Get matched with top pest control specialists in Flora, IL

Although raccoons aren’t particularly picky regarding food, certain sounds, metals, and smells bother them. You can place these items around your home to keep raccoons away:

• Place wire mesh screens around and underneath decks and porches to prevent raccoons from nesting. 

• Put metal sheeting around the edges of your roof or at the base of trees to deter raccoons from coming close. 

• Place a loud battery-operated radio near the raccoon’s den to keep them from nesting.

• Keep a bowl of cider vinegar on your deck or porch.

• Remove old raccoon scents by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting underneath porches and decks.

Some birds of prey, like owls, hunt at night. Hawks are diurnal and need good light to see their prey. You could see them circling anytime from dawn to dusk. Species like the common red-tailed hawk are most active in the early morning and late evening when their prey is also typically on the go.

Male carpenter bees actually don't have a stinger, but they will hover around areas as a defense mechanism to deter intruders. However, females can sting but are not typically aggressive and tend to only sting when threatened or provoked. They are less active at night, so you are less likely to encounter them because they tend to rest at night.

Some suggest mothballs as a deterrent for iguanas, but they are ineffective and harmful. Mothballs contain chemicals like naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which are toxic to humans and animals, including iguanas. The fumes can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health issues. Moreover, using mothballs outdoors is not recommended, as they contaminate soil and water sources.