Have a raccoon or a family of raccoons that you are trying to keep out of your garden – and from eating your vegetables?
If there’s one garden pest that can cause a surprising amount of damage in a very short time, it’s a raccoon. The furry bandits might look cute, but they’re anything but when it comes to what they can do to your garden.
With their clever paws and strong sense of smell, raccoons can tear through your crops fast. Especially when they’re feeding a family of young ones. And unfortunately, once they find a reliable food source, they tend to come back night after night.
Raccoons are known to eat just about anything in the garden. They love ripe tomatoes and sweet corn. But they’ll also gladly munch on cucumbers, peppers, melons, squash, and even strawberries. They dig, pull, chew, and trample as they search for their meal. And the bigger the garden, the bigger the invitation for them to feast.
That’s why it’s so important to act quickly if you see signs of raccoon activity. The good news is that there are several ways to protect your garden from raccoons. Some solutions are quick and easy – while others are more permanent ones that can stop raccoons in their tracks for good.
How To Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Garden
Why Raccoons Target Gardens
Raccoons are opportunistic animals. They’re always on the lookout for an easy meal. And a garden filled with ripe, juicy produce is like an all-you-can-eat buffet. During the spring and summer months, raccoons become even more persistent, especially if they’re raising a litter of young.
A mother raccoon will often lead her babies to food sources to teach them how to forage. If that happens to be your garden, you could find a whole family rummaging through your plants.
The damage can be severe. Raccoons don’t just take a bite and move on. They often destroy whole sections of plants while digging or reaching for fruit. They’ll knock over plants, strip corn cobs, and ruin tomatoes with just one or two bites, often leaving them half-eaten. Their digging can also uproot young seedlings and damage roots.
Because raccoons are nocturnal, the damage usually happens overnight. You may walk out in the morning to find broken stalks, missing fruit, or trampled beds. If you don’t take action quickly, they’ll keep coming back until the damage becomes too much to handle.
A Few Quick Ways To Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Garden
If you’ve just noticed the start of raccoon problems, there are a few quick ways to discourage them from returning. These won’t always work long term, especially with smart raccoons or larger populations, but they can help stop a minor issue from turning into a full invasion.
Motion-Activated Sprinklers
One of the simplest and most humane ways to scare off raccoons is with motion-activated sprinklers. These devices connect to your garden hose and are triggered when an animal walks into the detection zone.
As soon as a raccoon steps into the garden, the sprinkler goes off, spraying a sudden burst of water. Raccoons hate surprises, and they don’t like getting wet. A blast of water is often enough to scare them off and keep them away for at least a few nights. Affiliate Link: Abco Tech | Motion Activated Sprinkler/Animal Deterrent
The sound of the sprinkler activating adds to the scare factor. While this method isn’t always foolproof, it can be very effective for a small garden or as a first line of defense.
Using Offensive Scents
Another trick that often works is using scents that raccoons dislike. Like many animals, raccoons have a sensitive nose. There are several smells they naturally avoid. By simply placing these around your garden, you can often keep them at a distance.
Strong-smelling items like ammonia, vinegar, peppermint oil, and garlic can be used to create an unwelcoming space. You can soak rags or cotton balls in the scent and place them near problem areas.
Some gardeners even create small scent stations in old cans or containers placed around the edge of the garden. The drawback is that these smells fade quickly, especially after a rain. You’ll need to reapply often to keep the scent strong. Also, some raccoons may simply ignore the smell if they’re hungry enough.
Long Term Solutions
While motion sprinklers and strong smells can work for a short time to keep raccoons out of a garden, the most dependable ways to protect your garden from raccoons are with either ultrasonic sound deterrents or a low electric fence. These methods work night after night. Whether you’re watching or not.
Solar-Powered Ultrasonic Sound & Light Devices
Ultrasonic pest repellers have become more popular in recent years, and for good reason. These small devices emit high-pitched sound waves that are unpleasant to raccoons but too high for humans to hear.
Some models also include flashing LED lights that add another layer of deterrence. Affiliate Link: Solar Ultrasonic Animal Repellent Outdoor, 4 Pack Cat Squirrel Raccoon Bird Dog Deer Repellent
When placed around your garden, the devices activate with motion. When a raccoon steps near one, it triggers a high-frequency sound combined with bright flashes of light. This sudden noise and visual distraction confuses and scares them, sending them running away from the area.
The best part is that many models are solar-powered. That means you don’t have to worry about batteries or plugging them in. Once set up, they work on their own, charging during the day and activating automatically at night.
You can place several around your garden, especially near common entry points or favorite crops. To be most effective, rotate or move them every week or so.
Raccoons are smart, and if a device always stays in one spot, they may figure out how to avoid it. But if the sound and light keep coming from different spots, they’ll likely decide it’s just not worth the risk.
Installing A Low Electric Fence
When it comes to stopping raccoons forever, nothing works quite as well as a properly installed low-voltage electric fence. While it might sound extreme, a small electric fence is actually one of the safest and most reliable methods to protect your garden.
You don’t need a tall fence. In fact, a single wire strung about one foot off the ground is often enough. This is right at the level where a raccoon will try to sneak into the garden. If they touch the wire, they get a small, harmless shock that startles them. Most raccoons learn quickly and won’t try again.
For even more protection, you can add a second wire about two feet off the ground. This helps stop raccoons that try to climb or jump over the first wire. The two-wire system creates a barrier that’s hard to beat. And it’s far more affordable than building a full fence.
You can power the fence with a small solar charger or plug-in charger. Both are easy to find at farm supply stores or online. Make sure to install warning signs if your garden is in an area where people might walk by, so others know it’s electrified.
Once installed, a low electric fence takes very little maintenance. You will want to occasionally make sure the wires are tight and free from weeds or branches. A clear fence line ensures the current flows properly.
A Few Extra Tips To Keep Raccoons Out Of Your Garden
No matter what method you choose, there are a few good habits that can help keep raccoons from coming back:
Always harvest regularly. Ripe fruits and vegetables will attract raccoons more than anything else. Pick as soon as crops are ready. And make sure to pick up dropped fruit. If you grow fruit trees or vines near the garden, remove any fallen fruit quickly so it doesn’t draw in nighttime visitors.
Avoid leaving pet food, bird seed, or garbage outside. Raccoons will go wherever they find easy meals. And last but not least, if you compost food scraps, make sure your bin is raccoon-proof and has a secure lid.
By combining smart habits with a reliable deterrent like ultrasonic devices or a low electric fence, you can stop raccoons from ruining your garden. And – most importantly – enjoy the harvest you’ve worked so hard to grow!
For more on keeping your garden safe, check out our article: 4 Simple Secrets To Keep Rabbits Out Of Your Flowerbeds & Garden – For Good!
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