I recently blogged about how crafty and determined squirrels often get the best of homeowners by ravaging gardens and cleaning out birdfeeders. Like squirrels, raccoons can also do a number on your garden, birdfeeder or trash can (if you have ever left a dumpster unsecured you know what I am talking about).
If you think that these nocturnal animals prefer the wild, think again. Many take to city streets at night and thrive due to the generosity of homeowners who don’t properly fasten trash can lids. Raccoons love corn, strawberries, peas, potatoes, melons, and just about any other edible goodie your garden has to offer. They will dig holes into your maturing melons and devour your fruit trees. They are also notorious for making holes in lawns and mulch piles in their search for insects.
So how can you rid your yard of raccoons? Here are some tips:
Bring It In. Stow water and food supplies, such as pet bowls and bird feeders indoors at night (or empty the bird feeder at night).
Use Homemade Repellents. Animal experts recommend dusting baby powder, cayenne pepper, or blood meal on vegetables and corn ears.
Cover It Up. In a small garden, cover individual corn ears or melons with bags taped shut.
Prune. Clip overhanging limbs that raccoons can use to launch themselves into the fruit tree.
Scare Tactics. Loud, intermittent noises or lights frighten raccoons. If you have a serious raccoon problem consider installing motion sensors, which can activate noisemakers or lights. (It may interfere with your sleep, but may be worth the effort if you are trying to salvage a corn or melon crop.)
Install a Fence. The best deterrent is a good fence, but beware–raccoons are agile and smart, so build your fence well.
If all else fails invest in a good trap.
Related Articles:
Protecting Your Yard From Smart Rodents
Man’s Best Friend = A Garden’s Worst Enemy
Keeping Bambi Out Of Your Yard