How To Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Vegetable Garden

Protecting Your Home from Animals from blog.homestars.com

Understanding Raccoons

Raccoons are intelligent and curious animals that can quickly figure out how to get into your vegetable garden. They are also very strong and resourceful, so it can be difficult to keep them out. Knowing the behavior of these animals and understanding why they are trying to access your garden will help you to come up with a strategy to prevent it from happening.

Raccoons are mostly nocturnal, so they will usually be active at night searching for food. They have a great sense of smell, which helps them to locate food sources easily. They are also excellent climbers and swimmers, so it can be difficult to keep them out of a garden surrounded by fencing or even a body of water.

Raccoons are omnivores, so they will eat both plants and animals. They tend to prefer sweet and fatty foods, so fruits and vegetables can quickly become a target for these animals. Your vegetable garden can also become a source of shelter for these animals as they look for a safe place to rest and hide.

Preventing Raccoons From Accessing Your Vegetable Garden

The first step in preventing raccoons from accessing your vegetable garden is to make sure that it is properly secured. A strong fence that is at least six feet tall and buried at least one foot into the ground can help to keep these animals out. You can also use a fence topper, such as an electric fence, to make it more difficult for them to climb over the fence.

If your garden is near a body of water, you may want to build a barrier to keep raccoons from swimming across. A wire mesh fence can be a good option for this. Make sure that any openings in the fence are small enough that raccoons can’t fit through them.

It is also important to make sure that your garden is not a source of food for raccoons. Make sure that any fruits and vegetables that you have in your garden are harvested as soon as possible and do not leave them on the ground. Keep your garden clean and free of any debris that may attract raccoons.

Deterrents

There are a variety of deterrents that can be used to keep raccoons away from your garden. Loud noises, bright lights, and strong smells can all be effective ways to scare them away. Motion-activated sprinklers can also be used to startle raccoons when they approach your garden.

Another option is to use chemical repellents. These repellents contain natural or synthetic compounds that are designed to deter animals from entering an area. These repellents can be sprayed or applied directly to the ground around your garden. Make sure to follow the instructions on the product carefully to ensure that it is used safely and effectively.

You can also use visual deterrents to keep raccoons away from your garden. These deterrents can be as simple as placing a mirror or other reflective material in the garden. You can also use fake owls, snakes, or other animals that raccoons are naturally afraid of.

Trapping

If the above methods do not work, you may need to resort to trapping the raccoons. This should only be done as a last resort and should be done by a professional wildlife trapper. If you do decide to trap the raccoons yourself, make sure to use a humane live trap and then release the animal in an appropriate area away from your vegetable garden.

Once you have successfully trapped and removed the raccoons from your garden, it is important to take steps to prevent them from returning. Make sure to repair any damage to your fence and double check that it is secure. Make sure to also keep your garden clean and free of any potential food sources.

Conclusion

Keeping raccoons out of your vegetable garden can be a challenge, but it is possible with the right strategies. Start by making sure that your garden is properly secured with a strong fence. Use deterrents such as loud noises, bright lights, and strong smells to keep raccoons away. If these methods do not work, you may need to resort to trapping the raccoons. Once you have removed the raccoons, take steps to prevent them from returning by repairing any damage to your fence and keeping your garden clean.