How To Get Rid Of A Raccoon In Your Garage

This guide will talk about many ways to get rid of raccoons in your garage, ranging from easy ways to keep them out to more advanced methods. Read On!

 

What Smell Will Keep Raccoons Away?

Raccoons have a keen sense of smell, and some smells will help keep them away. You might want to try ammonia or vinegar. You can soak rags or cotton balls in this ammonia or vinegar and then put them around your property, especially in places where raccoons are a problem.

The strong scent of these substances will make raccoons not want to get close to your garage.  Remember not to use too much; the goal is to repel them away, not to kill them.

 

What Is A Strong Raccoon Repellent?

A strong raccoon repellent involves mixing a solution of one part cayenne pepper and four parts water. To make a this powerful raccoon deterrent, combine 1/4 cup of water with 1/4 cup of cayenne pepper.

Direct your spraying towards any entrance points or areas where raccoons congregate on your property. For some reason, the pungent aroma really puts people off. Put it back on after it rains or whenever you feel the need for it to keep working.

 

Read also: Raccoon Lifespan: How Long Do Raccoons Live?

 

How To get Rid Of A Raccoon In Your Garage

Keep the Garage Door Closed at All Times

The first line of defense against raccoons is to keep your garage door closed at all times. Raccoons are opportunistic creatures, and an open garage door is an invitation for them to enter and explore. By keeping the door closed, you not only remove their access but also minimize the chances of them finding food or creating nests in your garage. 

 

Use Light and Smell

To further enhance the effectiveness of keeping the garage door closed, you can use  additional deterrents such as light, sound, and smell. Being nocturnal creatures, raccoons typically stay away from places with plenty of light.

Consider installing outdoor spotlights, mechanic’s lights, or motion sensor lights to illuminate the garage and discourage raccoons from approaching or entering your garage.

Using sound as a deterrent is another good idea. Raccoons perceive human voices as dangerous, so putting a radio on a talk station near the door can make them think twice about going into the garage.

Just make sure the noise is loud enough not to bother your neighbors. As scent deterrents go, they’re not the best on their own, but they can work well with other ways.

Raccoons will be less likely to come into your home if you soak rags in apple cider vinegar or ammonia and hang them near the doorway. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar on hand, you can also use dirty cat litter in a plastic bag.

 

Seal Possible Entryways

Raccoons are very good at climbing, so they can get into the garage through small gaps. It’s important to close any holes or gaps in the garage walls and roof so they can’t get in.

Cover the doors with newspapers to start, and keep an eye on things for a few days and nights. If you are still seeing raccoons trying to get in, Fill in the gaps with clear caulk or wire mesh.

 

Live Trapping and One-way Doors

If you’ve successfully barred raccoons from entering your garage, you may still need to address any remaining raccoons that are already inside.

Live trapping is an effective method to capture and remove them from your garage. Remember, to release them at least 5 to 10 miles away from your property to prevent their return.

For situations where baby raccoons are unlikely to be present, one-way doors can be installed to allow raccoons to exit but not re-enter. When trapping raccoons, avoid separating baby raccoons from their mother, as it can lead to complications and property damage. Ensure the baby raccoons are old enough to follow their mother before trying  this method.

 

Read also: How To Get Rid Of Raccoons Under Your Deck

 

Contact Your Local Pest Control

It’s best to get help from professionals if your attempts to keep raccoons out of your garage fail or if you find it hard to handle the situation on your own.

Wildlife centres or pest control services in your area have the knowledge and tools to get rid of raccoon problems successfully.

Remember that raccoons can be stubborn, and it’s important to deal with the problem right away to avoid more damage and possible health risks.

Now that we’ve talked about the most important things you need to do to get rid of rats in your garage, let’s look at some other useful tips and tricks.

 

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional measures you can take to enhance the effectiveness of raccoon deterrence:

• Secure your garbage: Raccoons are attracted to garbage, so make sure your trash cans are tightly sealed with bungee cords to prevent them from accessing food sources.
• Remove potential food sources: Avoid leaving pet food or birdseed in the garage, as this is likely to attract raccoons to your garage

 

Read also: Do Raccoons Climb Trees?

 

More on How To Get Rid Of A Raccoon In Your Garage

Here’s a video that explains How To Get Rid Of A Raccoon In Your Garage:

 

Conclusion

In Conclusion, dealing with a raccoon in your garage may be difficult. However, by using a mix of preventative measures and gentle deterrents, you can reclaim your space and keep these curious animals from moving in.

Regularly check for and seal off possible entry points, use strong repellents and if you need to, think about getting professional help. Remember that persistence and being vigilant are the keys to keeping wildlife out of your garage and living in peace with them.

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