Raccoons are dangerous animals that can be found in urban and rural areas. Getting rid of them can be difficult, and you may have to deal with them for a long time despite your effort to get rid of them. Raccoons rely on their smell to find food, and they can cause damage to other animals when scavenging. Most of all, Raccoons are aggressive toward deer and often struggle with deer over food.
However, getting rid of things that may attract Raccoons can help you keep Raccoons away from your deer feeder. Find out how you can keep Raccoons off your deer without having to harm them. This article explains the natural ways to prevent Raccoons from your home and how you can stop them from coming back.
5 Smart Ways to Keep Raccoons Off Deer Feeder
There are several ways to rid your area of Raccoons without stress. However, you should research your local laws to see if it is legal.
1. Set Traps for the Raccoons
You might be able to quickly resolve this issue if you can capture the raccoons and move them to a different location. Raccoon trapping shouldn’t be too challenging, and there are a variety of raccoon traps available that you may look into. Before you proceed, verify your local laws. There may be legislation prohibiting the exploitation or relocation of local wildlife species.
If you’re utilizing deer feeders as a hunting tool, hunting raccoons will probably come naturally to you. It is much less likely that they will cause you issues with your deer feeders if you hunt the neighborhood raccoons. There are other options you might think about that might need less of your time.
2. Poison the Raccoon
The potential of poisoning the raccoons exists, but you must first ascertain that doing so is permitted. The main concept is that you can put food in the raccoon-repellent deer feeders. To prevent any problems, ensure you get anything that won’t damage deer.
3. Utilize Raccoon Deterrents
You could decide to employ raccoon deterrents to prevent the raccoons from simply accessing the deer food. On the sides of the deer feeders, “shark teeth” will make it painful and challenging for raccoons to climb the deer feeders. There are a few options, but most people end up using them.
4. Pay a Person to Control the Neighborhood Raccoon Population
Another option to consider is paying someone to control the neighborhood raccoon population. Local trappers in some places may be willing to catch and get rid of raccoons for a fee. The only major drawback is that it may be somewhat pricey.
5. Hunt Down Raccoons
While this sounds like a cool idea but you must consult local wildlife authorities before hunting down raccoons. There are some state laws that prohibit individuals from hunting these animals. Obviously, we too do not want you to get into any kind of trouble.
If your local authorities give you permission to hunt down raccoons, then you can move forward and hunt them in whatever method you think will be the best.
Do Raccoons Scare Deer?
Raccoons and Deer don’t get along, and the nature of Raccoons makes them dangerous for Deers. Raccoons will always intrude on the deer areas in search of food. A herd of deer might experience extreme stress as a result of raccoons. Raccoons are likely to be regularly seen visiting the deer-bait sites.
Raccoons are extremely hostile to deer and will even chase away adult bucks from bait sites. Deer exert energy during stress and periods of intense anxiety, just like humans do.
Raccoons often battle over the same food supply as deer. While it is an issue, deer become very stressed when raccoon concentrations increase.
3 Natural Ways To Keep Raccoons Away
There are several ways to keep Raccoons away without endangering them. Looking for natural ways to keep Raccoons away will help you eliminate them without harming them.
1. Put mothballs all throughout your home
Mothballs can assist drive rodents out of your space if you believe there may be a raccoon in your attic or beneath your house. However, you shouldn’t leave the smell for a long time so that it will not permeate the area’s surface and walls.
2. Sprinkle or spritz pepper
A raccoon’s sense of smell is irritated by spices like cinnamon, black pepper, or cayenne pepper, which forces it to move to a more hospitable place. You may make a natural raccoon repellent by heating water with cayenne pepper and onion. Additionally, you can add hot sauce to the mixture. You must spray your yard and house at least twice a week and whenever it rains for it to be effective.
3. Ammonia-soaked clothes
Raccoons also dislike the scent of ammonia, so spreading it around your home will keep them away. Ammonia-soaked rags can be buried under your house, at the base of your yard’s trees, and in garbage cans. Ammonia dishes can also be filled and placed where needed.
You should not hesitate to call pest control if you don’t get the desired result.
Does Aluminum Foil Deter Raccoons?
Aluminum foil, cloth strips, or balloons from string or a clothing line strung across a fence is enough to scare animals.
Raccoons will become alarmed by aluminum foils and be prompted to flee the area. Eliminate or conceal all potential food sources. Food should be sealed in tightly closed glass or metal containers.
Weave an aluminum foil around the exterior of the legs and the top of the trough to create an ornamental skirt that will prevent a coon from being able to elevate himself.
Why Do Raccoons Keep Coming Back?
If Raccoons keep coming back, you are not doing the right thing to keep them away. They won’t leave unless you take action.
Raccoons are drawn to places where food sources are close by. The availability of food sources will allow the population of Raccoons to grow, making it difficult to get rid of all of them. Raccoons will keep coming back if their hideouts are not noticed and if there is food. The first step in raccoon prevention is the removal of food sources.
Getting rid of Raccoons can be beyond your control sometimes especially if they are many in your area. Since they have found food and shelter within the house and can avoid their natural predators, these pests won’t leave without assistance.
You can also seek the help of pest controls in your area to help you keep Raccoons away from your property completely.
Raccoons tend to venture anywhere in search of food or shelter. However, taking precautions by removing things that may attract Raccoons is crucial.
1. Keep the Trash Can Away
The trash always attracts Raccoons, so you have to secure them properly. Make sure your trash is contained in a substantial trash can with a tight-fitting cover before taking it outside or leaving it there. Another option would be to hang the cans from a rack or tie them to a sturdy post, and secure the lids with a bungee cord or piece of wire.
2. Secure the Pet Food
Raccoons are always in search of food. Due to Raccoon’s high sense of smell, pet food will attract them. Ensure pet food is locked indoors before dusk to prevent Raccoons from locating it.
3. Watch your bird feeders carefully
It’s a good idea to utilize at least one approach to keep raccoons away, whether by using a customized feeder, a shepherd’s hook, or just bringing your feeders inside at night. The birds will also appreciate it!
4. Remove any fallen nuts and fruits
Raccoons will enter your yard if they find any fallen nuts and fruits. Keep your yard clean and remove foods and smells that can attract Raccoons.
What Do Raccoons Hate the Most?
Raccoons are attracted to their prey with their strong sense of smell. You can take advantage of their sense of smell by using scents they hate the most to keep them off your home.
Raccoons hate hot pepper because it affects their sense of smell. Keep the hot pepper where these animals are most likely to be found for a long time. On the other hand, Raccoons hate the smell of mixed onions and pepper with water. Their olfactory receptors will become irritated by the smell, which is excessively potent.
Aromatic peppermint oil is another thing that Raccoon hates. They are effective, and you can use them around your deer feeder. Raccoons also hate the smell of Garlic. Garlic has a stronger and long-lasting odor that is enough to deter raccoons anywhere near your home. Raccoons are very well scared off by Epsom salt, which is also a great fertilizer for your crop.
Does Irish Spring soap keep raccoons away?
Getting rid of Raccoons can be difficult. However, knowing the right way to irritate their sense of smell will make it easier for you.
Washing your surroundings with Irish Spring soap will deter Raccoons from entering your home. Raccoons depend on their smell to find food, and they will stay away from any irritating smell. The ingredients in Irish Spring soap will help keep Raccoons away.
Conclusion
You don’t have to put up with annoying raccoons messing with your deer feeders all the time. There are a number of things that you can do, but you do have to remember to ensure that certain things are legal to do in your area before moving forward.