If you’ve spotted raccoons around your home and garden, then you’re probably wondering what is the best way to repel them and prevent them from coming back. Well, in this article, not only will you find out whether Epsom salt repels raccoons, but you’ll also learn about other scents they hate and other ways to prevent them from coming back as well!
So keep reading to find out everything there is to know!
Does Epsom Salt Repel Raccoons?
If you want to repel raccoons, then Epsom salt is an effective deterrent! It’s going to irritate a raccoon’s nose, and make it hard for them to find the food they were originally looking for!
And an added benefit is that Epsom salt is actually great for plants as well. So if you’re looking for a way to deter raccoons from your garden, Epsom salt is going to have multiple purposes.
How To Use Epsom Salt As A Raccoon Repellent?
If you want to use Epsom salt as a raccoon repellent, then it couldn’t be simpler. All you have to do is sprinkle it on the areas where you notice raccoons congregating often, or the areas you definitely don’t want raccoons to enter.
That’s it! The only other thing is to make sure to reapply the Epsom salt every once in a while, especially after it rains, as this is going to wash it away and remove the scent completely!
What Other Scents Do Raccoons Hate?
As well as Epsom salt, there are other smells you can try to get rid of raccoons as well! So if you want to repel them, try the following.
Onion & Pepper
Raccoons hate the mixture that is made when you mix onion and pepper with some water! They will stay away from the places where it has been sprayed because the smell from this combination will temporarily disorient all of their nasal receptors.
Garlic
Garlic may not be your favorite odor, but raccoons are going to detest it even more! Use garlic juice for the greatest outcomes because the fragrance from the juice is even stronger.
Irish Spring Soap
Found in most stores, Irish spring soap is another smell that raccoons absolutely detest! So try grating it and sprinkling it around the areas of your home you want to repel raccoons from!
Vinegar
Vinegar is another great choice for repelling raccoons, just make sure to favor apple cider vinegar over white vinegar as the smell is much more powerful!
Peppermint Essential Oil
There is some good news when it comes to scents that will deter raccoons. You can also use peppermint essential oil to deter raccoons if you don’t want your house to smell bad because while it will make your house smell great, raccoons are going to absolutely hate it!
Hot Pepper
Last but not least, hot pepper is one of the stronger aromas that raccoons abhor the most, so it’s worthwhile to try this too. Hot pepper will directly damage a raccoon’s nasal receptors, causing disorientation and making it challenging for them to find the meal they genuinely desire!
Other Solutions To Deter Raccoons
As you can see, Irish spring soap isn’t the best method for deterring racoons for good. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be deterred. Here are some other things you can try to get rid of them!
Keep Your Trash Sealed
The first thing to do is make sure your trash is well-sealed. Raccoons enjoy searching through trash for meals. Making sure they can’t get your trash will therefore make your home far less enticing to them.
Block Off Entry To Your Home
Additionally, you should also make sure that entrances to your property are blocked off too. It’s shocking all the different ways raccoons can enter your home. So you must consider less visible entrances, such as your chimney or cat flap, in addition to addressing any more obvious points of entry.
Remove Pet Food
Make sure that you take away pet food from your pets once they have finished eating. Unfortunately, leaving pet food out all day will also draw raccoons to your house.
Shine Bright Lights At The Raccoon
If you spot raccoons in your backyard or home, when you notice them, shine a bright light on them. This is going to scare them away instantly, and if you do it enough times, they’ll begin to feel like that area is unsafe.
Make Sure Trees And Hedges Are Trimmed
You should also make sure that trees and hedges around your house are trimmed as well. This is especially true when any of these things are touching your house. A lot of the time trees can give raccoons access to your roof or other areas of the home they can enter.
Try Scare Tactics
Things that make noise can be used to scare raccoons away as well. Wind chimes, could make a raccoon jump when the wind blows, or leaving a radio on can make it seem to the raccoon that there are people in the vicinity.
Motion Activation Systems
Motion-activated sprinklers and lights can also scare raccoons, so the next time they enter your property, they might be enough to scare them away!
Improve Your Fence
If you don’t have a fence, then you should first of all install one to make it harder for raccoons to enter your premises. However, if you already have a fence, make sure that it also goes deep underground as well.
Not only are raccoons good at climbing, but they’re also good at digging, so you need to make sure you’re cutting off both ways in.
Predator Urine
And lastly, predator urine can be an effective way to get rid of raccoons as well. Bobcats, cougars, and even domestic dogs are all predators to raccoons, so purchasing some predator urine is a great way to deter them!
Recap
As you can see, using Epsom salt to deter raccoons can be an extremely effective repellent! On top of that, it’s also going to be great for your garden as well!
But you shouldn’t just stick to using Epsom salt. If you want to get rid of raccoons for good, you’ll also need to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to make your home as unappealing as possible to them!
If you liked this article, make sure you check out the rest of the website! Otherwise, have a great day!
