Are Raccoons Raiding Your Trash? Here’s What to Do

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Although raccoons look cute with their bandit masks, little hands, small feet, they are a whole lot less appealing when they decide to dig through your trash. The aftermath is all too familiar to many American households: trash strewn across the driveway, strange claw marks on the bins, and the faint but persistent odor of last week’s dinner. These clever critters aren’t just messy, they’re persistent. After they find out where they can get an easy meal, they’ll be back like they RSPV’d to an all you can eat buffet.

Although raccoons are smart, agile creatures, they don’t have to be too much trouble to keep out of your trash. The key is to outsmart them, and while it sounds like a tall order, with the right strategies, you can protect your trash without losing sleep or your sense of humor. Here are some tips that will hopefully save your garbage and your sanity.

Secure Your Trash Can Lids

Garbage cans are no match for the masters of breaking and entering that raccoons are. Your first line of defense is a sturdy trash can with a tight fitting lid. Pick up cans with locking mechanisms, or use bungee cords to prevent the lid from coming off. If the raccoon can’t pry the lid open, they’ll move on to easier pickings. Your locked up trash could mean one less nightly visitor, because raccoons are less likely to return to areas with inaccessible food sources.

Choose the Right Trash Bags

Heavy duty trash bags can be a game changer. Raccoons are able to quickly access a feast when thin bags tear easily. Thick tear resistant bags make it more difficult for them to rip. Bonus tip: It also doubles as a workout for you while adding an extra layer of protection.

Sweep and Mop Floors the Morning of Pickup

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Raccoons are nocturnal, so leaving trash out overnight is like leaving the door open for a sumptuous dinner. Take out your garbage in the morning. It cuts your critter entry window into your trash significantly. This is a very simple change, but it makes a huge difference.

Use Raccoon Repellents

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Raccoon repellents, be store bought or DIY, make your trash less appealing. Smells raccoons can’t handle are made from ingredients such as cayenne pepper, ammonia or vinegar. Spray these around the trash can, but not directly on the bags or you may attract other pests. Also, remember to reapply after rain.

Install Motion-Activated Lights

Improve Lighting — Image Credit: Santeri Viinamäki/Wikimedia Commons

Raccoons are bold, but they don’t like sudden lights. Place motion activated lights near your trash bins, and the motion will startle them enough to send them scurrying. Raccoons are creatures of habit so anything that changes the environment suddenly, like a bright light, can throw them off.

Elevate Your Trash Cans

While raccoons can climb, they are less likely to take interest in trash that’s too high. Try to put your trash cans up on a platform or inside a high, secure enclosure. Out of sight, out of mind; and out of their tiny, curious paws.

Feed Pets Indoors

Leaving pet food outside is like putting out a raccoon welcome mat. Even if your trash is well locked up, outdoor food for your pet will have raccoons lingering in your yard. An outdoor food dish can keep them hanging around your yard. Keep pets fed indoors and their dishes clean so that nothing tempting remains.

Invest in Raccoon-Proof Bins

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There are some trash bins that are designed to keep raccoons out. Twist lock lids or weighted tops of these bins makes it difficult for raccoons. They’re an upfront investment, but they’ll save you countless hours of cleanup.

Create a Physical Barrier

Small shed and cage with trash — Photo Credit: Nathan J Hilton/Pexels

A sturdy fence or cage around your trash cans. A smooth topped fence, at least four feet high, will discourage raccoons from climbing over. Also, add a latch to the gate, so they can’t simply waltz in the front door, as it were.

Clean Your Trash Cans Regularly

Raccoons have an acute sense of smell, so lingering odors will attract them to your trash cans. To get rid of any nice smells, wash your bins with soap and water. It’s a little extra hygiene for your home, and one less reason for raccoons to come and visit.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.