Furry Intruders – Animal-Friendly Removal of Raccoons 

With black masks over their eyes, raccoons look like comical little burglars. But, unfortunately, not everyone is enchanted by the cute little ones. Especially not when they sneak into gardens and garages at night to loudly plunder garbage cans.  

If you follow some tips, a peaceful coexistence with these little mammals is possible, and raccoons will stay away from your house and garden.

Raccoons are omnivores. They enjoy fruit, vegetables, and insects, as well as leftovers and pet food. This makes compost heaps and garbage cans especially tempting for these native North American mammals. Because they are nocturnal, their search for food often comes with unwanted noise. In addition, residents are frequently annoyed by broken flowerpots, torn garbage bags, and scattered trash.

Raccoons can easily open doors, drawers, and garbage cans. It is much easier for them to rummage through compost heaps than to search the ground for insects or climb trees to pick fruit.

Raccoons not only enjoy a quick meal but also a dry place to sleep. As excellent climbers, they readily settle in attics, sheds, or garages and quickly make themselves at home. These animals are also quite social; through scent marking, they signal to other raccoons that a location is a good place to live.

If raccoons have moved into your attic, it’s important to figure out how they got in. In most cases, they reach the roof by climbing dense trees with overhanging branches or by using rainwater downspouts as a pathway into the house.

Preventing access is often straightforward. Trim back branches near the roof, and cover tree trunks or downspouts with smooth metal sleeves. Never use barbed wire: it can injure the animals and may even make climbing easier rather than acting as an effective barrier

Leaving pet food outdoors is an open invitation to wild animals and not just raccoons. Even the strong smell can attract them, so it’s best to feed your pets indoors.

You can also use scent deterrents to make your property less appealing. For example, placing a well-used dog blanket near potential entry points can signal to raccoons that the area is already occupied.

Another option is to hang small bags of dog hair or use mothballs to discourage them. Loud noises can also be effective, as raccoons have a keen sense of hearing. Keeping a radio playing, for instance, may help drive them away.

This guide was created in cooperation with Florian Eiserlo, biologist and site manager at TIERART Wild Animal Sanctuary.