Raccoons are in your yard for food, water, and/or shelter. How can you tell the difference between a raccoon passing through your yard and a raccoon problem? If you consistently see evidence of raccoons or start noticing damage, you have a raccoon problem.
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Raccoons naturally live in wooded areas near water. Hollow trees are the natural den sites for raccoons. But they have adapted to urban, suburban, and agricultural areas. Raccoons will den under a porch or deck, inside sheds, in chimneys, or in your attic.
Easily available food often attracts raccoons to your yard. Raccoons are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. Plant foods include fruits, berries, nuts, acorns, corn, and other grains.
Animal foods include crayfish, clams, fish, frogs, snails, insects, turtles and their eggs, mice, rabbits, muskrats, and the eggs and young of ground-nesting birds and waterfowl.
Raccoons will happily eat garbage from trash cans, birdseed from bird feeders, food waste in compost piles, fallen fruit from trees, or unattended pet food.
Raccoons often build dens in tree hollows, under porches, under decks, and in rarely used sheds. These sites offer access to fruits, nuts, insects, outdoor pet food, and garbage.
Signs of Raccoon Problem in Yard
How can you tell the difference between a raccoon passing through your yard and a raccoon problem? If you consistently see evidence of raccoons or start noticing damage, you have a raccoon problem.
Raccoons often leave their presence marked by messy eating habits—leaving trash and food scraps behind after feeding. They also rip up sod, steal siding off of homes, and scratch lawn ornaments and fences.
Property owners may also notice raccoon tracks, which can resemble human handprints. Raccoons designate communal spaces to defecate. Latrine sites in your yard clearly indicate a raccoon problem.
Raccoon Damage in the Backyard
Raccoons will damage your yard while searching for food. Raccoons will dig up lawns and roll up sod looking for earthworms and grubs. They will eat fruits and vegetables, especially sweet corn and watermelons. Chickens are at risk from raccoons. Most chicken coops offer little resistance to raccoons. They’ll eat chickens and eggs.
Raccoons in the yard pose health risks.
These critters establish nearby latrines. Raccoon excrement often contains raccoon roundworms, parasites that can kill humans. They’re also capable of spreading rabies and leptospirosis. Raccoons in your backyard are one step away from a home infestation.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons in the Backyard
If you find a raccoon in your yard, do not approach it. Raccoons can carry rabies. Raccoons are naturally shy and prefer to retreat when they sense humans nearby, but they will attack when cornered or when protecting their young.
Removing access to food sources is the most effective way to control raccoons. Secure garbage cans with bungee cords. Remove birdfeeders. Keep pet food inside.
Some raccoon deterrents have limited effectiveness. Usually, raccoons grow accustomed to them. Raccoons are nocturnal so bright lights might work as a deterrent. Motion-activated sprinklers can be effective at keeping raccoons away.
Repellents like vinegar, ammonia, cayenne pepper, or predator urine don’t work outside. The scents dissipate quickly, and raccoons are smart enough to avoid the smell by occupying a separate part of your yard.
An electric fence can protect certain parts of your yard, such as vegetable gardens or chicken coops. It is not feasible to install an exclusion device around your entire yard.
Raccoon Control for My Backyard
Removing raccoons from your property is dangerous and requires trained professionals. If you have raccoons causing problems in your backyard, contact Critter Control. A raccoon that has established itself in your yard may start looking for access points into chimneys, attics, or crawlspaces for shelter.
A raccoon simply passing through a yard may not require exclusion. Exclusion becomes relevant when raccoons begin using an attic, chimney, crawlspace, shed, porch, or deck for shelter. In those situations, safely remove the animals before repairing or blocking the opening or den access.
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