Raccoons are nocturnal and intelligent animals that can sometimes cross paths with humans on their property. While this may not be their typical area, the abundance of food and the absence of predators have made human settlements the perfect place for raccoons to enjoy a decent meal. And unfortunately, they can cause immense property destruction outside your yard and home.
Since raccoons are most active at night, it can be challenging to repel them without the proper tools and plans. Fortunately, there are various scents you can use against them. And the most popular ones are essential oils. These natural repellents are perfect for deterring raccoons from your property without harming the animals and the environment.
So if you are wondering what essential oils repel raccoons, continue reading this article to find out.
Raccoons may look cute. But they are intelligent and persistent animals that will do their best to get what they want, especially food. Unfortunately, this means you will cross paths with them on your property. And it can be tricky to repel them. To prevent them from wreaking havoc on your property, you can use the following essential oils to repel them:
- Peppermint Oil
- Garlic Oil
- Cayenne Pepper Oil
If you are having trouble getting rid of raccoons on your property, using the essential oils below should help repel them.
5 Essential Oils That Can Help Repel Raccoons
If you’ve heard the sounds of falling trash cans in the middle night, you may have raccoons scavenging for food in your backyard. They may look cute, but they can quickly become your worst nightmare, especially when they do property destruction. Unfortunately, some states protect raccoons. So, you’ll need to ensure that you can repel them without harming them. And essential oils are perfect for such tasks.
Peppermint Oil
This oil is the staple of natural pest repellents. And while raccoons may necessarily be not pests, they can be a nuisance to your property. And with the help of peppermint oil, you will surely drive raccoons away.
Since raccoons have sensitive noses, they hate peppermint’s cool and burning smell. It may smell pleasant to humans, but it’s a different story for raccoons.
If you are thinking of using peppermint oil, mix a bit of rubbing alcohol with water in a spray bottle and add ten drops of the essential oil. You can spray the solution on your garden, trash cans, and areas where raccoons may enter. But the best place to use this solution is in a raccoon den if you can locate it.
Peppermint oil can be overpowering in a den’s small spaces. So you can expect raccoons to leave immediately.
Fortunately, peppermint oil can last for long periods, but you’ll need to reapply it from time to time, especially when it rains.
Garlic Oil
Another essential oil perfect for repelling raccoons is garlic oil. Garlic has a strong and irritating smell that can disrupt a raccoon’s ability to detect the scent of food. It also has a strong taste that can linger on tastebuds, leaving raccoons desensitized.
To make garlic spray, mix garlic oil, dish, and water in a spray bottle. About ten drops of garlic oil should do. You can spray the solution directly on your plants, trash cans, or in places where you often see the critters.
If you want a more effective solution, add other essential oils like cayenne to make the mixture more potent. But just like the others, you’ll need to reapply the garlic oil to ensure no raccoons will come back.
Cayenne Pepper Oil
Cayenne pepper oil is a natural repellent for many pests and animals, including raccoons. And it’s because of the chemical substance Capsaicin in the oil, which gives it that hot flavor.
Most are not fond of the spicy taste and smell of cayenne paper, especially raccoons, making cayenne pepper oil an effective repellent against such critters.
To make a cayenne pepper oil spray, mix ten drops of the oil with a teaspoon of dish soap in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well and spray the solution on grounds and plants where raccoon activity typically happens. And with the help of dish soap, the solution can stick to surfaces better.
And don’t forget to reapply the scent to ensure it can repel the raccoons away.
Black Pepper Oil
Black pepper is one of the typical spices you will see in kitchens. But besides being a key ingredient to most dishes, it also has other uses, one of which is that you can use it as a natural repellent against raccoons in your garden, yard, and orchard.
Raccoons hate the pepper’s spicy smell. So it makes sense to use it to deter raccoons from your property.
Onion and Pepper Oil
As was said, raccoons are not fond of spicy flavors and tastes. But you can take it to another level by mixing it with onion oil. It sounds like the ingredient for your next meal, but this combination is one of the best natural repellents against raccoons.
Onion and pepper oil will not only irritate a raccoon’s sense of smell. But will also release an undesirable scent that will stop raccoons on their track and drive them away.
But despite the pungent smell the mixture releases, onion, and pepper oil can only last a few days. Over time, the scent will disappear, especially when it rains. So if your goal is to deter raccoons for a long time, you must spray the combination at least twice a week. In addition, it would be best to spray their dens to teach the critters that entering your property would mean irritating their sensitive noses.
Where Should You Use the Essential Oils
If you want to use essential oil to repel raccoons, you’ll need to spray them in the right areas. Yes, these natural repellents are harmless to humans. But it will not be effective if spread in the wrong locations.
Essential oil scents have to be near raccoons. And you need to spread it in multiple locations on your property. So here are some of the best places to use such natural repellents:
- Areas like the pantry, garbage cans, food bins, and other similar locations where raccoons will scour for food.
- The garden where you plant your crops and vegetables.
- Entry points where raccoons can access to enter your property.
- Your property’s perimeter to stop them from roaming around your property.
- Least accessible places like your attic and chimneys where they can make their nest.
Conclusion
Raccoons are intelligent animals that can sometimes become a nuisance when they destroy your property. But, there can be places that protect these animals, which makes it tricky to repel them.
Fortunately, natural repellents like peppermint, garlic, and cayenne pepper can help drive away these critters without harming them. So, if you know anyone asking what essential oils repel raccoons, sharing this article should help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Raccoons on My Property?
Human settlements are the best food source for raccoons. From your garbage cans to your compost pit, raccoons will scavenge to find anything they can eat. Plus, there are no predators inside your yard, meaning they can eat to their heart’s content without worrying they’ll be someone else’s next meal.
Why Are There Raccoons in the Daytime?
Raccoons are supposedly nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night. That is because it’s safer for them to come out at night to avoid detection from predators. However, there are no predators in urban areas like cities. That is why they are very confident to come out in day time.
Can Raccoons Carry Diseases?
Raccoons are wild animals, which means they can have ticks and fleas on their fur. They can also carry rabies. So if you get bitten by one, seek immediate medical care.
