Raccoons can be a big problem for homeowners. These smart and resourceful animals adapt their behaviour to survive through the changing seasons, but their adaptability often brings them into our homes. From rummaging through garbage bins to nesting in attics, raccoons can cause significant damage and expensive repairs.

Each season comes with its own raccoon challenges, so it’s important to adjust your strategies throughout the year. Whether it’s reducing food sources during the winter or sealing entry points before the spring nesting season, taking proactive steps is key to keeping raccoons away.

In this blog, we’ll cover seasonal strategies to protect your home from raccoons. What scent will keep raccoons away? You’ll learn how to manage food sources and entry points in the winter, handle attractants in the summer, and discover better ways to keep raccoons away from your property.

We’ll also highlight the importance of professional help, like the services offered by our Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control team in Oakville, to provide safe and effective solutions. 

Winter: Manage Food Sources and Entry Points

When temperatures drop, raccoons go on the hunt for easily accessible food and warm shelter. Winter often leads them to invade homes, garages, or sheds in search of these resources.

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders, and bird feeders, pet food bowls, or unsecured garbage bins are irresistible to them. Ensure bins have locking lids, remove pet food from outdoor areas, and consider taking bird feeders down during the coldest months. It’s one of the simplest yet fastest ways to keep raccoons at bay.

Loose shingles, damaged vents, or cracks near your roofline are hot spots that attract raccoons looking to nest in your warm attic. Take time to check your home’s exterior and seal potential entry points with durable materials.

Winter is all about eliminating easy food sources and closing off potential shelter options to make your home less attractive.

Spring: Be Prepared for Breeding Season and Nesting Habits

Spring is raccoon breeding season, and mother raccoons carefully search for safe spots to shelter their young. Unfortunately, attics, chimneys, and even wall cavities are ideal locations.

Before spring temperatures arrive, inspect and reinforce all possible entry points. Look out for gaps around rooflines or chimneys and seal them. Use chimney caps and vent covers to block off risk areas. 

Regular inspections of attics and crawlspaces can help you spot early signs of nesting, such as noise or droppings. Early intervention is the fastest way to avoid larger infestations.

Spring marks a critical period where raccoon prevention requires vigilance. Taking precautions before they find a nesting spot will save you considerable trouble later.

Summer: Protect Your Yard and Garden

The summer months bring unique challenges when it comes to raccoons. These animals often target gardens, dig through compost bins, and settle into outdoor dining spaces, creating problems for homeowners.

Fresh vegetables and backyard gardens can be a big draw for raccoons. To protect your garden, use secure fencing and make sure compost bins are covered with tightly locked lids.

Leftover food from barbecues or easily accessible snacks in outdoor dining areas are also prime targets for raccoons. Be sure to clean up thoroughly after eating outside and avoid leaving any food scraps in the yard.

Don’t rely on myths about using scents like mothballs or ammonia to deter raccoons. These methods rarely work and can harm your garden or even put your pets at risk. Instead, professional assessments provide safer, more effective solutions.

During summer, the key is to reduce food temptations and strengthen your outdoor spaces to keep raccoons from getting too comfortable around your home.

Fall: Prepare for Cooler Weather

When temperatures drop again in the fall, raccoons look for overwintering shelters, often scoping out warmer spots around homes.

Decks, attics, and crawlspaces are common targets for raccoons as they prepare for colder weather. Conduct end-of-summer inspections and reinforce any vulnerable areas. Fallen fruits from your garden or overflowing bird feeders can invite raccoons to linger on your property. Stay proactive by removing debris and limiting access.

Fall is all about preparing your home to prevent animal entry before winter sets in—and keeping outdoor areas clean to minimize attractions.

The Ineffectiveness of DIY Scents and Repellents

As homeowners, it’s tempting to try DIY methods to keep raccoons away, but these approaches often fall short. Using scents like ammonia, mothballs, or peppermint oil is a common strategy, but it’s important to understand why these methods don’t work well. Here’s why:

• Limited Effectiveness: Scents like ammonia or mothballs might have a short-term effect, but raccoons are clever and adaptable. They have a strong drive to find food and shelter, so smells alone won’t keep them away for long.
• Temporary Fix, Long-term Problem: DIY repellents may discourage raccoons temporarily, but they usually adapt quickly and return once the scent fades. This can lead to ongoing issues.
• Doesn’t Solve the Root Cause: These methods don’t address what’s attracting raccoons to your property in the first place, like food, water, or shelter. Covering up the problem with scents won’t stop them from coming back.

Raccoons can pose serious health risks, carrying diseases like rabies and harmful bacteria in their droppings. Cleaning up after them without proper tools or training can expose you to dangerous hazards. That’s where Skedaddle comes in.

Our humane wildlife control experts specialize in safely removing raccoons from your property while protecting your health. We identify how they’re getting in, clean up any mess they’ve left behind, and address the root causes to prevent future problems. With Skedaddle, you’ll get a long-term solution that keeps your property raccoon-free.

Trust Skedaddle to handle your raccoon issues safely and effectively so you can enjoy peace of mind. Let us do the hard work for you!

Why Year-Round Protection is Essential

To keep your home protected all year long, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control offers services designed to handle raccoon problems and prevent them from coming back. Here’s how we provide reliable, year-round protection:

• Thorough Property Inspections: Our team carefully inspects your property to find weak spots and possible entry points, making sure no raccoon activity is overlooked.
• Custom Prevention Plans: After the inspection, we create a plan that fits your needs. This includes sealing entry points, adding deterrents, and making changes to reduce areas that might attract raccoons.
• Safe and Humane Removal: We use methods that safely and humanely remove raccoons while ensuring they can’t return to your property.
• Ongoing Monitoring: Our job doesn’t end after removal. We monitor your property to spot any signs of raccoon activity early, preventing bigger problems later.
• Seasonal Adjustments: Raccoon behaviour changes throughout the year, so we adjust our strategies to match their seasonal habits and keep your home protected.

Contact Us Today for Year-Round Protection

Raccoon behaviour changes with the seasons, which means your prevention strategies need to adapt, too. Ignoring seasonal patterns can lead to unexpected activity, costly home repairs, and potential health risks from raccoon droppings.

By taking proactive measures throughout the year, you’ll not only protect your home but also make it less appealing for animals to return.

When it comes to the fastest way to get rid of raccoons safely and effectively, professional help is your best resource. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Oakville, we specialize in preventive strategies and humane removal methods. With our expert team on your side, you can ensure your home remains safe and raccoon-free, no matter the season.

Want to protect your home year-round? Contact us today to request a quote and secure expert prevention and removal services!