How to Get Rid of Raccoons From Your Yard

Raccoons are persistent, but you don't need to turn your yard into a battleground. Remove easy food, block the areas they want to reach, and use targeted deterrents to make repeated visits less appealing. 

If one has already moved into a structure, don't simply seal the opening; use humane exclusion first to get rid of it.

In this guide, we'll walk through the most effective ways to get rid of raccoons and protect your yard, home, and property from repeat visits.

Why Raccoons Are Drawn to Yards Specifically

Raccoons are opportunistic animals, and Houston yards provide many of the things they need:

• Bayous and wooded areas: Neighborhoods near bayous, wooded lots, and drainage easements are close to natural raccoon habitat.
• Mild climate: Houston's relatively mild climate allows raccoons to remain active throughout much of the year.
• Easy food: Unsecured trash, outdoor pet food, fruit trees, koi ponds, and compost piles provide reliable food sources.
• Easy shelter: Older rooflines, unscreened attic vents, and gaps around chimneys can give raccoons access to homes.
• Denning opportunities: Once inside a suitable space, raccoons establish a den instead of simply passing through.

Best Ways to Get Rid of Raccoons From Your Yard

1. Remove Food and Water Sources

Removing easy food sources is one of the simplest ways to reduce repeat raccoon visits.

• Keep garbage in sturdy containers with secure lids.
• Store trash inside a garage or shed when practical.
• Bring pet food indoors after feeding.
• Clean up spilled birdseed.
• Pick up fallen fruit from trees.
• Keep food scraps in enclosed compost containers.
• Remove unnecessary outdoor water sources.

USDA APHIS specifically recommends avoiding wildlife feeding and reducing access to food sources to prevent conflicts with raccoons and other wildlife.

Best for: raccoons that are visiting because of an accessible food supply.

2. Install Physical Barriers

When raccoons are targeting a specific area, blocking access is more dependable than trying to scare them away.

Useful applications include:

• Garden fencing: Protect vegetables, fruit plants, and other vulnerable areas.
• Deck barriers: Close open space beneath decks and porches after confirming they are unoccupied.
• Trash enclosures: Place garbage containers inside a secure enclosure.
• Coop protection: Use strong welded wire, not ordinary chicken wire, for poultry areas.
• Pond protection: Add appropriate barriers where raccoons repeatedly prey on fish or other pond animals.

For raccoon exclusion, durable materials such as appropriately sized welded wire are preferable to lightweight screening that an animal can tear or push aside.

Best for: gardens, poultry areas, ponds, and other specific locations that need protection.

3. Use Motion-Activated Sprinklers and Lights

Motion-activated devices can interrupt a raccoon's normal route through your property.

Motion-Activated Sprinklers

A sudden burst of water can discourage raccoons from repeatedly entering gardens, lawns, or other targeted areas.

Motion-Activated Lights

Bright lights can make a normally quiet area less comfortable for nighttime activity.

For better results:

• Place the device where raccoons actually enter.
• Aim it toward the problem area rather than the entire yard.
• Move or adjust the device if the raccoons begin avoiding it.
• Combine deterrence with a physical solution when possible.

Humane World for Animals lists motion-activated lights and sprinklers among methods that can discourage raccoons from yards, ponds, and gardens.

Best for: active yard problems where raccoons have not established a den.

4. Remove Raccoon Hiding and Denning Areas

Raccoons are more likely to remain on a property when they have a sheltered place to rest or raise young.

To get rid of them from your backyard, target:

• Brush piles
• Unused debris
• Accessible woodpiles
• Open areas beneath structures
• Unsecured sheds
• Dense vegetation close to buildings

Do not disturb a suspected den until you know whether raccoons or young are inside. Removing the shelter helps prevent problems, but forcing an animal out of an occupied den can create a different one.

Best for: properties with repeated activity around sheltered areas.

5. Protect Gardens From Raccoons

If the raccoons are primarily damaging plants or digging through garden beds, protect the garden rather than trying to control the entire property.

Effective options to get rid of raccoons include:

• Install sturdy fencing around garden beds.
• Reinforce weak sections where animals are getting underneath.
• Harvest ripe produce promptly.
• Remove damaged or fallen produce.
• Consider motion-activated sprinklers around frequently targeted beds.

For gardens, physical exclusion is usually the most useful long-term strategy because it protects the plants even when raccoons are active elsewhere on the property.

6. Identify and Secure Raccoon Entry Points

If a raccoon is getting into an attic, crawl space, shed, garage, or other structure, the solution changes from general deterrence to exclusion. Inspect:

• Roof and soffit junctions
• Attic vents
• Gable openings
• Chimneys
• Crawl-space openings
• Gaps beneath decks
• Damaged siding or trim

Do not seal an opening simply because you no longer hear an animal. First, confirm that the entry point is inactive.

One recommended monitoring method is to loosely block the opening with paper and observe it for two to three days under normal weather conditions. If it remains undisturbed, the opening is likely vacant. Once confirmed, seal it with durable, wildlife-resistant material.

Best for: raccoons already using a building or structure.

7. Use Humane Exclusion if a Raccoon Is Inside

Humane exclusion allows the raccoon to leave while preventing it from returning.

A process to get rid of raccoons by using humane exclusion involves:

1. Identify the active entry point.
2. Determine whether young are present.
3. Allow the family to leave naturally when practical.
4. Use an appropriate one-way exclusion device when professionally warranted.
5. Confirm that all animals have left.
6. Permanently seal the opening.

One-way doors require particular care when young are present because separating a mother from dependent kits can leave them trapped inside. Humane World recommends professional assistance for these situations.

Best for: established raccoon entry into attics, crawl spaces, and similar areas.

What Raccoon Removal Methods Should You Avoid?

Some methods can injure animals, create additional hazards, or leave young trapped inside. Avoid:

• Poisoning raccoons: It can cause prolonged suffering and create risks for pets and other wildlife.
• Smoke or fire: Never use these methods to force raccoons from chimneys.
• Sealing an active den: This can trap the mother or young inside.
• Handling a raccoon: A frightened wild animal may bite or scratch.
• Greasing poles or wires: This can harm birds and other animals.
• Improvised traps: Incorrect trapping can injure wildlife and create handling risks.

Humane World specifically warns against using smoke or fire in chimneys and recommends confirming that raccoons have left before sealing entry points.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Your Backyard at Night

If you encounter one in your backyard:

• Give it an escape route: Do not block the animal's path or corner it.
• Keep your distance: Never approach, chase, or attempt to handle a raccoon.
• Bring pets inside: Prevent dogs and cats from confronting the animal.
• Observe its route: Note where it enters, what area it visits, and where it leaves.
• Check for a pattern: Repeated visits to the same location can indicate a nearby food source, shelter, or den.
• Address the underlying problem: Once you know what is attracting the raccoon, use the appropriate removal or exclusion method discussed above.
• Get professional help when necessary: If the raccoon is repeatedly entering a structure, appears abnormal, or may have young, avoid trying to force it out yourself.

At night, the goal isn't to chase the raccoon away; it is to identify why it keeps using your property and address that reason safely.

When to Call a Professional Raccoon Removal Service

Some raccoon problems are better handled by a professional who provides raccoon removal, particularly when the animal has moved beyond the yard and into a structure. 

Consider professional help if:

• A raccoon is inside your attic, chimney, crawl space, or walls.
• You suspect a mother and young are present.
• Raccoons have caused significant damage to your property.
• You cannot safely identify or close the entry point.
• Repeated deterrents have not stopped the activity.
• Raccoon feces have accumulated in an area that requires extensive cleanup.

A professional can determine how the raccoon is getting in, check whether young are present, and choose an appropriate exclusion method rather than simply trapping or sealing the animal inside.

Still Dealing With Raccoons on Your Property?

If you've tried deterrents and property changes but raccoons keep coming back, the problem may be more than a food source or an easy hiding spot. A raccoon that repeatedly returns may have an established den or a reliable entry point that needs to be addressed.

SkeeterCide can help identify how raccoons access your property and determine the right next step for humane removal and exclusion. Instead of repeatedly chasing raccoons away, get the underlying access problem addressed so you can protect your yard and property from repeat visits.

Contact SkeeterCide today to discuss your raccoon problem and find the right solution for your property.

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