Raccoons are notoriously naughty and destructive. However, they are intelligent and curious by nature. Their curious attitude frequently gets them into problems with humans. You’ll be looking for ways to keep them away continually because they make you uncomfortable. One of the first questions you might have is, does the Irish Spring soap keep raccoons away?
Only if you read this article will you get the answer. But that’s not the only question we’ll be answering. We shall tell you which animals eat Irish Spring soap and which ones are repelled by it. Find out how to repel raccoons using repellent scents and other natural methods.
Does Irish Spring Soap Deter Raccoons?
Raccoons can’t stand the smell of Irish Spring Soap, especially if you get the black one. It has a distinct and strong smell that raccoons and other animals can’t stand. Irish Spring soap sends a warning to the raccoons that what is around is not suitable for eating. Raccoons will not stick around if they cannot get food.
A specific study has not proven that Irish soap deters raccoons. However, Irish soap repels other mammals, such as deers. The same scents repel raccoons and deers. The good news is that Irish soap is inexpensive and readily available in any neighborhood shop. So why not buy a few and test their effectiveness?
What Attracts Raccoons To Your Yard?
It can be disturbing to find raccoons in your yard. Raccoons will dare enter your yard to find food or shelter. By being aware of where raccoons are getting food and shelter, you can prevent them from coming into your yard. The following areas are either a source of food or shelter for the raccoons:
1. Unattended food sources
Raccoons will venture into your yard to look for food. Unknowingly, here are several places the raccoons will get food in your yard. Here are several areas you could be having unattended food sources;
- Unsecured chicken coops
- Unattended pet food or bird seeds
- Compost piles
- Climbable fruit trees
- Unprotected vegetable gardens
- Ponds, puddles, and pet water dishes for water
2. Comfortable shelters
Raccoons prefer dark and hidden areas where they keep away from their predators. The good thing is that they can survive in most environments. Hence they will look for a place that can also shelter them from weather elements. Let us look at the areas in your yard where you might encounter raccoons:
- Chimneys and attics
- Tool sheds
- Decks and porches openings
- Hollowed out trees
How Do You Use Irish Spring Soap To Deter Raccoons?
If you’ve seen claw marks on your trees, you can use Irish Spring soap to protect them. Drill a hole through the center of each of your bar soaps after cutting them in half. After that, you can tie through the half-bar soaps with a rope, twine, or string. Hang them 3 feet apart, away from the trunks of the trees.
Raccoons will visit your garden, especially if it has fruits and vegetables. You can put pieces of Irish soap in a mesh bag. Place stakes 3 feet apart. Attach the mesh bags to the stakes. The stakes should be near the plants or the garden’s perimeter, whichever you prefer.
Both methods require you to continuously check to see if the Irish soap pieces need replacement so you can add more. However, you should also be ready for the possibility that the raccoons will become used to the scent.
Other Animals and Insects That Irish Spring Soap May Repel
The soap will deter other animals as well because it repels raccoons. However, the soap primarily deters mammals rather than insects. See below some of the animals that the soap is known to repel:
- Squirrels
- Rabbits
- Deer
What Smell Keeps Away Raccoons?
Just like most animals, there are smells that raccoons hate and will keep away. Raccoons have a strong sense of smell which they use to find food sources. You can take advantage of their keen smell and use scents they dislike. Here are some of the smells that you can use to keep raccoons away:
1. Epsom salt
Epsom salt can keep raccoons away and, at the same time, act as a fertilizer for your garden. You don’t need to mix the salt before using it. Spread it across your garden to deter the tiny rascals. To prevent raccoons from feeding from food bins or trash cans, sprinkle them around those areas.
2. Peppermint oil
Most animals don’t like the smell of peppermint, raccoons included. You can either use it as a spray or without diluting it. Not diluting can prove to be expensive, though. Consider buying Pest Control Peppermint Spray from Amazon. Regardless of the peppermint solution you choose, the smell will eventually wear off. Depending on the strength of the solution you’re using, reapply daily or weekly.
3. Hot pepper
The hot pepper smell irritates the raccoons’ noses, making them flee. Peppers are a common household item, so you don’t need to go out and buy any. However, since pepper’s scent quickly fades, you’ll need to keep applying it. You have the option of using a spray or sprinkle.
4. Garlic and onions
Onion and garlic are other effective mixtures that will keep raccoons away from your yard. The scent of the garlic and onion mixture will irritate their sense of smell and be undesirable. You should reapply the mixture twice weekly because the scent will only last a few days.
What Animals Eat Irish Spring Soap?
You’ll be surprised that some animals find Irish soap delicious enough to eat even though it repels some. Let us look at the animals that look forward to eating the Irish soap.
- As shown in this video, possums seem to like the soap and will readily eat it.
- Another animal that will readily eat the Irish soap is a skunk, and here is a video to prove that.
How To Keep Raccoons Away Naturally?
You’ll need to remember that the goal shouldn’t be to wound or kill raccoons as you look for solutions to keep them away. Look for all-natural raccoon deterrents to accomplish that. Please be aware that it is against the law to kill or trap wildlife in most states. So, if you’re seeking natural raccoon repellents, try these:
Predator Urine
Although the smell of predator urine may not irritate raccoons, it can trick them into believing that a predator is already living on your property. As a first step, a predator marks its territory by urinating all around the edge. Wolf urine is one of the predator’s urines that you can buy.
Buy predator urine that closely resembles a predator, one that is typically present in your area.
Make Your Yard Unattractive
Eliminating the factors that attract raccoons to your yard is the most natural way to keep them away. You’ll need to do the following on your property to prevent raccoon visits:
- Any food source that could supply them should be adequately sealed or covered. Bins for food, compost, and trash should all have tight seals. All of this is done to stop any odor from alerting them to the presence of food.
- Cover any doorway leading into your house.
- Seal your roof and clean your attic.
- Take away everything that allows visitors to enter your home from the outside. Poles, wires, tree branches, and bird feeders should all be removed.
- Fruits left on the ground decay and release a potent odor that will draw raccoons. Before the fruits go bad, gather them up.
Alternative Raccoon Deterring Solution
All of the methods we’ve listed above are pretty effective. However, you can use the ones highlighted below if you require even more;
Raccoon Eviction fluid
Most often, raccoon eviction fluid is applied when a female raccoon is suspected to be present. The female raccoon will avoid having a male raccoon nearby while nursing. When you spray the raccoon eviction fluid close to the female raccoon’s shelter, the nursing female carries her young and searches for another home.
You can spray the fluid in the attic, chimney, or anywhere you suspect the female raccoon has a shelter.
Ultrasonic Sounds, Sprinklers, and Floodlights
Raccoons don’t like surprises. Hence when you use items such as floodlights or motion censored sprinklers, the raccoons won’t like it. The floodlights will suddenly light when they detect the raccoons, a motion that raccoons won’t like. On the other hand, the sprinklers will release startling bursts of water.
Ultrasonic sounds usually produce a sound human can’t hear, but the raccoons will hear and will not like it.
Electric Fence
You can choose to install an electric fence around your home or your garden. They can be expensive, but the fence will keep your plants safe. You also won’t have to worry about raccoons climbing your chimney or attic. Once the raccoons touch the fence and get a little shock, they will no longer be interested in the trash cans in your yard.
Ammonia
Ammonia can be used to deter raccoons since they dislike the smell. The best strategy is to soak clothing items in ammonia and place them around areas where raccoons gather. Consider putting them underneath the home, close to garbage bins, and at the bottom of trees.
Conclusion
Saying no to raccoons in your yard is not as tough as you first thought, is it? Raccoons can be kept out of your yard by spreading Epsom salt, peppermint essential oil, hot pepper mixes, garlic, and onion. Irish soap pieces can be tied around the areas you want to keep raccoons away or placed in a mesh bag.
Use predator urine, raccoon eviction fluid, and an electric fence if you wish to attempt some other methods.