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Raccoons and Skunks
Why my home for their home?
Raccoons and skunks visit or live on your property for the same reason you do; it has everything they need.
Residents...
If they've built a den under your shed or porch, it is with the purpose of a family home in mind. The den is a temporary one and will be vacated by late summer or early fall. Their front door can be as small as a grapefruit-sized hole.
They selected the location because it's dark, dry, quiet, secure and close to a food source. Meals are found in nearby fruit trees, ponds, outdoor pet food, accessible garbage, composts or in some cases intentional human feeding.
...or just visiting?
Raccoons and skunks visit yards in search of food. Both will travel blocks to find or take advantage of one of the food sources listed above. A raccoon tapping on your window pane is a sure sign that a neighbour has been intentionally feeding them for a long time. If you are not comfortable acting by yourself contact a humane wildlife control company in your area.
What Can I Do?
Raccoons and skunks have very sharp teeth and strong parental instincts. Raccoons, in particular, can be ferocious if cornered.
Never put your hands or face close to the den or animal.
As both animals are nocturnal, the techniques below should be done well after dark to ensure the den is empty at the time the deterrent is placed inside.
Change dark to light... Push a utility light (grid enclosed bulb) and/or small radio tuned to a talk station into the den with a long wooden pole.
Add an offensive smell...
- You will need:
- A tin with a plastic lid
- An old rag
- Bleach OR Ammonia
- Scissors or Utility Knife
-
- Pour two to three centimeters of bleach OR ammonia into an old container.Do NOT mix bleach and ammonia
- Place an old rag in the bucket to absorb the liquid. Ensure that the lid is securely on the container
- Make small slits in the lid so the smell of the bleach can enter the atmosphere
- Add 1 cm of bleach each evening for a week as needed
- Push the bucket into the den using a long wooden stick or place them at the animal's access points to your property
