Get matched with top animal fencing pros in Howes, SD

Homemade raccoon repellents can be a cost-effective and humane method for keeping raccoons off your property. Raccoons despise the smell of vinegar, so keeping a bowl of it near your home can keep them away. Some wildlife companies advise using cayenne pepper or hot sauce sprinkled near your deck or porch as another homemade option.

Groundhogs have a strong aversion to powerful scents, including garlic, ammonia, vinegar, hot peppers like cayenne, and predator urine. Various herbs such as rosemary, lavender, basil, mint, sage, thyme, and oregano can also act as deterrents. You can strategically use these odors around your property by planting these crops near your garden and by the entrances to groundhog burrows. Commercially available repellents offer another option, and for best results, scent-based deterrents should be used alongside other preventive measures.

While you might want to cut corners by either borrowing or purchasing used live traps for catching rats, this can be dangerous because those traps could contain leftover viruses and bacteria that will enter your home. Always start fresh with new materials to avoid contamination.

Bobcats do attack domesticated animals, like small dogs and cats. Your pets are especially at risk if they’re below 30 pounds. The best way to protect your pets is to keep them safely indoors at night when bobcats are more likely to be roaming or being outside with your pets so they’re not unaccompanied.