If raccoons are making themselves at home in your yard, you’re not alone. These furry animals are curious, intelligent, and always on the lookout for their next meal or a safe place to shelter. 

Knowing why raccoons are in your yard can help you address the problem and prevent it from happening again. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in New Albany, we specialize in humane solutions to keep wildlife like raccoons out of your yard and home.

Raccoons are drawn to yards for a variety of reasons. Food, water, and shelter are the primary attractions. If your yard provides easy access to any of these, it might be acting as a magnet for raccoons. 

From open trash cans to overgrown plants, there are common culprits that could be attracting raccoons to your yard. But don’t worry; there are effective steps you can take to prevent unwanted wildlife from making themselves permanent guests.

Below, we’ll cover the top reasons why raccoons are in your yard and provide some simple raccoon prevention tips to make your space less inviting.

Food Sources Left Unprotected

Food is one of the biggest reasons raccoons wander into people’s yards. These omnivores have a diverse diet and are willing to eat just about anything they can get their paws on. Open garbage cans, pet food bowls, bird feeders, and even fallen fruit from trees can all attract raccoons to your yard.

If you want to avoid attracting raccoons to your yard, the first step is to remove or secure food sources. Here are a few tips:

• Lock Up Your Trash: Use garbage cans with tight-fitting or locking lids to keep raccoons from rummaging through and making a mess. If the lid is loose or doesn’t seal properly, raccoons can pry it open easily. Also, be sure to take the trash out on collection day rather than letting it sit overnight, as raccoons are most active after dark and can smell food from far away.
• Remove Pet Food: If you feed your pets outside, make sure to clean up their bowls after they’re done eating. Leaving leftover food outside is like sending an invitation to raccoons. They’ll remember where they found an easy meal and keep coming back, so storing pet food indoors is always the safest bet.
• Clean Up Fallen Fruit: If you have fruit trees in your yard, it’s important to pick up any fallen fruit as soon as possible. Rotting fruit on the ground emits a strong smell that raccoons can’t resist. Keeping your yard free of these snacks not only reduces raccoon visits but also keeps your space cleaner and healthier.
• Manage Bird Feeders: Bird feeders can spill seeds onto the ground, which raccoons see as an easy buffet. To prevent this, use feeders designed to keep wildlife out, such as raccoon-proof models. You can also position feeders higher up or on poles where raccoons can’t reach. Cleaning up scattered seeds regularly will also help deter them from hanging around.

By managing these food sources, you’ll make your yard far less appealing to raccoons.

Accessible Water Sources

Raccoons, like all animals, need water to survive. If there’s an easy water source in your yard, it might be one of the reasons raccoons are hanging around. Bird baths, outdoor pet water bowls, ponds, or even puddles created by leaky faucets can all draw raccoons to your property.

Raccoon prevention tips for water sources include:

• Covering or removing bird baths.
• Fixing leaky sprinklers or outdoor faucets.
• Adding covers to ponds or small backyard fountains.
• Emptying pet water bowls before sunset.

By limiting access to water, you’ll discourage raccoons and possibly other unwanted wildlife from frequenting your yard.

Overgrown Plants and Landscaping

Have you been keeping up with your yard maintenance? Overgrown shrubs, vines, and piles of wood or debris provide raccoons with excellent hiding spots. 

If your yard offers a lot of cover, it could be attracting raccoons to your yard. These wildlife guests prefer spaces where they can find protection during the day and scavenge safely at night.

To reduce shelter opportunities for raccoons, make your yard less inviting by:

• Trimming bushes and keeping plants neatly maintained.
• Storing firewood off the ground and away from your home.
• Removing brush or debris piles that stack up over time.

A tidy yard is not only more inviting for humans, but it’s also less appealing for raccoons and other animals.

Shelters Near Your Property

Raccoons often seek out safe spaces to rest during the day or raise their young. If your property provides access to sheds, attic spaces, or other structures, raccoons may move in. They are excellent climbers and can squeeze through surprisingly small holes, making it easy for them to access attics, gutters, and crawlspaces.

To prevent raccoons from settling on your property, inspect your home and yard for entry points. Be on the lookout for:

• Broken vents, especially in attics or crawlspaces.
• Uncovered chimneys.
• Holes or gaps in walls or roofing materials.
• Openings under porches, decks, or sheds.

Sealing these access points is critical in keeping raccoons from turning your property into their own cozy shelter. If you suspect raccoons have already moved in, our team can help. Using one-way doors, we ensure raccoons leave your property without being able to come back in.

Attracted by Other Animals

Sometimes, attracting raccoons to your yard isn’t directly your doing. Other wildlife like birds or insects can also bring them in. 

For example, raccoons may follow the scent of birdseed or come looking for insects from nearby gardens or compost piles. They’re opportunistic, and anything that signals food availability is fair game.

You can help keep raccoons out by monitoring wildlife activity around your yard and managing potential attractions:

• Keep compost bins covered and secure.
• Manage bird feeders to prevent seed overflow.
• Reduce standing areas where insects may thrive, like water overflows or decaying plants.

Avoid leaving signs of other wildlife feeding in your yard, and you’ll make your property less of a draw for raccoons.

Lighting and Nighttime Activity

Believe it or not, even poorly lit areas can play a role in attracting raccoons to your yard. Raccoons are nocturnal and feel safer in the cover of darkness. Dimly lit backyards give them more confidence to explore and scavenge.

Lighting changes can help discourage nighttime wildlife activity, including raccoons. Some ideas include:

• Installing motion-activated lights around your yard.
• Using lights designed for outdoor use to brighten dim areas.
• Avoiding harsh floodlights, which could disturb neighbors.

By removing the darkness raccoons prefer, they’ll be less likely to see your yard as a safe and appealing space.

How Skedaddle Can Help

If you’re noticing signs of raccoons visiting your yard in New Albany or anywhere nearby, it’s important to act quickly. Ignoring the problem can make it worse, as raccoons feel more comfortable returning to the same familiar spots. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in New Albany, we’re experts in wildlife removal and prevention. 

Our team uses humane methods, including one-way doors that allow animals to leave your property while blocking them from re-entry. With our help, you can enjoy a safe and raccoon-free yard.

If you’re still wondering why raccoons are in your yard, the answer likely lies in a combination of food, water, or shelter sources. Don’t take on the challenge alone. 

Contact us today for expert assistance with raccoon removal and prevention. Request an estimate, and we’ll help you protect your yard from unwelcome visitors once and for all.