Ethan Clarke
Raccoons are intelligent, curious, and dexterous creatures that can weigh anywhere from 11 to 57 pounds. They have a varied diet and will eat almost anything, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, shellfish, frogs, eggs, insects, worms, snakes, and even trash. They are excellent swimmers and can travel up to ten miles in search of food, creating multiple dens along their path. Raccoons are also known for their ability to chew through plastic, which can be a problem if you are trying to keep them out of your trash or food storage containers. So, will raccoons chew through a plastic container to get at food?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Will raccoons chew a plastic container to get at food? | Yes, raccoons can chew through plastic containers to get at food. |
| Weight | Raccoons can weigh anywhere from 11 to 57 pounds, with some sources claiming they can grow up to 45 pounds. |
| Diet | Raccoons are omnivores and will eat almost anything, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, shellfish, frogs, eggs, insects, worms, snakes, trash, and pet food. |
| Habitat | Raccoons can adapt to a wide range of habitats and are commonly found in suburban and urban areas. |
| Behaviour | Raccoons are intelligent, curious, and nocturnal. They are also excellent swimmers and can climb and dig. |
| Deterrents | To prevent raccoons from accessing food, use metal containers with locking lids, secure trash cans with weights or straps, and avoid leaving pet food or trash out overnight. |
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What You'll Learn
Raccoons will chew through plastic
Raccoons are intelligent, curious, and adaptable creatures with dexterous fingers. They can be a real pest around the yard and garden, and they can cause extensive damage if they find their way into your house. They are also known as "trash pandas" because they will eat almost anything, including trash, pet food, birdseed, garden vegetables, and fruit. Raccoons have learned that garbage cans are excellent sources of food, and they will tip over trash cans to get to the contents inside. They will also chew through plastic to get to food, including plastic garden netting and plastic trash cans. Raccoons can weigh anywhere from 11 to 57 pounds, and they can live in a wide range of habitats, so they can be a problem for many people.
If you have a raccoon problem, it is important to take steps to keep them out of your trash and away from your property. One way to do this is to use a metal trash can with a locking lid, as raccoons can chew through plastic. You can also attach clamps, a chain and padlock combo, bungee cords, or specially designed garbage-lid straps to your trash can to make it more secure. Another option is to put your trash can inside a shed, garage, or basement, as raccoons cannot open doors. You can also try to eliminate food sources from your property, such as bird feeders, and secure other food sources, such as gardens, with fencing.
To deter raccoons from your property, you can try using ammonia, which smells like raccoon urine and is highly offensive to them. You can also use natural raccoon-repellent spices and oils, such as mint, cayenne pepper, and oil of mustard. Sprinkling cayenne pepper on your lawn or in your planters can also deter raccoons from digging up your plants in search of food. Raccoons are also scared off by human voices, so placing a radio set to a news or talk station near your trash can can help keep them away. Keeping the area around your trash cans clean can also help, as raccoons are lazy and will look for easy pickings.
If you have an encounter with a raccoon, it is important to remember that they can be carriers of rabies and should not be approached or touched. If a raccoon has made its way into your house, close the doors to all other rooms, open doors and windows to the outside, and wait quietly for the raccoon to find its way out. If the raccoon does not leave, call your local wildlife agency for assistance. Only professionally trained wildlife workers should attempt to capture raccoons.
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Raccoon-proofing garbage cans
Raccoons are smart, adaptable, and have opposable thumbs. They can chew through plastic and rip open garbage bags to get at food. They can also climb, so fences are not always a deterrent. Raccoons are also strong enough to tip over trash cans to get at their contents.
To raccoon-proof your garbage cans, you can try the following:
- Choose a metal trash can with a locking lid: Raccoons can chew through plastic, so opt for a metal trash can with a secure locking lid.
- Use additional locks: You can attach clamps, bungee cords, chains, or specially designed garbage-lid straps to keep the lid secure.
- Secure the can upright with stakes: Raccoons often tip over trash cans to access their contents. Securing the handles of your trash can to a metal or wooden stake driven into the ground can prevent this.
- Use odour repellents: Raccoons have a strong sense of smell, so you can use odours they dislike to deter them. Ammonia, for example, smells like raccoon urine and can be an effective repellent. Place ammonia-soaked rags or newspapers in and around your trash can. You can also sprinkle cayenne pepper on top of the garbage.
- Use natural raccoon-repellent spices and oils: Raccoons dislike the smell of certain spices and oils, such as mint, cayenne pepper, and mustard oil. Try spraying or sprinkling these items in and around your trash can.
- Keep your trash cans in an enclosure: Put your trash cans in a shed, garage, basement, or other enclosed space. Raccoons cannot open doors, so this will prevent them from accessing your garbage.
- Use sound: Raccoons are deterred by the sound of human voices. Place a radio tuned to a news or talk station near your trash cans and play it at a low volume. You can increase the volume if necessary.
- Use light: Raccoons prefer darkness, so installing motion-detection lighting or even a strand of blinking Christmas lights over your trash cans may deter them.
- Fortify your fences: If you have a fenced yard, add mesh wire to the bottom of the fence and extend it several inches underground to prevent raccoons from burrowing under and accessing your trash cans.
- Keep your garbage cans clean: Raccoons are attracted to easy food sources. Ensure the area around your garbage cans is clean and free of food residue to make it less appealing to them.
- Use weights or heavy items: Place weights or heavy items, such as rocks or cinder blocks, on top of the lid to prevent raccoons from opening the trash can.
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Raccoon repellent
Raccoons are intelligent and curious creatures that have learned to adapt to human habitats. They are constantly tending to their basic needs for food and shelter, which they can find near humans. Raccoons are also excellent climbers and can open containers, locks, and doors with their dexterous hands. They can even turn doorknobs and unlatch locks. Therefore, it is challenging to keep them away from food sources, and repellents may not always be effective.
However, here are some strategies that can help deter raccoons:
Exclusion and Physical Barriers
The best method to deter raccoons is exclusion, creating physical barriers to stop them from accessing resources. Raccoons are excellent climbers, so fences may not be enough to keep them out. However, you can improve your existing fences by adding mesh wire to the bottom and extending it several inches underground. Alternatively, install fence extenders facing outward at a 45-degree angle on top of each post, with wire strung between them.
Secure Garbage Cans and Food Storage
Raccoons have learned that garbage cans are excellent sources of food. To keep them out of your trash, use a metal trash can with a locking lid. Raccoons can sometimes chew through plastic cans or containers. Secure the lid with rope, bungee cords, chains, or weights. Keep your trash cans in a shed, garage, or basement, and ensure the area is well-lit, installing motion-detection lights if possible. You can also place ammonia-soaked rags or newspapers in the bottom of the garbage can, as raccoons are repelled by the smell, which resembles their urine. Additionally, seal each trash bag tightly to prevent tempting scents from escaping.
Use Repellent Scents and Substances
Raccoons dislike the smell of certain spices and oils, including mint, cayenne pepper, and mustard oil. Sprinkle cayenne pepper on your lawn or in planters to deter raccoons from digging for worms and grubs. You can also sprinkle it on top of the garbage to discourage them.
Remove Food Sources from Your Yard
Do not leave pet food or water outside overnight, as this will attract raccoons. If you have fruit trees, bird feeders, or other food sources in your yard, ensure that all food is put away at night.
Use Sound and Light
Raccoons prefer darkness, so installing motion-detection lighting around your trash cans or property can help deter them. You can also keep a radio playing constantly near your trash cans, preferably a talk station with human voices. However, remember to change the music or light regularly to avoid the raccoons getting used to it.
Other Tips
- If you have a swimming pool, check for raccoon feces near the steps before entering, as raccoons like to swim and will defecate before exiting the pool.
- If a raccoon enters your house, close the doors to other rooms, open doors and windows to the outside, and wait quietly for it to leave.
- Do not use food as a lure to attract raccoons, as this will encourage them to associate food with humans and return for more.
- If you have outdoor pets, be cautious, as raccoons may view kittens or small animals as prey.
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Raccoon traps
Raccoons are intelligent, curious, and dexterous creatures that can be a nuisance to humans. They can weigh anywhere from 11 to 57 pounds and have very nimble fingers, allowing them to access food sources that other animals might struggle with. Raccoons will eat almost anything, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, shellfish, frogs, eggs, insects, worms, snakes, and even garbage. They are also quite adaptable, learning that garbage cans are excellent sources of food. Therefore, it is essential to take steps to prevent them from accessing trash cans and becoming a nuisance.
One effective method to deal with raccoons is trapping. While some people may attempt to trap and remove raccoons themselves, this is not recommended as raccoons can become aggressive and may carry rabies. Instead, it is advisable to contact a professional wildlife control company. Hav-a-hart traps are an effective means of capturing raccoons, and once trapped, the local authorities in many towns will take them away.
To prevent raccoons from accessing trash cans, several measures can be implemented:
- Choose a metal trash can with a locking lid. Raccoons can chew through plastic, so metal trash cans with secure lids are more effective at keeping them out.
- Use raccoon locks, chains, bungee cords, or specially designed garbage-lid straps to secure the lid.
- Place a heavy item, such as a rock or cinder block, on top of the lid to make it more difficult for raccoons to open.
- Secure the trash can to a stake: Drive a metal or wooden stake into the ground and secure the trash can to it with rope or bungee cords. This prevents the raccoons from knocking over the trash can.
- Use ammonia: Ammonia smells like raccoon urine and acts as a powerful repellent. Place ammonia-soaked newspapers or rags in the bottom of the trash can or sprinkle cayenne pepper on top of the garbage to deter raccoons.
- Use natural repellents: Raccoons dislike the smell of certain spices and oils, such as mint, cayenne pepper, and mustard oil. Spraying or sprinkling these substances around the trash can help keep raccoons away.
- Keep trash cans in a secure area: Store trash cans in a shed, garage, or basement. Raccoons cannot open doors, so keeping the cans in an enclosed space will prevent them from accessing the trash.
- Use motion-detection lighting: Install lights that turn on when motion is detected near the trash cans. Raccoons prefer darkness, so a sudden bright light may deter them.
- Improve fencing: Raccoons are excellent climbers, so standard fences may not be enough to keep them out. Consider adding mesh wire to the bottom of the fence and extending it underground to prevent them from burrowing under.
- Eliminate food sources: Remove bird feeders, pet food bowls, and other potential food sources from your yard or secure them to prevent raccoons from accessing them.
By implementing these measures, you can effectively deal with raccoons and prevent them from accessing your trash cans and becoming a nuisance.
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Raccoon exclusion methods
Raccoons are intelligent and curious creatures that have learned to adapt to human habitats. They are strong and agile, and can chew through plastic. They are primarily nocturnal and are constantly in search of food and shelter. They will eat almost anything, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, meat, eggs, insects, worms, and even snakes. They are attracted to trash cans, pet food, bird feeders, and compost bins.
Secure Your Trash Cans
Raccoons are often attracted to trash cans in search of food. To prevent them from accessing your trash, consider the following measures:
- Use a metal trash can with a locking lid. Raccoons may be able to chew through plastic cans or bend flimsy metal ones.
- Secure the lid with rope, bungee cords, chains, or weights to make it more difficult for raccoons to open.
- Place the trash can behind closed doors, such as in a shed, garage, or basement. Raccoons cannot open doors.
- Secure the trash can upright with stakes to prevent raccoons from tipping it over.
- Seal trash bags tightly before placing them in the can to prevent tempting scents from escaping.
Use Repellents
Raccoons dislike certain smells, so you can use repellents to deter them:
- Ammonia has a smell similar to raccoon urine and is an effective repellent. Spray ammonia or place ammonia-soaked cloths or newspapers in and around your trash cans.
- Use natural repellents such as cayenne pepper, mint, oil of mustard, or other strong-smelling spices and oils. Sprinkle them in and around your trash cans or affected areas.
Deter Them with Lights and Sounds
Raccoons prefer darkness and quiet, so you can use lights and sounds to scare them away:
- Install motion-detection lights or blinking Christmas lights near your trash cans or affected areas.
- Play a radio constantly, preferably with human voices or talk shows, to deter raccoons. Start with low volume and increase it gradually if needed.
Protect Your Garden
To keep raccoons from digging in your garden:
- Sprinkle cayenne pepper on lawns or planters to deter them from searching for insects and grubs.
- Use bird netting or garden fencing to cover garden plants.
- Improve existing fences by adding mesh wire or fence extenders to prevent raccoons from climbing or burrowing under.
Exclude Them from Your Home
If raccoons have entered your home, especially the attic, exclusion methods can be challenging due to their strength and agility. Here are some tips:
- Identify all potential entry and exit points and seal off any openings except for one small spot.
- Install a sturdy one-way exclusion door at the remaining entry/exit point. Ensure it is securely mounted with bolts and reinforced with steel screening or flashing to prevent raccoons from ripping it out.
- Before installing exclusion doors, confirm that there are no baby raccoons inside, as this can be dangerous for the young ones.
- If raccoons are in your chimney, use a "Chimtrap" over the flu of the chimney to trap them.
Remember, trapping and relocating raccoons can be complex and is best left to trained wildlife professionals. Exclusion methods can be effective, but they may not always work, especially with persistent raccoons.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, raccoons will chew through plastic containers to get at food. They are opportunistic eaters and will consume nearly anything available to them. Raccoons are also smart, adaptable, and have opposable thumbs, making it easy for them to open lids and chew through plastic.
To prevent raccoons from accessing your trash, you can use a metal trash can with a locking lid. You can also use bungee cords, chains, or locks to secure the lid. Keeping your trash can in a shed, garage, or basement will also help to deter raccoons.
Yes, there are several other methods to deter raccoons. You can use natural repellents such as cayenne pepper, mint, or mustard oil, or commercial repellents containing predator urine. Playing a radio set to a talk station near the trash can also helps to scare away raccoons.
Raccoons can spread diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, and salmonella. They can also create a mess and cause damage to your property. Additionally, the potential for rabies in raccoons is a significant concern, and most states do not allow people to catch them themselves.
