How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Trash

By nature, raccoons are very intelligent and curious creatures. There is no challenge too great for these mischievous little critters, and no entry too small for them to enter. To put it simply, raccoons will do anything to access your trash and your home in their search for food.

To protect the sanctity of your property and avoid their messy damage and contamination, here are some ways to keep raccoons out of your trash.

4 Ways to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Trash

There are several ways to keep raccoons away and out of your garbage cans. Tips to help make sure your home remains safe and raccoon-free include:

1. Taking your trash out in the morning. Raccoons happen to be nocturnal, and so are more likely to be attracted to your garbage if you leave it out overnight.
2. Placing your trash strategically. Placing your cans on level ground will reduce the likeliness of it being tipped over. It also helps to place your cans close to a spotlight or a motion detecting light, as it startles the critters whenever they get close.
3. Using animal repellents. Repellants use both unpleasant scents and tastes to discourage raccoons from approaching your trash.
4. Cleaning your trash cans regularly. Using a little ammonia to remove lingering odors and trash residue can repel raccoons from your garbage cans.

Dangers Caused by Raccoon Invasions

Dexterous animals, raccoons can access your trash cans if they are not sealed and secure. Eventually, they will chew and scratch through any opening they find to get to the food, be it in your trash receptacle or in your kitchen. Apertures along the roof, vent ducts and pet doors are some of their most frequent modes of entry into homes. There are several methods you can attempt to get rid of a raccoon in the attic.

Like most critters, raccoons rarely mean any harm and are simply in search of shelter and nourishment; however, they can cause serious damage to your property and spread disease and contamination that could threaten the integrity of your home and health, respectively. To avoid contracting ticks, fleas, and diseases such as rabies, contact local raccoon removal professionals to keep raccoons out of your trash.

The Best Way to Keep Raccoons Out of Trash

The first step in protecting your home from a potential raccoon invasion is to call the wildlife removal professionals at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh. Our team of experts have been in the business of removing critters from homes and businesses for decades and have come up with a proven CritterSafe® method to remove raccoons from homes and businesses. This method includes:

1. Inspection – Our technicians walk through your home to assess the size of your infestation.
2. Relocation – All nuisance raccoons are safely removed from your home.
3. Restoration – Any damage caused by the infestation is cleaned, repaired, and restored.
4. Prevention – Protections are put in place to prevent future raccoon invasions.

If raccoons are disturbing your trash and causing you problems, then contact the experts at Critter Control® of Pittsburgh to schedule your inspection and receive a free estimate for our humane and efficient raccoon removal services. Call us today at 412-767-4067.