Store garbage in metal or tough plastic containers with tight-fitting lids to discourage raccoons from raiding garbage cans. If lids do not fit tightly, it may be necessary to wire, weight, or clamp them down to prevent raccoons from lifting the lid to get at garbage. Secure garbage cans to a rack, or tie them to a support to prevent raccoons from tipping them over.

Never feed wildlife of any kind, except perhaps, birds. Remove outdoor pet food, especially at night. Keep pet food and water dishes cleaned up or inaccessible to raccoons. Pet food storage containers should be kept closed similar to garbage cans. Artificial, decorative ponds or water gardens with fish may also attract raccoons. Once they discover the fish, the only way to discourage them is to remove the raccoons or remove the fish.

Prevent raccoon access to chimneys by securely fastening a commercial chimney cap of sheet metal and heavy screen over the top of the chimney. Raccoon access to rooftops can be limited by pruning back or removing overhanging branches or by wrapping and nailing sheets of slick metal (flashing) at least 36 inches x 36 inches (90 cm) around corners of buildings. This prevents raccoons from being able to get a toehold for climbing. While this method may be practical for outbuildings, it is unsightly and generally unacceptable for homes. It is more practical to cover chimneys or other areas attracting raccoons to the rooftop or to remove the offending individual animals than to completely exclude them from the roof.

Homeowners attempting to exclude or remove raccoons in the spring and summer should be aware of the possibility that young may also be present.

Do not complete exclusion procedures until you are certain that all raccoons have been removed from or have left the exclusion area. Raccoons will frequently use uncapped chimneys as natal den sites, raising the young on the smoke shelf or the top of the fireplace box until weaning. Homeowners with the patience to wait out several weeks of scratching, rustling, and chirring sounds will normally be rewarded by the mother raccoon moving the young from the chimney at the time she begins to wean them. Homeowners with less patience can often contact a pest removal or chimney sweep service to physically remove the raccoons. In either case, raccoon exclusion procedures should be completed immediately after the animals have left or been removed.

Finally, carefully examine your property for evidence of raccoon toilets. Keep children and pets away from these areas. Be sure to safely and completely remove and sanitize these. See FAQ #863 for more information on raccoon roundworm.

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Raccoons