Have they ever come across raccoons? They are wild-eyed, fluffy, and round creatures with bushy tails. They like to make dens in abandoned areas, wood, and forests, but they also live in artificial places.
They may appear innocent, but to your utmost surprise, they can do all the wrongs with your peace when entering your yard. The biggest threat to your life is when raccoons leave feces and droplets or pass urine which is fatal for your health and well-being.
Raccoons can easily manage their entry through a 4 inches hole. So, it is advisable not to leave spaces. The spaces between your garage or attic grills are sometimes enough to let raccoons in.
Luckily, there are some ways and objects that raccoons hate and help you keep raccoons out of the grill.
Raccoons are clever animals that can enter your living spaces. Unfortunately, they are harmful to children, pets, and your property due to having sharp teeth and pointed claws.
Raccoons spread infections when they creep into garbage cans and enter your living spaces.
Raccoons possess a strong sense of smell and enter the grills, where they find pleasant food smells. Similarly, they repel some unpleasant scents.
You can use these to deter them from the grill of the porch and backyard of your houses.
The next section will elaborate on the seven most effective ways to keep raccoons out of the grill. Then there will be a conclusion followed by frequently asked questions about raccoons.
7 Most Effective Ways To Keep Raccoons Out of Grill
If you have ever had raccoons get into your grill, you know how frustrating it can be. They not only make a mess, but they can also cause damage to your equipment.
Fortunately, you can do some simple things to keep raccoons out of your grill. The blog post will share 7 of the most effective methods for keeping raccoons away.
1. Secure Trash Cans
As mentioned above, raccoons love to lure in the garbage to feed themselves. Their noses tell them the food sources.
Thus, It’s wise to use tightly lidded cans and cover them securely.
If you have pet food outside, bring it in. If you feed birds or other wildlife, try to do so far away from your home, and do not leave uneaten food out overnight.
The most effective way to repel raccoons is to eliminate potential food sources and ensure they have no entry points into the home. You can also use deterrents such as bright light and loud sounds to scare them away.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Some scents may attract raccoons to enter your buildings and dwellings. On the contrary, raccoons dislike the smell of apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a cheap way to let these pests away.
You can sprinkle it around the area where raccoons are spotted or soak a small piece of cotton in apple cider vinegar and place it outside the dens or where you think they can enter.
You can also combine vinegar with other strong scents, such as garlic or peppermint oil, for a stronger repellent.
3. Smell of Hot Peppers
The smell of hot pepper irritates raccoons’ noses due to its potent fragrance. Additionally, its potent aroma has been known to ward off insects, including mosquitos.
This remedy could be very useful to keep the yards and gardens free of pests without the need for harsh chemical sprays.
All you have to do is place hot peppers on the place of entrance. Then, replace them frequently because their smell vanishes over time, and raccoons find their way back to your homes.
4. Garlic
Garlic is a widely used herb for seasoning for its aromatic flavor. However, due to their pungent smell, you can happily use garlic to keep raccoons away from the grills.
Garlic can be used in various forms, such as chopped garlic cloves, garlic powder, roasted garlic paste, etc. Furthermore, it has medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal effects.
Their application is simple. Sprinkle garlic over the places you don’t want raccoons to visit, and they will start showing their results.
5. Peppermint Essential Oil
Raccoons find it unfavorable to get into places that have peppermint oil. There are two ways to apply peppermint oil around the grills.
The first is to mix with water and spray it around the area or by placing drops of peppermint essential oil on cotton balls and placing them directly on the surfaces where raccoons may sneak into your dwellings.
This natural repellent will drive away those pesky raccoons quickly. The smell of peppermint oil also helps keep insects away, making it an ideal choice for outdoor grilling.
It may be a bit costly, so opting for a peppermint-based wildlife repellent spray is recommended. It is more effective and budget-friendly.
6. Spray Ammonia
Ammonia has a pungent odor; hence, animals and humans dislike its smell. Raccoons also find it unpleasant and repel its scent.
People use ammonia for smelling salts and cleaning products.
To make ammonia spray, mix one-quarter cup of clear liquid ammonia with two cups of water in a garden sprayer or squirt bottle. Shake the solution well and spray around your yard, garden beds, and area where raccoons gather.
Concentrated ammonia is hazardous for human and animal health. It causes burning and irritation to the eyes, skin, mouth, throat, and lungs.
Ensure you follow these preventive measures cautiously, as its exposure can damage the lungs or cause death:
- Wear safety goggles, gloves, and aprons.
- Use chemical protective kits.
- Use a full-body encapsulating suit.
7. Motion-Detectors Lights
Install motion sensory lights to flee raccoons away from your grills. They lit up when perceiving movement near a fence and scare raccoons and unwanted pests away.
These lights are powered by batteries and don’t require electricity. Make sure to place lights strategically for maximum efficiency. For example, when a raccoon tries to approach the grill, the light will turn on and scare them away.
It might take some time, but eventually, raccoons will learn that your yard is not their favorite spot anymore.
Additionally, motion detector lights are very cost-effective and easy to install. Once installed, you will no longer have to worry about raccoons approaching your grill.
This is a great way to keep them away without traps or chemicals.
Conclusion
Once raccoons sneak cross the border of your house, it is very challenging to deter them away. They spread diseases and cause serious infections.
They have a strong sense of smell and are repelled by unpleasant smells, such as apple cider vinegar, hot peppers, garlic, and peppermint oils.
Some preventive measures like lidded garbage cans, ammonia spray, and motor-sensory lights help keep raccoons at bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Raccoons Make Sounds?
Raccoons make different noises, such as purring, growls, screams, and purring. They sometimes make their course through chimneys and attics and produce tapping sounds while tearing at ductwork and tunnels.
Are Raccoons Dangerous?
Raccoons are dangerous for human health because their droplets, urine, and feces can cause severe health problems. Sometimes, they attack or bite and cause rabies.
There are many cases where children and adults were attacked and disfigured.
Can Raccoons Be Kept as Pets?
It is never advisable to keep raccoons as pets. Although, they are harmless if you feed them. But they cause severe bacterial and viral infections. They inflict pets like cats and dogs, especially at night.
Sometimes, they carry worms in their fluffy fur, which is unacceptable at any cost.
