Sprinkle Raccoon Repellent Around Your Pond
When you use a commercial raccoon repellent or another household raccoon repellent around your pond it will help to send the raccoons away. However, depending on which type you use it could also potentially harm your fish, plants, and other ecosystems. And if you or your kids like to sit near the pond, youll likely find the smell of most of these off-putting.
Be careful about how you feed your fish. If you have fish or other creatures in your pond, youll need to be very careful about keeping any food you give them stored securely.
And make sure you feed directly into the pool or in a certain area you can keep clean. Sprinkling or haphazardly throwing a handful of feed into the pool means its likely scattering around and raccoons will come out to clean up the mess.
Getting Rid Of Raccoons
Now that you know how to prevent raccoons from coming near your deck, its going to be crucial to think about what to do if theyre already present. You might have raccoons living under your deck right now, and this means that youll need to solve that problem.
The first thing youll want to do is confirm that you actually have a problem. Youll have to learn how to figure out if raccoons are present on your property.
Shock Sauce Spray And Smells
This combination of tactics will launch a sensory assault on those mischievous raccoons. Note: Some of these ideas wont be appropriate if youve got kids and/or pets milling about.
- Install a small electric fence around your pond, if this is possible where you live. Two wires off the ground will keep raccoons out. You can use a timer so its only active at night.
- You can sprinkle hot sauce or homemade cayenne pepper spray around the perimeter of your pond.
- To assault their taste buds and warn raccoons off, you can try covering very hot peppers with peanut butter and strategically place them around your pond.
- Spray any raccoons you see with a hose, or toss a bucket of water on them.
- Ammonia is another scent that repels raccoons, so you could try soaking or spraying rags with ammonia and tossing them around your yard.
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In Case Of An Emergency
If a critter decides to take a dip in your pool before you have had the chance to install a ramp, log;or rope, try one of these rescue techniques.
- Birds, frogs;and other small animals: Scoop them out with a net or pool skimmer. If you dont have a skimmer handy, try the bristled end of a broom to lift them up and out of the pool.;
- Larger animals: Use a partially deflated float as a makeshift ramp. Anchor the ramp on the pool steps with a weight such as a cinderblock or tie it to the ladder rail.;
- For any animal: Always use caution to avoid being bitten.
Keeping Raccoons Out Of The Pool
If your pool isn’t screened, you’re infinitely more likely to be sharing it with raccoons. It’s extremely difficult to keep any wildlife away from your aquatic recreation area if you do not have UV screening installed properly and the pool enclosed completely. There is not much that wildlife removal services can do other than trapping any local raccoons to keep them out of your pool. The liklihood that you will run into this problem in the future if you do not have a pool enclosure is extremely high.
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What Are The Sounds And Signs Of Raccoons
To determine whether a raccoon is visiting your home, check for tracks. Their distinctive paw prints carry a distinctive shape that sets them apart from other small mammals.
The hind print usually measures 3 ¼ 4 ½ long, making it much longer than wide. The fore print is only about 3 long, with a similar width. Youll notice a distance in the space between the fore and hind prints of roughly a foot to indicate the walking movement. These tracks are twice the size of skunk tracks.
Homeowners are unlikely to hear many sounds from a raccoon other than the rustling produced by their activity. One exception is when one raccoon calls out to anothera noise like the whistle of an owl.
Dont Leave Pet Food Outside
If you have a dog, then you might feed the dog outside sometimes. This is pretty normal, but it can be bad when you decide to leave pet food in the dogs bowl outdoors.
The pet food is going to be like a beacon that will call out to the local raccoon population. They can smell the pet food and raccoons are all about trying to find the easiest sources of food in the area.
If you continue to leave pet food out like this, then the raccoons will just keep coming by to eat it. Some people dont even realize that raccoons are eating the food for quite some time because they just assume that the dogs are eating it.
Never leave pet food outside if you want to keep raccoons from coming around. You should only feed your dogs as much food as they need to eat in one sitting, and you can take any excess food back inside to keep it in a sealed container.
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Raccoon Poop Really Scared
Because Baylisascaris eggs are particularly tough, adding chlorine to the water will not kill them. If a lab test has confirmed that the raccoon was infected with Baylisascaris or you dont know if the raccoon was infected because the raccoons feces were not tested, there are two options for cleaning your pool.*Remember to close the pool to swimmers until you have finished cleaning the pool.Option 1:
- Filter the pool for a minimum of 24 hours and then backwash the pool filter.
- Put on disposable gloves to replace the material doing the filtering . Double bag the discarded material in plastic garbage bags. Remove gloves and place them in the garbage bags. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.”
What Home Products Help Repel Raccoons
There are a few different products you likely have around your home which you can use to repel raccoons with.
Peppers. Raccoons hate anything hot and spicy, especially peppers. Spray or sprinkle hot sauce or a blend of hot peppers and boiled water around areas you want to repel raccoons.
Ammonia. Soak rags in ammonia or fill a spray bottle with an ammonia mix and apply it around your garden or other areas. Spraying it directly into your trash can will help keep raccoons away from them.
Be careful not to spray it directly into your garden as it can kill your plants, and be potentially toxic if you eat something grown in ammonia soaked soil.
Epsom salts. Although they may not have a super strong scent to humans, raccoons truly hate the smell of Epsom salts. These are a very effective way to keep raccoons out of your garden as the smell shouldnt be off-putting to anyone who wants to stroll through your garden like the scent of ammonia or peppers might be.
You do need to sprinkle Epsom salts in your garden more frequently than if you were using another method however because they will disintegrate faster and become less effective. Youll want to do it weekly and even more if it rains.
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No Ducks No Droppings Just Warmer Cleaner Water
When I visit the homes of Crestwood Pools customers, Im always reminded about the uniqueness of each property. Dogwood, Red Oak, Pine and Sycamore trees. Heavily populated blocks to spread out rural neighborhoods. Acres of flat land in one yard, and a nearby forest in another with a doe peeking out from behind a tree. While I can assure you that I have never seen Bambi reclining in a pool lounger with a glass of lemonade, I have spoken at length with customers about how best to keep their pool a human-only domicile .
Your property is unique to you, which is why Ive created this helpful, printable list on how best to keep mice, skunks, chipmunks, ducks, geese, snakes, frogs, squirrels, insects, spiders, lizards, raccoons and bats out of your swimming pool.
1. The first option is to use an in-season pool coverpreferably a solar cover if you like a consistently warm swimming experience. Not only will it help deter ducks and geese from taking a swim, but it will also minimize water evaporation, thereby saving you money on your monthly water and electric bill.
2. When youre not swimming in the pool, use an animal-themed pool cleaner . Birds and rodents are easily intimidated by anything that is colorful and moving, and the attached hose is an extra deterrent. Plus, it adds a nice touch to your pool ambience, especially if you have a young family.
But did you know that you can cross off the majority of these recommendations by choosing an On-Ground Pool?
Why You Should Use A Professional Company
Using a professional company like Trusted Trappers Inc is the best way forward. These animals can carry nasty diseases like rabies. Also, theyre very aggressive when cornered by trying to catch them. It is always best to hire a professional trapper. Experienced companies know what they are doing. Do not attempt to trap them yourself. People who try to catch them without experience may be attacked or pick up a contagious disease.
Raccoons may look cute and snuggly, but if you try to feed them, then it will encourage them to come back. The majority of rabies outbreaks in Florida each year are due to raccoons. The best thing to do if you find raccoons in your swimming pool is to contact Trusted Trappers, Inc. to help.
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Hot Pepper Keeps Raccoons Away
When raccoons are out, looking for food, their most effective way to find a food source is through their olfactory receptors
Hot pepper is one of the most potent scents that you can use to drive them away because it irritates their sense of smell. So, its less likely for them to continue their search for food. If you use hot pepper regularly, it may teach these critters that your property is off-limits for them.
Its the first that we recommend because its almost always available in every household. If you only have small amounts of hot pepper, you can purchase something like this;5LB Bag of Cayenne;Pepper.
Theres one caveat to it, though; hot pepper only irritates their sense of smell, and its scent diminishes over time.
A persistent raccoon will find its way back to your house in a few days if you dont keep applying hot pepper in places where theyre most likely to find food. So, if youre going to use it as a raccoon deterrent, be sure to use it regularly and apply it in every location where theyll find food or pathways that they use to go to their food sources.
For application, sprinkle the pepper onto areas where you dont want the raccoons visiting.
Where Should You Use These Scents
If youre going to use the scents discussed above, you have to be careful with where you place them. Although these are safe for humans and only produce odors that drive raccoons off, itll be less effective if you use it in the wrong locations.
Remember, these scents need to be close to the raccoons, and you need to use it in multiple locations around your house. Here are some of the places where you should use these deterrents:
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Predator Urine In The Property Scares Raccoons Off
Aside from scents that irritate them, another deterrent that you can use against raccoons is predator urine. Instead of targeting their olfactory receptors, this scent tricks them into thinking that your house is already a territory of another predator. If raccoons are already using your house as their habitat, theyll think that a predator just arrived, which will force them to move to a safer location.
When a predator finds a new territory, the first thing itll do is to mark the area by urinating around the perimeter.
Ever see your dog growl, runoff, and pee? They are marking their territory!
The best thing about this method is you can take advantage of the predator-prey relationship is to, yes, purchase predator urine.
Check out;PredatorPee Original Wolf Urine, as it comes with a spray bottle and tags as well. You can also find these products in many sports centers and online stores.
Different areas have different predators, such as wolves, bobcats, coyotes, or mountain lions. The more familiar a predator is in your area, the more effective itll be as a deterrent.
So, do some research on what the common animals are in your area! Figure out the predator prey relationship and be tactiful.
Raccoons Pooping In Swimming Pool
Need raccoon removal in your hometown? We service over 500 USA locations! – updated for year 2020.Surprisingly often, I deal with the problem of raccoons causing problems in swimming pools. Raccoons love water, and they are drawn to lakes and streams. In fact, the raccoon’s latin name, Procyon lotor means “washes with hands” – these animals were so named because they so sometimes wash their hands, and even their food, in water. Cute! But where raccoons live and eat, they poop. And like a lot of animals, they like to hide their feces , and so they like to poop in water. If you have a swimming pool in the home range of a raccoon, it will likely use your pool as a toilet. This is all the more common if you have some shallow steps leading down into the pool. “Help! A raccoon is defecating on the steps of my pool!” I’ve heard many a distressed homeowner give me that line.
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Does Apple Cider Vinegar Repel Raccoons
Yes, apple cider vinegar is another option you can use to repel raccoons and keep them out of your home or garden! As I’m sure you know, the scent of apple cider vinegar is quite strong and can deter raccoons. The strong scent will overpower a raccoon’s sensitive nose, something that raccoons hate. They wont willingly enter a space or property that has these strong scents, so placing apple cider vinegar around entrances to your home or garden can help repel raccoons. You can purchase apple cider vinegar, or you might want to create your own. Apple cider vinegar can be expensive depending on where you purchase it from, so making your own is a viable option for many. You can add other spices to DIY apple cider vinegar too. These deliver a stronger scent and will be more effective in repelling raccoons. Garlic and onion are popular choices to be added, along with apple cider vinegar, water, and some spices. You can pour this into a spray bottle and spray in the desired areas. It’s best to spray where you suspect the raccoons are entering or trying to go, such as doors, feeding areas, and barns. The natural remedy is safe for most animals, so you wont need to worry about causing any harm. It’s best to spray regularly so that the areas smell strongly of the apple cider vinegar and continually put the raccoons off until they look elsewhere. You can use the spray as often as you want to until the raccoons are permanently deterred. Here the stronger the smell, the better!
Does Cayenne Pepper Deter Raccoons
Yes, cayenne pepper can work as a deterrent to keep raccoons away! Capsaicin, the substance in peppers that makes them hot, deters all animals, including raccoons, and is a sure-fire way to keep them out of your garden. You can sprinkle cayenne pepper directly on the ground or areas where you know or suspect raccoon activity. If you are unsure, you can sprinkle it around access points to your garden, any doors or windows, and anywhere that food is kept either for you or any pets you have. The strong smell and taste will deter the raccoons and should stop them from entering your property. You will need to reapply the pepper when the smell starts to weaken or if it gets washed away. If there is no smell there to deter the raccoons, they might well return. For those that dont want to sprinkle the pepper, you can make a solution that can be used too. Mixing cayenne pepper with hot peppers, onion, and some water will create a powerful aroma that will stop raccoons in their tracks. Strain the liquid and spray it in the desired areas, applying where necessary. Thankfully, the spray is unlikely to harm any plants you have grown, so it can be used liberally if needed. Do take care with pets, though, as onions are toxic to dogs. Keep dogs away from the areas you sprayed until it has dried, and ensure they dont come into contact with any of the ingredients. Speak to your vet if you have any concerns.
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