Rascally Raccoons
Created on 7/15/2009
Raccoons are often portrayed as rascally bandits ripe with shenanigans in a Disney film. Oh sure, it’s hilarious when we watch a raccoon family tear apart a summer cabin – they dump flour everywhere, they open jars of pickles, and find themselves in the most precarious perches. It’s all good fun until you think about how they can use these same skills in your garden.
Raccoons are smart and adaptable. Some people turn on a radio to try to trick the raccoons into thinking there’s human activity in the garden, but it only takes a couple of nights for them to realize there’s no one to stop them… the thoughtful people are simply providing music for their dining pleasure.
The best way to keep raccoons out of the corn patch - or melons, tomatoes and anything else that is ripe and tasty – is to exclude them from the area. Fencing works well, although raccoons are excellent climbers. A friend of mine in added a section on the top of her 6-ft high fence that bows out so the raccoons can’t climb over. Without it they’d simply go up and over at their ease.
Another option is to run a strand of electric along the top. This “hot” wire will soon teach them they’re not welcomed. Portable fencing chargers can be plugged in if a building is nearby, or run off a car battery or solar charger.
If you don’t wish to fence off the area you can run a couple of hot wires at different heights to discourage them. I’ve heard of people using one at roughly 6-inches off the ground, but after years of dealing with these smart critters, I think two of them work better. Keep the bottom one at 6-inches, but add another strand about a foot high. Be sure to keep the wire perimeter well out of reach of the raccoons, as well, or they could grab plants or vegetables. Turn on the power around dusk and turn it off before you enter the garden, or you’re likely to have an unpleasant surprise at calf height!
More severe measures include trapping raccoons. The easiest way is to bait a live trap with fruit and vegetables such as corn, apples or fresh melon. This way you should capture the raccoon instead of the family cat. If raccoons have been in the area for any length of time, you’ll most likely see trails. Set the trap near one of the frequented areas to best catch their attention. It shouldn’t take long to have a very angry raccoon hissing at you from behind the wire.
Before you catch any raccoons you need to decide what you’re going to do with them. The most humane action is to take it far away and release it, but check local game laws so you’re not violating an ordinance. If you do release it, use the utmost caution in handling the cage since a bite or scratch will send you to the doctor for rabies shots. Raccoons are one of the most notorious carriers. Wear heavy leather gloves and long pants at all times, and keep a safe distance between you and the cage.
Raccoons are incredible to watch when they’re not dismantling your garden, but thankfully, there are ways to keep their dexterous little hands out of your garden.
