How To Prevent Racoons From Eating Garbage

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The results of a nocturnal raccoon raid on a trash can are often quite devastating: smelly trash strewn all over a backyard, an unsightly and unsanitary mess. Fortunately, there are several strategies yous can apply to go along these devious creatures from having their mode with your waste product.

1. ane

   Weigh down your hat. For an easy solution, merely identify a heavy stone or cinder block on superlative of your hat. Simply make sure everyone who needs access to the can is strong enough to elevator information technology (likewise raccoons, of course)!

2. 2

   Pick a locking metallic trash can. A flimsy or loose tin won't stand up to a cunning raccoon. Choose a metal trash can with a locking lid. While some plastic cans tin lock, raccoons are often able to chew through plastic.^[1]

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3. three

   Install an actress lock (or ii). Attaching clamps, a concatenation-and-padlock combo, bungee cords, or specially designed garbage-hat straps are all good strategies to keep your hat secure from intruders. Don't hesitate to apply multiple locking mechanisms.^[2]

4. four

   Seal each trash purse. Tightly sealing trash bags before putting them in your can volition help foreclose tempting scents from escaping. If a trash handbag contains an peculiarly evil-smelling item--such as a slice of meat--try sealing it with an extra bag.

5. five

   Secure your tin upright with stakes. Oftentimes, raccoons open trash cans by tipping them and spilling their contents. Tie the handles of your trash can to a metallic or wooden stake secured in the ground to go on raccoons from tipping them over.

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1. ane

   Sprinkle a raccoon repellent around your trash cans. Specifically designed commercial repellents can ward off raccoons from even inbound the vicinity of your can.

   • Effort granular products such as Havahart Critter Ridder, or liquids such equally Just Scentsational synthetic wolf urine. ^[three]
   • Avert using naphthalene (the active ingredient in mothballs), as it has been identified equally a possible carcinogen by the EPA. ^[four]

2. 2

   Use ammonia. Ammonia smells similar raccoon urine, making it a highly offensive--and highly constructive--repellent. Endeavour spraying ammonia or placing ammonia-soaked cloths in and effectually your trash tin. Additionally, you can spray other areas of your holding where raccoons seem to besiege to discourage them from entering your yard in the showtime place.^[v]

3. three

   Utilize natural raccoon-repellant spices and oils. Racoons hate the smell of many commonly available spices and oils, including mint, cayenne pepper, and oil of mustard. Attempt spraying or sprinkling any (or all) of these items in and around your can for additional protection.^[6]

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1. 1

   Put your bin backside closed doors. Keeping your trash cans in a shed, garage, basement or other enclosure will surely preclude overnight pillages; racoons just cannot open doors. If you need to go out trash out for pickup, wait until the morning to remove your cans from their haven; raccoons tend only to strike at nighttime.^[7]

2. two

   Plough upwards the radio. Keeping a radio on constantly effectually your cans volition aid deter raccoons. The noise of human voices (such equally though from a news or talk station) will scare off the furry burglars. Effort a low book at first, and turn information technology up if your raccoon issues persist.^[eight]

3. 3

   Turn on the lights. Install motion-detection lighting around the area where you lot keep your trash cans. Raccoons prefer darkness and might be deterred by a sudden vivid light. For an easier solution, simply install a strand of blinking Christmas lights over the trashcan.^[9]

4. 4

   Bolster your fences. If y'all have a fenced yard, consider adding mesh wire to the bottom of the fence and extending it several inches secret to deter raccoons from burrowing nether and getting to your trash cans.

   EXPERT TIP

   Hussam Bin Suspension is a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator and Operations Director. He and his brother Hussam co-founded Diagno Pest Control in the greater Philadelphia area in 2018, and accept since expanded their services to include the New Jersey market. Diagno Pest Command has received Home Advisor's Peak Rated and Aristocracy Service Badges for quality of piece of work and client service.

   

   The best method to deter raccoons is exclusion. Most states don't permit people to grab raccoons because they might be carrying rabies. Instead, you can use different methods to prevent the raccoons from getting near or into your house or trash cans.

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• If yous have outdoor pets, avoid leaving their food and water out overnight, as these might concenter raccoons to your thousand.

• Do not endeavour to trap or snare raccoons yourself. These animals can become ferocious and might even acquit rabies. Always contact a professional person wildlife control company to handle animal entrapment.

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Things You'll Need

• Trash can, metal with lock if possible
• Hose pipe, bungee cord, cinder cake, chain and padlock, etc.
• Ammonia, cayenne pepper, oil of mustard, mint oil

About This Article

Commodity Summary X

Continue raccoons out of your trash tin can past ensuring your can lid is fixed in place or weighing information technology down with a rock or heavy object. If this doesn't work, try spraying ammonia effectually your can, since information technology'due south a raccoon repellant. Alternatively, you can spray household products similar mint or mustard oil around the base. To prevent raccoons from finding your trash, make sure your bags are tightly sealed earlier yous put them in the trash tin. Finally, consider securing your can in identify by tying information technology to stakes then raccoons can't knock it over. To learn virtually chemical products you can use to go on raccoons away, and which ones to avoid, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Raccoons-Out-of-a-Trash-Can

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