Eliminating Raccoon Entry Points: A Step-by-Step Approach

Reasons Why Raccoons may Enter your House

Before we can effectively eliminate raccoon entry points, it’s essential to understand why they’re drawn to our homes in the first place. Here are some common reasons why raccoons may enter your house:

1. Food: Raccoons are omnivorous and eat about anything, including pet food, birdseed, and garbage. If you’re leaving food outside or not securing your garbage cans, you’re creating an open invitation for raccoons to come and dine at your place.
2. Shelter: Raccoons are opportunistic creatures who seek shelter wherever they can. Your home’s attic, walls, or crawl space can provide an ideal location for them to nest and raise baby raccoons.
3. Water: Just like any living creature, raccoons need water to survive. You may attract raccoons to your property if you have a leaky outdoor faucet, a bird bath, or even a swimming pool.
4. Mating season: During the breeding season, which typically runs from late winter to early summer, male raccoons will roam for a mate. They may enter your home looking for a warm place to spend the night.

By understanding what draws raccoons to your property, you can take steps to eliminate those attractions and make your home less appealing to these critters. Doing so can prevent them from entering your home and causing damage

Roof Vents

Roof vents, roof-soffit intersections, and roof edges are common raccoon entry points. Install a vent cover or wire mesh over the vent to prevent raccoons from accessing your roof through the vents. Ensure the cover is securely fastened to prevent raccoons from prying it open

Chimneys

Raccoons are excellent climbers and can easily climb up and down chimneys. Install a chimney cap to prevent raccoons from entering your home through the chimney. A chimney cap is a mesh cover that fits over the chimney, preventing animals from entering and allowing smoke to escape

Attic Vents

Attic vents are another common entry point for raccoons. Install wire mesh over the vent openings to prevent raccoons from entering your attic through the vents. Ensure the mesh is securely fastened to prevent raccoons from ripping it off

Holes and Cracks

Holes and cracks in your home’s foundation, roof, or walls can provide easy raccoon access. Inspect your home for gaps or holes and seal them with wire mesh, caulking, or steel wool. Sealing these entry points as soon as possible is essential to prevent raccoons from entering your home

Pet Doors

If you have a pet door, it can provide an entry point for raccoons. To prevent raccoons from entering your home through the pet door, consider installing an electronic pet door that only opens when your pet is nearby.

Following these steps, you can identify and eliminate common raccoon entry points and prevent raccoons from accessing your property. Taking these steps is essential to avoid the hassle and expense of removing raccoons from your home.

Identify the entry points

The first step to end a raccoon intrusion is to identify how the raccoons enter your home. You can do this by inspecting the exterior of your home and looking for signs of damage or wear and tear.

If you can’t find the entry point alone, consider hiring a professional pest control company to help you

Use a repellent

There are many natural and chemical-based repellents available that can help keep raccoons away from your home. The most effective natural repellents include garlic, peppermint oil, and cayenne pepper.

If you prefer a chemical-based repellent, look for a product that contains ammonia or predator urine

Set traps

If you’re comfortable doing so, you can set a cage trap to capture the raccoons and remove them from your home. Once you’ve captured the raccoons, release them far away from your home to prevent them from returning

Call a Professional

If you’re uncomfortable setting traps or using a repellent, it’s best to call a professional pest control company. They have the experience and expertise to safely and effectively remove raccoons from your home.

It’s important to note that many states have laws and regulations regarding animal removal, including raccoons. Be sure to check with your local government or a pest control professional to ensure you’re following the proper procedures

How to Prevent Raccoons from Entering Your House

Preventing raccoons from entering your home is the best way to avoid the hassle and expense of removing them. Here are some steps you can take to prevent raccoons from entering your house:

• Secure your garbage cans: Raccoons are attracted to the smell of food, so be sure to secure your garbage cans with tight-fitting lids or bungee cords.
• Remove other food sources: If you have a bird feeder or pet food outside, remove them at night. Raccoons are nocturnal and are more likely to come out after dark to scavenge for food.
• Trim trees and bushes: Raccoons are excellent climbers and can use nearby trees and bushes to access your roof. Trim any branches that hang over your roof to prevent raccoons from using them as a bridge.
• Seal up entry points: Use wire mesh, caulking, or steel wool to seal any cracks, gaps, or holes in your home’s foundation, roof, or walls.
• Use motion-activated lights or sprinklers: Raccoons are skittish and often run away when they sense danger. Installing motion-activated lights or sprinklers can scare off raccoons before they can enter your home.