Suisun Wildlife Center - Raccoon Tips
Monique Liguori, Executive Director

Raccoon Tips

Raccoons are intelligent, fascinating and highly adaptable animals. As we destroy more and more wild habitat, raccoons are forced into closer contact with us. There’s no need to panic or spend hundreds of dollars on trapping services when most problems can be easily resolved with simple advice and household materials.

Many conflicts take place in spring and summer when raccoons take advantage of human dwellings to raise their young, making it vital to solve the problem in a way that doesn’t separate a mother and her young. Here are some solutions to common raccoon problems:


  Raccoon FAQs

Q: How do I keep raccoons out of my garbage?

A: Uncovered garbage cans are an open invitation to hungry raccoons. A simple solution is to put your cans out for pickup in the morning, after nocturnal raccoons have returned to their dens. If you must put them out at night, get the kind of plastic cans with a tall (4’) twist-on lid the raccoons can’t open.

Q: There are raccoons in my dumpster – how do I get them out?

A: Garbage companies often do not close the lids after emptying in the early morning. Enticed by the smell of food, raccoons jump in and can’t climb the slippery sides. Placing some strong branches or a plank of wood so the raccoons can climb out will solve the problem. If your company leaves the lids open all the time, you should post a sign telling them it needs to be closed so that animals will not be trapped.

Q: How do I get raccoons out of my attic or chimney?

A: In spring and summer, mother raccoons often take advantage of chimneys and attics to raise their cubs. The easiest and best solution is to wait a few weeks for the raccoons to move out on their own. As soon as the cubs are old enough to go on nighttime outings with the mother, she will take them out of the chimney once and for all rather than carry them back and forth. Remember that raccoon moms clean their babies meticulously to avoid attracting predators. If you absolutely must evict the raccoon family, remember that raccoons seek quiet, dark, non-noxious smelling places to raise babies. By creating the opposite conditions, you can evict them using the following methods:

  • Eviction of chimney raccoons: Keep the damper closed and put a blaring radio (rock or rap works best) in the fireplace. Then put a bowl of ammonia on a footstool near the damper. Apply these deterrents JUST BEFORE DUSK; mother raccoons don’t want to move their cubs in broad daylight. Be patient, it may take a few days for the mother to move her young. Once you inspect and are sure all the raccoons are gone, install or have installed a mesh chimney cap (the best kind has a stainless-steel top) and you won’t have the problem again.

  • Eviction of attic raccoons: Leave all the lights on and place a blaring radio and rags sprinkled with ammonia around the attic. Hang a drop light and light things up. Apply these deterrents JUST BEFORE DUSK; mother raccoons don’t want to move their cubs in broad daylight. Be patient, it may take a few days for the mother to move her young. Make sure the raccoons are gone and seal any entry holes. Remember, most attics contain clutter, which can make it hard to be sure. Before sealing any entry hole, stuff it first with newspaper and see if the paper stays in place for three nights, if so the den is vacant. After sealing the entry hole with hardward cloth, make sure no raccoons are left behind by leaving a sardine or marshmallow in the attic and see if it is uneaten after 24 hours. Or you can sprinkle flour in front of the entry hole and look for the footprints of a raccoon trying to get out. Once you have sealed everything up the raccoons will not be able to return.

    Q: Why not just trap the raccoon or hire a trapper to solve the nuisance problem?

    A: It is ILLEGAL in California to trap and relocate wildlife! Just as important, it rarely solves the problem. As one animal is removed, another from the surrounding area will take its place. The answer is to keep the raccoons from the food or nesting place that is attracting them. Nuisance wildlife control companies charge what can be a substantial amount of money for problems that homeowners can often resolve themselves. Also, when animals are trapped during birthing season, babies can be left behind to starve and die in the house. Animals should never be trapped under extreme conditions, such as on a sunny rooftop, in rain, snow, sleet or other bad weather which could cause the animals to suffer or die.

    We DISCOURAGE TRAPPING unless an animal is stuck somewhere and can’t get out or poses an immediate threat to humans or domestic animals. If you MUST hire a trapper, a licensed trapper we recommend is Ron Bailey, Animal Capture and Removal, (707) 678-8604. If you use another trapper, ask questions! Ask what will happen to animals if they are trapped and removed, and what alternatives might be available. Make sure you are aware and comfortable with the service you will be paying for, and remember that situations like mothers with babies will be short-term. You owe it to the raccoons!

    Thanks very much for your help!

     

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