime targets for hungry raccoons, so it is best to clean up around the feeders or avoid having them at all.

Finally, if you have a green thumb, raccoons will make a quick snack of your vegetable garden. Protect your hobby with garden fences and nets.

2. Water

Raccoons will typically live near a water source. The source needn’t be natural, like a spring or creek. The animal is happy to drink from a decorative pond in your yard or your dog’s water bowl. If you want to keep raccoons out of your yard, don’t provide easy access to water.

3. Shelter

A raccoon doesn’t need a fancy residence. It can make a home in a hollow log. The problem for homeowners is the animal’s lack of preference.

If there are voids underneath decks or sheds, or outbuildings in your yard, a raccoon can make it a cozy place to call home. The closer the animal gets to living beside you, the more motivated it becomes to get inside your house.

Secure the underside of decks and other structures. Ensure crawlspaces have doors or vented barricades to protect them.

3 Ways To Deter Raccoons

Deterring raccoons is about eliminating access to the three essentials: food, water, and shelter. Also, it is about making the yard less inviting. You can use three tactics to reduce the risk of a raccoon making your yard its home.

1. Proper Storage Solutions

If you are going to store pet food in the garage or outside, you need to find an airtight container. The container must prevent food odour from escaping, especially when stored outside.

Also, find trash cans with tight lids. If you can, store the cans inside the garage until garbage collection day.

2. Maintenance

A well-manicured and maintained lawn is less inviting for a raccoon. The animal prefers tall grass, low-hanging branches, and yard debris — anything that offers cover or protection.

If you have bird feeders, sweep up around them. Also, if you feed your pets outside, take up the dishes when they finish their meal.

3. Light and Sound

While some people don’t believe it is effective, you can install outdoor lighting and speakers. Motion-activated lights and soft music might startle the animal or deter it.

Hire Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control

Wildlife removal on Vancouver Island can help remove raccoons from your property or protect your yard against furry intruders.With trusted techniques our specialized wildlife technicians can hand remove any babies on location and allow family units to stay intact. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control and schedule a property assessment.