The raccoon is a medium-sized (30-50 cm long) omnivorous mammal native to North America. These animals live primarily on fruits, nuts, and plants, but they can also eat small amounts of meat. However, the main part of their diet is made up of nuts and seeds. Raccoons are excellent at opening any kind of door or cabinet that has a lock on it.
If you have a pet raccoon or live in an apartment building, check your faucet for a loose nut or bolt that can easily be removed and used as an access point for the raccoons. It doesn’t matter where you live if you have children or pets. Raccoons are very smart and will try to get into anything they can find to get food. Check under your porch, shed, garage and other areas frequently, as they may already be living there!
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Why do Raccoons Want to Get into My House?
The main reason raccoons want to get into your house is for food. Once they find an entrance, they will keep coming back as long as there is an easy food source. Raccoons are also attracted to any type of pet food, so if you have a pet, make sure to keep their food and water inside. If you have a garbage can outside, put a tight lid on it or keep it in a garage so the raccoons can’t get to it.
What Damage Can Raccoons Cause?
In addition to being a nuisance, raccoons can also cause damage to your property. They can rip open screens, tear shingles off roofs, and cause other types of destruction in their search for food. Raccoons can also be a threat to your family’s health as they are known to carry diseases such as rabies.
How Can Raccoons Open Doors?
Raccoons are experts at opening doors, whether they are unlocked or have a simple latch. Raccoons use nimble front paws to open doors, cabinets, and latches. They are also very strong and can easily rip open screens and shingles.
Best Ways Keep Raccoons Out of Your House?
Installing a Deadbolt on Your Door
Installing a deadbolt is one of the best ways to keep raccoons from getting into your house. A deadbolt is a locking mechanism that requires a key to open from the outside. This will prevent raccoons from being able to open your door, even if they have a latch or other simple lock.
Know More: 6 Best Mortise Locks to Ensure Your Home Security
Invest in a Good Quality Screen Door
Another good way to keep raccoons out of your house is to invest in a good-quality screen door. A screen door will allow you to keep your door open for ventilation while still keeping raccoons out. Make sure to check the screen door regularly for tears or holes and repair them as soon as possible.
Install Metal Mesh Roof
If raccoons are getting into your house through the roof, you may want to consider installing metal mesh over your vents and other openings. Metal mesh is much more difficult for raccoons to tear through than shingles or other materials.
Use Ammonia
Raccoons have a strong sense of smell, and they do not like the smell of ammonia. You can use ammonia to deter raccoons from your property by pouring them into a dish and placing it near the entrance raccoons are used to get into your house.
Use Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is another substance that raccoons do not like. You can sprinkle cayenne pepper around the perimeter of your property or near the entrance that raccoons are using to deter them from coming onto your property.
Install Motion Sensor Light at Night
Raccoons are nocturnal animals, and they are most active at night. Installing a motion sensor light can deter raccoons from coming onto your property at night. The light will come on when the raccoon approaches, frightening it away.
Set Live Traps
If you have a raccoon that is already living on your property, you may want to consider setting a live trap. This will allow you to catch the raccoon and release it into the wild away from your property.
Keep Your Garbage Secured
One of the main reasons raccoons come onto the property is for food. You can deter raccoons by keeping your garbage can lids secured and keeping pet food and water bowls inside.
Train Your Dog and Cat to Recognize Raccoons
If you have a dog or cat, you can train them to recognize the smell and sound of raccoons. This will help them to deter raccoons from coming onto your property.
Conclusion
Raccoons are smart, strong animals that can cause a lot of damage to your property in their search for food. The best way to keep raccoons out of your house is to install a deadbolt on your door and invest in a good-quality screen door. You can also use ammonia or cayenne pepper to deter raccoons from your property. If you have a raccoon that is already living on your property, you can set a live trap to catch and release it.
