What Are Raccoons Afraid Of?

They portray fearless determined spirits as they ravage backyards and dumpsites relentlessly on their nightly escapades. But are they really all that fearless? Or is there some undiscovered raccoon kryptonite that householders and raccoon removal experts in Etobicoke can use to keep them out of residential spaces?

Raccoons and the Reputation for Fearlessness

The internet is full of raccoon videos, many of which have gone viral as they capture evidence of these remarkable animals in action. In quite a few of these videos, the raccoons display great courage as they ravage rubbish containers and gain access to buildings. The presence of human beings does little to derail these trash pandas and some have been filmed ignoring, resisting or retaliating when people try to chase them off. This has earned them a reputation for being fearless and determined when it comes to foraging for food. It has also caused many to wonder if there is anything that these raccoons fear. Finding the answer to this query may help wildlife control experts and Etobicoke residents alike as they try to prevent raccoon related issues.

Raccoons and Predators

Raccoons and their predators have a relationship that is similar to any other prey and predator relationship. Raccoons stay away from animals that are their natural predators. These natural predators include; bobcats, coyotes, the great horned owl. You may have picked up a pattern here- raccoon predators are typically large. They need to be large as raccoons are formidable targets. The response of raccoons to predators will vary depending on the social environment of the raccoon. City raccoons, for example, are less threatened by natural predators as they don’t encounter them often while rural raccoons tend to respond strongly when they see or hear their natural predators.

A Powerful Raccoon Deterrent

There is a sound that raccoons fear above all others. It is the sound of a barking dog. Scientist Justin Suraci, a University of Victoria Ph.D. candidate discovered this when he played predator sounds in a shore area frequently visited by raccoon for foraging purposes. He noticed that the sound of a barking dog caused raccoons to stop foraging immediately and flee.  The raccoons also stayed away from the area for as long as the sound remained. As a result, the natural resources that were being depleted by the raccoons were gradually replenished.

How You Can Keep Raccoons Away

If you want to keep raccoons away from your space, you should ensure that you use some of the things they fear. If you have a dog around, raccoons may stay away when they hear the dog barking.  Some sources suggest that bright lights like floodlights may drive raccoons away. You could, therefore, consider installing motion-triggered Led lights outside your home. Like with dogs though, this will only work for those raccoons that are not already familiar and comfortable with bright lights.

Expert Help for Raccoon Problems

If your Etobicoke property is vulnerable to raccoon intrusion, you’ll need experts like Skedaddle to assist you with raccoon removal.  These highly trained and efficient wildlife technicians are adept at removing wildlife and preventing wildlife intrusion as well. They are also quite familiar with the Etobicoke natural landscape which makes wildlife removal, prevention, and control in the region easier for them. Because they are informed by research-backed data about raccoon behaviour like the ones mentioned here, Skedaddle’s strategies are humane, effective and safe and will result in a raccoon-proof environment for you and your family.