Raccoons can be annoying invaders of your yard and garbage, and and they can make their nests in your attic, chimney, crawl space, or other accessible area of your home. Unfortunately, these pests can also be more than just irritating; they can also carry diseases that can be spread to humans and pets. If you want to keep these nighttime invaders away from your home, here are some tips to help.

Motion-Detecting Lights

Raccoons are nocturnal creatures, so you won't necessarily need to worry about them during the day. At night, however, they hide under the cover of darkness to forage for food. Adding motion-detecting lights can help to scare off raccoons in your yard and near your home. Consider adding motion-detecting floodlights to the side of your garage where your garbage cans are kept, and place more lights to point at your yard as well. With the bath of bright light, raccoons can be scared away from your property.

Manage Your Trash

Garbage cans are essentially an all-you-can-eat buffet for raccoons, so providing easy access to your garbage bins can help to attract these pests. Consider using bungee cords to secure your bins to your fence so they can't be tipped over. You can also use bungees to keep the lids on securely, giving you one more way to keep the raccoons away. Of course, you'll need to remove the bungees on trash pickup day. Make sure that all of your trash is bundled into garbage bags, and make sure that each bag is securely tied This will prevent loose trash from falling out of knocked over cans, which can provide the pests with easy access to a meal. 

Electrified Fences

If you have a garden or berry bushes on your property, they can also become targets for raccoons. These animals can burrow under fence posts, so regular fences won't be of much help. However, you can use electrified fences to protect your prized plants. You'll only need to operate the fences at night when raccoons are active, which means you can enjoy regular access to your yard throughout the day. If you have pets or small children, an electrified fence may not be the right option for you. In this case, contact a contractor and discuss options for sinking fence posts deep into the ground, beyond the raccoon's threshold for burrowing.

Whether you suspect you have a racoon problem or you just want more help keeping these pests away from your yard, contact a residential pest control services provider, and have a pest removal expert perform an inspection of your home. With a little work, you can keep raccoons away from your home and property.