Keeping Raccoons out of our yard?

Lately, I've had a family of raccoons that stop by for a midnight swim.

I ran outside to try and scare them off, but they ran right at my direction instead. 

I do have a spray that supposed to repel them, I'll try that.  Just seeing if there are any other ideas out there,


Why can't they have a swim?  This was their land before we arrived.

Also, they aren't litigious so if one drowns, you won't be sued.


Do you have any garbage that may be attracting them? I tried your approach and it didn't work for me either. My neighbor saw one in his garage and said very politely to it,"I'll give you five minutes and I expect you to leave." That actually worked. Maybe you can get somebody from Maplewood Pool to make an announcement: "Raccoon swim is over!" 


no garbage - I see they don't like coffee grounds - might try that.  

Here's a list of other deterents: https://pestpointers.com/scents-that-raccoons-hate-and-how-to-use-them/


It seems like they are expecting humans to give them stuff. I don't think they're being aggressive otherwise. Still, a little unnerving. Doesn't seem like they're rabid, more like accustomed.


Get a strobe light and place it in the back yard. 
Those  “repellents” don’t work. 


I just feel like we need to share more with animals other than ourselves.


I had one neighbor in the past feeding stray cats. I was surprised how anxious they were to approach me.

No bears yet at least.  Although in Germany raccoons are referred to as wash-bears.


They love swimming and have been among the most adapted to living with humans among wildlife. They are often in my yard and do not leave when I'm around. One of the reasons I left the city was for these close encounters.

Maplewood's former ACO was a wildlife rehabber and had her rescue, Midnight Bandits.


It takes a hard heart indeed to say no to those faces.


drummerboy said:

Turn them into pelts.

 You monster!


mrincredible said:

drummerboy said:

Turn them into pelts.

 You monster!

 LOL


Trash Pandas are the best! Unless they're rabid. 


Baby raccoons do look adorable and raccoons are definitely intelligent.

However, one family I know no longer thinks that raccoons are cute.

For days they had watched a robin's nest.  The eggs had hatched and the chicks were getting ready to fly.  Then a raccoon raided the nest and devoured the chicks.  One of their kids actually saw the attack from their bedroom window - no amount of yelling and throwing stuff at the raccoon could save the nest.


The raccoons are cute but just don't get too friendly. Years ago my mother was in our family home in Maplewood.She passed a bedroom on the 2nd floor and there was a large raccoon walking through. No cell phones in those days so she ran to a neighbor's to make a call. Even the game warden responded. Some-one watching nearby even had a heart attack and the rescue squad came. The raccoon had evidently come down the chimney and went upstairs. Then she went back to the fireplace where they made a small fire to get her up to the roof.We never found another one,it was quite a day and the chimney was quickly covered.


I keep hearing George Hamilton’s opening line in “Love at first bite”

…creatures of the night….  SHUT UP!


It has been very hot, even at night.  They may be attracted to the pool.  A good swim is a fun way to cool off, even for raccoons.  Short of draining or covering the pool at night, I am not sure what you can do to remove this attraction.


Harriet said:

Baby raccoons do look adorable and raccoons are definitely intelligent.

However, one family I know no longer thinks that raccoons are cute.

For days they had watched a robin's nest.  The eggs had hatched and the chicks were getting ready to fly.  Then a raccoon raided the nest and devoured the chicks.  One of their kids actually saw the attack from their bedroom window - no amount of yelling and throwing stuff at the raccoon could save the nest.

 The circle of life.  Of course, in The Lion King, they never showed a lion killing some animal's mother or some mother's babies.


Jamie, try yelling "Hey you kits get out of my yard!"


I wonder what the raccoon would have done if I had not gone inside?  Did it want to just follow me in the house and look around?  Shake my hand?  Or just plain bite me and give me rabies? grin


Raccoons are always looking for a handout. This guy, or gal, showed up at the back door when I was baking cookies a few years ago.


blackcat said:

Raccoons are always looking for a handout. This guy, or gal, showed up at the back door when I was baking cookies a few years ago.

 Who can blame them? Cookies!!!


the_18th_letter said:

Trash Pandas are the best! Unless they're rabid. 

 Trash Panda! Love it!


Motion sensor lights.


I had raccoons in my attic, I put a strobe light and left it on 24/7. It worked, then I had the roofer patch the holes they were getting in through. 
if you can connect a strobe light to a motion sensor it might very well keep them away. And no, it’s not for some late night pool party. It works, the flashing lights irritates their eyes. 
either that or you shoot them with paint balls like my neighbor did.



In order to add a comment – you must Join this community – Click here to do so.