Q: What can you put around your house to keep raccoons away?

• <div>Although raccoons aren&rsquo;t particularly picky regarding food, certain sounds, metals, and smells bother them. You can place these items around your home to keep raccoons away:<ul><li>Place wire mesh screens around and underneath decks and porches to prevent raccoons from nesting. </li><li>Put metal sheeting around the edges of your roof or at the base of trees to deter raccoons from coming close. </li><li>Place a loud battery-operated radio near the raccoon&rsquo;s den to keep them from nesting.</li><li>Keep a bowl of cider vinegar on your deck or porch.</li><li>Remove old raccoon scents by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting underneath porches and decks.</li></ul></div>

Question 1

What can you put around your house to keep raccoons away?

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 2

How do I keep mice out of my home?

Accepted Answer

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There are many steps you can take to keep mice out of your home. The most preventative include removing all available food sources, keeping your home clean, and sealing up entry points to your home. You can also try using live traps or even getting a cat. If none of these measures work, enlist the help of a pest control company.

Question 3

Should I remove groundhogs myself?

Accepted Answer

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You can remove groundhogs yourself using a DIY approach of rags soaked in ammonia, or you can purchase and set a trap for the groundhog. These low-cost methods are easy to implement, but you should ensure that you comply with local laws and regulations concerning animal trapping and release. You can also hire an experienced professional to remove groundhogs from your yard.

Question 4

Are snake repellents safe to use?

Accepted Answer

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Some snake repellents are risky to use around people and pets because they use the active ingredient in mothballs, naphthalene. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified naphthalene as a carcinogen that can cause damage to the liver, neurological issues, and cataracts.

The Colorado State University Extension suggests there’s not enough conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of snake repellents to recommend their use.

Question 5

Does one snake mean more?

Accepted Answer

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No, one snake does not always mean more. While snakes do often congregate in dens to breed, for most of the year, they are primarily solitary creatures that do not travel in groups. A single snake may make its way near your home in search of food, warmth, or shelter.