How To Get Rid Of Raccoons Under Deck

How To Get Rid Of Raccoons Under Deck
  • Author: Amanda Arnold
  • Posted On: March 6, 2022
  • Updated On: August 21, 2023

While most people enjoy having wildlife in their surroundings, not everyone wants animals to live in or near their houses. Raccoon mothers tend to alter accessible places to match their nesting requirements.

When a mother raccoon is terrified, she will shift her young to a new den site, but evicting a mother raccoon always poses the risk of her abandoning or being separated from her babies.

Under a deck or shed is one of the raccoon’s favorite spots to build up camp. There is a chance that family members and pets will be harmed. The majority of homeowners want any raccoons to be removed as soon as possible.

To comply with public regulations, you must ensure that no damage to the property or animal occurs. However, the easiest way to get rid of raccoons under your facility is to read this post.

A Few Things You Need To Know Before Getting Rid Of Raccoons

Raccoons are smart, adaptive, sensitive, and inquisitive creatures. Raccoons prefer to live on decks, in sewers, in backyards, in abandoned homes, or automobiles. Raccoons can be found in freshwater and saltwater marshes, cropland, woodlands, and hardwood swamps, in addition to homesteads.

In the wild, they typically live for three to five years. When kept in captivity or safer environments, they have been known to live up to twenty years or more.

Raccoons may wreak havoc on your home and garden. They demolish garbage cans, vegetable patches, and gardens. Hazardous microorganisms can stick to their fur and claws due to their proclivity for crawling through garbage.

They’re also the most prevalent carriers of rabies and can spread diseases like Tetanus and Listeriosis. Humans and pets alike could be at risk from these diseases. If a raccoon bites or scratches you or your pet, get medical help right once.

Ways To Get Rid Of Raccoons Under Deck

Because raccoons are nocturnal animals, you should set a light inside or near the deck’s entrance. Raccoons will expel themselves from your deck if they notice the area lit up. Raccoons will stay away from your deck if you utilize lights like a mechanic light or an outdoor spotlight.

Close All Access Points Of Deck

A raccoon has picked your deck as a haven for her young because it is dark, quiet, and dark. The raccoon and her young will ultimately leave your property if you gently tease the mother into believing that your deck is no longer secure.

Incorporating light, sound, and smell into your raccoon-proofing strategy is critical. To be effective, the harassment measures must be put near the den’s entrance so that the raccoon cannot ignore them when she enters and exits the deck. When trying to get rid of raccoons from your deck, be persistent.

Let Them Come Out On Their Own

When you’re convinced there’s a raccoon in the deck; it’s always difficult to sit, wait, and do nothing. However, getting rid of raccoons under the deck can often be as simple as that. Raccoons are very active animals. As a result, after a brief period or when their cub becomes independent, they will leave the deck.

During the summer, this is most common. Raccoon mothers have been known to move their dens when nesting in different circumstances. It’ll be a good opportunity to plug the opening and prevent any further visits when they’re all gone.

Noise Can Make Raccoons Uncomfortable

Instead of trapping, eradication professionals may recommend a harassing tactic. This may lead the raccoon to believe that moving somewhere else on their own is in their best interests.

If the young kits are relocated too far from their home zone, forced removal by trapping may separate the mother raccoon from her young and cause her to abandon them.

The mother raccoon is looking for a peaceful environment to give birth and raise her young. However, not all noises make the raccoons feel uneasy or fearful.

The majority of specialists agree that human voices startle the raccoons. That means that radio tuned to a talk station and turned up as loudly as feasible for the circumstances will usually result in the mother raccoon and her kits from their den.

Use Ammonia And Apple Cider Vinegar For Offensive Smell

Place an old towel or rag in a plastic bag and soak it in ammonia or Apple Cider Vinegar. Tying the plastic bag’s cover and pierce it in several places to release the scent. You can now place the plastic bag near the deck’s entrance in a convenient area. The scent of ammonia or cider vinegar is repulsive to raccoons.

Please keep in mind that this method is rarely effective unless used in conjunction with other techniques. Combining sound and light smell techniques may be beneficial. Trapping and relocating a raccoon, contrary to popular perception, is the cruelest choice.

In several states, it is also unlawful. Raccoons that have been relocated may become stressed and die due to the relocation. The raccoon babies are frequently left behind, perishing without their mother.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to get rid of raccoons beneath the deck does not ensure a raccoon-free home. For long-term solutions, it is usually preferable to enlist the assistance of professionals. It’s also worth remembering that the raccoons may accept any tactics for a limited period.

This means property owners must be consistent and leave the light, noise, and odor sources on for multiple days. Three to four days is usually adequate, although there are no hard and fast rules.

Contact a professional if you’re not sure what to do if a raccoon has taken up residence under your deck or shed. They’ll gladly collaborate with you to figure out how to get rid of raccoons underneath your deck or shed.

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Author: Amanda Arnold

Amanda has been working with ConstructionHow since 2021. Her experience spans over 5 years in the creative niche such as home decor and trends, landscaping, renovations, and custom architectural values. As a home designer expert, she has a keen eye for the latest home improvement trends with accurate facts that readers find impossible to ignore. Being invested in home-building trends is how she has gained her lucrative expertise exploring more to bring a positive ambiance for all homeowners (and even tenants!). Currently, she lives in a beautiful beach home, a source of fascination for her.

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