The Best Way To Keep Long Island Raccoons Away From Your Home

What To Do If There Is A Raccoon Outside Your House

Raccoons are gray and black mammals with characteristic black “bandit” masks across their eyes. Adult raccoons grow to be between two and three feet long. Their bodies are stocky, and they have a furry, ringed tail. Raccoons are nocturnal creatures, but it is not unheard of to see them during the day.

Raccoons can be fascinating to observe, but it’s not ideal to have them on your property. They are wild animals and may attack if they feel threatened. If you see a raccoon outside your home, do not approach the animal. The best thing to do is to leave it alone; usually, the raccoon will eventually move on. If you regularly see raccoons or if they are causing problems on your property, you should consider contacting a local wildlife removal expert.

Raccoons Love To Eat!

Like all wildlife, raccoons are constantly searching for food. Raccoons are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. These critters are not picky eaters - their diet consists of berries, fruits, nuts, insects, frogs, fish, turtles, mice, bird eggs, and more.

As raccoons have adapted to living in urban and suburban environments, their food sources have also come to include whatever they can find in residential neighborhoods. This may consist of items from your vegetable garden, birdseed, pet food, and even the content of your trash cans. Raccoons are often found scavenging in garbage cans for food scraps, and when they do, they tend to make a huge mess.

They’ll also devour the vegetable plants growing in your yard, empty your bird feeders, and eat any pet food left sitting out. Easy access to these food sources can attract raccoons to your property. To help keep raccoons away from your home, be sure to:

• Secure your outdoor trash cans using animal-proof lids, bungee cords, clamps, or other devices.
• Feed your pets indoors and never leave pet food or treats outside.
• Remove birdseed and bird feeders.
• Use a secure fence, motion-detecting lights, or motion-detecting sprinklers around your garden.

Implementing these measures will reduce food sources for raccoons on your property, encouraging them to move on.