How do you stop raccoons from living under your deck?

  8 answers
  • My suggestion would be to close it off so they have no access. Add a gate so if you want to store items in there, that you have access when you wish.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Apr 24, 2017

    You will have to lure them out with a Havahart trap a few feet away from the area.

  • Cathy Rhodes Varela Cathy Rhodes Varela on Apr 24, 2017

    Ensure there is no food source and perhaps try moth balls.

  • Kay Camenisch Kay Camenisch on Apr 25, 2017

    Be sure you don't trap the parents while ot and leave babies underneath, or close it in with momma and babies underneath. A neighbor made that mistake and had to repair an attic entrance three times.

  • Mary Webster Mary Webster on Apr 25, 2017

    Try rubber snakes under there. Most animals dont like them.

  • Joh7772173 Joh7772173 on Apr 25, 2017

    Raccoons are nocturnal, If possible put lights in the area at night, they will leave. I have had good success with raccoons, opossums and skunks by using lights. My girlfriend spread coffee grounds around and that also eliminated raccoons and skunks. Good luck.

  • Kim Waggoner Kim Waggoner on Apr 25, 2017

    It is now April 25th. I assumed that the best time to do this is now!!! Then transplant in the fall.

  • Good luck ♥ We've had raccoon visitors during the night in my back yard several times over the years. They would catch the koi in my pond. Now it would be different if they would eat them, but they would just play with them and leave them all over the yard. I've tried animal control in our area, they said they wouldn't help us, but to get a Havahart trap, then release them at least 100 miles away because they travel that and more. An exterminator was way too expensive. Had a trap, tried, could never catch them...tried sardines, marshmallows, tuna, canned cat food and more. I devoured the web for info on how to get them to go. Tried criss crossing fishing line throughout the back yard, raccoons didn't mind it, the dogs hated it. Lit the backyard up like a runway – didn't phase them, Human hair, human urine, could have cared less about either, Tried "The Scarecrow" motion detector that hooks to the hose and sprays when it senses motion. Raccoons loved it,Dogs were scared of it and refused to go out during the day even when it was off. Tried coyote urine, didn't phase the coons one bit. Tried little red flashing lights around the perimeter of the yard, raccoons didn't notice them. Summer came and they stopped coming. We had no birdseed out for the wild birds, no dog food out, nothing. They came back the following winter and brought friends. Tried everything again to no avail. Got up one morning and they were still here! They were usually gone by then. One of my dogs slipped....pushed by me as I was trying to shoo them away. She was a Great Dane....they took her down. Now I love all animals, but don't come to my place and mess with mine. My sons stayed up the following night, shot 2 of them. They haven't been back since. It was horrid, the screams my poor dog let out as they were biting her. Please be careful. I wouldn't attempt to even catch it, You have to pick up that wire cage after all!. They are fierce and will bite. Be careful please.