There is nothing worse than going to pull the garbage cans out front on garbage day, only to find that they have been ransacked by critters–critters with an obvious lack of basic table etiquette. Picking up remnants of garbage is not really my favorite past time–because of the rain, it’s usually a soggy gross mess.
I’ve decided to show the raccoon who’s boss, though. If you care to band with me against critters eating garbage everywhere, here’s what you do:
- Before you toss the garbage bag into the garbage, spray it with Windex, or ammonia. It deters the little guys big time.
- If you’re not wild about spraying the garbage itself, you’ll have to “fortify the compound.” Which is really just a nerdy way of saying tie the lid down. You can chain it with a padlock, though, dialing the combination in every time might get a bit tedious. You can tie it down using rope or cord. You can even try putting a cinder block on it, in hopes that your particular raccoon isn’t into weight lifting.
- You can also buy raccoon repellent around the can. I am not wild about this option, because of Lucy, so if you have pets, you may want to consider using hot pepper or cayenne pepper flakes instead.
- Keep the garbage can in the garage. Shut down the restaurant, and they will find themselves a new dining establishment.
- Install motion detection lighting around the trash can. The light popping on will most likely scare them off.
How about you, have you successfully waged war on garbage eating raccoons?
~Mavis
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carla says
We don’t have any more problems with raccoons and garbage since I started composting in my backyard 23 years ago. There is now nothing in the garbage that the raccoons like to eat, besides the errant piece of meat or fat. that I then wrap in some non-recyclable plastic. If there is something smelly in the garbage, we take the garbage out the night before collection and there is usually no problem with raiding critters. Now my neighbors are occasionally not so lucky.
RayK says
Motion sensor lights will deter fox but not raccoons. I’ve found that live catch traps baited with marshmallows or sardines will bring the offender into control without endangering pets. After that you can deal with them. Relocation, if that is your choice, should be 25 miles or more away.
Practical Parsimony says
I have had this battle and caught raccoons. Using anything a cat will like will probably catch a cat, like tuna or sardines. Actually, if you use those, eat the tuna yourself and just put the dirty can in the trap. Raccoons don’t look in and say, “She gave me an empty can, so I will go elsewhere.” No, the scent will draw the raccoon into the trap.
. Use a piece of banana or a strawberry. Cats won’t bother those and leave it to raccoons.
Relocating raccoons is generally illegal. They can carry new diseases into an area and infect another population. Call Animal Control to get the raccoon from your trap. Animal Control has a couple of traps they will bring and set up for you. Raccoons can move a building block! They are strong. Putting the garbage in the garage works. Only a bit of ammonia in the can is needed to deter a raccoon. They hate it. But, don’t breathe any of the fumes. A Tablespoon will suffice.
Put a bit of foil wadded up in the back of the live trap. You can leave it on the bottom of the cage or suspend it. Raccoons love bright shiny objects.
Even if you catch half a dozen raccoons like I did, there are still more moving in. But, it made me feel better and gave me a few weeks reprieve between each catch.
Gaylen Dale says
i have seen two raccoons push the garbage can over on garbage day by pushing the upper portion and using the curb on the lower portion for leverage’
it was very clever and i caught then in the act once and they just stared me down with running off immediately
since then i have sprayed windex on the upper portion of the can and dusted the top with cayenne pepper with good results so far…… just remember to wash your hands if you get the pepper on them
RayK says
I have a quart spray bottle to which I have added 1T of peppermint oil, 1T of liquid dish soap and topped off with water. Mist the bags or cans and the critters will leave them alone. Plus you’ll have the best smelling trash around!
I live way out in the country and my trash goes out to the road in bags and I haven’t had a bag torn up in several years.