Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

Homemade Raccoon Repellent

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

Raccoons may be cute but they are also destructive and intrusive when they enter into a human's domain. Nocturnal by nature, raccoons will raid your garbage, pet food and garden. They are clever and once they are successful in finding food, they will return. Although raccoon trapping and purchasing home pest control products are an option, homemade raccoon repellents sprayed on and around areas you wish to keep the raccoon away from can be just as effective.

Raccoon Repellent Recipe #1

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

This raccoon repellent recipe is recommended by the Larimer Humane Society in northern Colorado to protect your plants from being eaten by raccoons. Mix the ingredients together and spray it on your shrubs, plants, trees, around and on garbage cans or anywhere you want the raccoon to stay away from.

Mix one small bottle of hot sauce (like Tabasco) or one can of cayenne pepper with one gallon of water that has had one teaspoon of mild dishwashing detergent added to it. The soap will help the pepper water adhere to the plants and other places you spray. The pepper spray will need to be reapplied after a rain or watering. Make sure you thoroughly wash any fruit or vegetable you harvest that has been sprayed before you eat it.

Raccoon Repellent Recipe #2

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

From the City of Lakewood, Colorado, this wildlife repellent recipe is called Hot Pepper Repellent. It is different from Recipe #1, but just as effective.

One tablespoon of Cayenne pepper One chopped Jalapeno pepper One chopped yellow onion

In two quarts water, boil the ingredients for 20 minutes. After the mixture has cools, strain it through cheesecloth. Spray the strained liquid anywhere you want to repellent raccoons or any other wildlife. It is very effective, but must be reapplied every three to five days.

Raccoon Repellent Tips

...
Roman Rozenblyum/Demand Media

Raccoons that enter your yard or home are either looking for food or a place to nest. Therefore, tightly securing the lids on your garbage cans, even weighing them down with bricks, removing pet food and other food sources, securing pet doors or other accesses to the inside of your home and trimming tree branches away from your roof and chimney will discourage the raccoon. If a raccoon should take up residence in your attic or chimney, do not try to scare, trap or remove it yourself. Many times there will be young baby raccoons present and removing the mother will cause further damage and destruction. It is best to call a professional in this circumstance to remove the raccoon family.

Related Articles

How to Keep a Skunk & Possum Away From Your Barn
How to Keep a Skunk & Possum Away From Your Barn
Do It Yourself Skunk Repellent
Do It Yourself Skunk Repellent
Homemade Deer Repellant Recipes
Homemade Deer Repellant Recipes
How to Get Rid of Martin Birds
How to Get Rid of Martin Birds
How to Deter Chipmunks From Eating Flowers
How to Deter Chipmunks From Eating Flowers
How to Repel Chipmunks
How to Repel Chipmunks
How to Repel Raccoons
How to Repel Raccoons
How to Keep Rabbits Out of Flower Beds
How to Keep Rabbits Out of Flower Beds
How to Keep Wasps From Building Nests
How to Keep Wasps From Building Nests
How To Get Rid of Pesky Squirrels from Trees
How To Get Rid of Pesky Squirrels from Trees
How to Keep Raccoons From Climbing
How to Keep Raccoons From Climbing
How to Stop Squirrels From Eating Siding
How to Stop Squirrels From Eating Siding
How to Keep Raccoons Away From My Deer Feeder
How to Keep Raccoons Away From My Deer Feeder
What Smells Do Woodchucks Hate?
What Smells Do Woodchucks Hate?
How to Get Rid of Possums in the Yard
How to Get Rid of Possums in the Yard
How to Repel Black Widow Spiders
How to Repel Black Widow Spiders
Garden Guides
×