How to stop raccoons from climbing onto my deck

Question

They are also washing their food in my pool. Help?

The Residences At The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain · Answer

There are lots of ways to try and keep raccoons out. Here are some of the more popular:

- Boil cayenne pepper, jalapeno and onion in 2 quarts water for 20 minutes. Strain through cheese cloth, cool, and spray onto your deck. This only lasts a few days.
- There are audio pest-repellents you can use. They are like speakers that emit an irritating noise that only the animal can hear.
- Get rid of outside food sources like bird food, cover trash cans, etc.
- Install an electric fence around your property
- Use a scarecrow

Hope this helps!

Shelby Renee Pringle · Answer

I planted mint next to where we keep our garbage cans (I read that raccoons don't like it). I haven't seen their muddy little footprints on the garbage cans since. But be advised: mint can be invasive. Growing in a container will keep it from taking over.

Julie · Answer

we had the same problem in seattle. pet store told us to put out dry dog food with xlax in it. they will eat go back to their nest make a mess of their home , then move their family to a new home far away from their bad home. it worked for us does no harm to critters.

Angela Hollman · Answer

Can sprinkle epsom salt around too!!! they don't like it!

Judith · Answer

I 'm not sure if this helps this situation, but here's my idea...I remember when my Dad used to make a garden, he always planted 2 rows of MARIGOLDS around the entire garden. This flowering plant has an odor that is repulsive to animals (rabbits especially and deer) and that odor keeps them away. Maybe you could try planting marigolds around and just inside your property line ? If it doesn't work, you'll still have a pretty piece of property !

Trixie63 · Answer

Cats. We had one raccoon who would sit on our deck and watch tv through back door. Finally we found our two cats will sit at the deck door and get all crazy and possessive when raccoons were coming on our porch. It works and we've not had returnees for the last two years.

Terry · Answer

Racoons hate the smell of ammonia.

Capernius · Answer

What did you say your address was? I have a .22 handgun that will cure you of the coon problem.lol
ok, seriously though, maybe try some mint(spearmint, peppermint) in a pot on the deck & see if this keeps them away. another idea is a water blaster gun(kid's toy squirt gun on steroids); it will not hurt the animal, but they do not like to get sprayed.

Julie · Answer

we had raccoons in our fish pond and yard. Animal control told us to put exlax in dry dog food and put out for them. when they go back to their nest and mess it, they move their home. we never saw them in the neighborhood again.

Debbie/Dragonfly Treasure · Answer

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.

Michelle Leslie · Answer

Hi Theresa, my grandfather used to brew up a batch of garlic tea and spray the area. It helps to keep away moles, raccoons, and all kinds of annoying bugs like mosquitoes. You can also plant Allium sativum in pot plants and place them on your deck.

Redcatcec · Answer

I had set a trap for the feral cats in the neighborhood, expecting to see them, they had been coming around and eating our cat food ( we adopted 2 ferals).

The bait was a trail of dry catfood leading to the inner end of the trap. The next morning I was surprised to see a raccoon, it was huge and must have weighed close to 30 lbs. Now what do I do with this,? The animal shelter informed me they do not have anything to do with raccoons. Then I called the non-emergency police number, they said we are on our own, no help there. Well, an animal control service would do the job but at a charge. It was anxious to be let go and had made a hot mess of the deck planks and fabric cover to the trap, along with the newspaper in the trap.

We opted to release it into the marshy park about 10 miles from here. So far no re-visits. All in all we captured 4 raccoons, finally I got the message to not set a trap overnight.

Kathy Gunter Law · Answer

Perhaps this article will help:

https://regionalwildlifeservices.ca/raccoon-removal/top-ways-to-deter-and-get-rid-of-raccoons

Simple Nature Decor · Answer

Bears and Raccoons are always looking for food, make sure that your grill is super clean and closed up, you have to literally have no indication of food anywhere even the smell of a sponge will bring them, use a bleach cleaner every time. We are going to have to deal with that when we move to the mountains this year bear country. Pest control could work https://amzn.to/3ohsHJw

Kim |Exquisitely Unremarkable · Answer

We have a family of raccoons living in the neighbors' tree. We have to make sure that we never leave any food around or garbage. We also have a pond with fish in it, which is essentially food. We have made a cap for it so they can't get to the fish at night. A pool is harder to cover, but you could lay down a solar cover. And I have heard the exlax trick works...but we've never tried it.

Simple Nature Decor · Answer

https://www.wildlifeshield.ca/blog/how-to-keep-raccoons-off-my-deck/

Johnavallance82 · Answer

Buy a Pool cover on a Winder!

Betsy · Answer

Hi Theresa: Here's a couple sites that may help:

Homemade Repellents to Get Rid of Raccoons Without Harming Them (healthnbodytips.org)

9 Scents That Raccoons Hate (and How to Use Them) - Pest Pointers

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