What Can I Do To Stop Raccoons From Eating My Plants?

Raccoons are not only intelligent, they are also resourceful. These attributes largely contribute to the reason why they are common nuisances in residential areas. When they discover a good food source, they will return night after night to indulge themselves; and they won’t stop until the food is gone. For homeowners who love their gardens and crops, this can be a real problem. It is important, and quite necessary, to protect your plants from nuisance raccoons. This is especially important for those who live near wooded areas and/or bodies of water.

Continue reading to learn what you can do to keep raccoons away from your plants and off your property.

Raccoon Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Raccoon Removal and Control 502-553-7622


You have several safe and non-lethal options to manage a nuisance raccoon problem. But first, in order to thwart raccoon activity, you have to know what attracts them to your property. Food is obvious, but if you protect your plants and gardens, it might not be enough. You could possibly have other food sources that will still bring raccoons back every night. Examples include pet food, bird feeders, squirrel feeders, and accessible garbage cans. These items must be removed or locked up in order to eliminate all outdoor food sources on your property. Once you do this, you can feel more confident that you are warding off nuisance wildlife, safely and humanely.

Here are some ways to protect your plants from raccoons:

Install a Fence

A fence is a great way to protect gardens, but when it comes to raccoons, it must be a special kind. Raccoons are excellent climbers and diggers, so the fence should be something they do not want to climb or pas through. Chicken wire works well for this job, and it is cheap to buy. As a last resort, you can protect your gardens by growing a living fence that basically works as a food distraction. Cucumber plants are perfect for this because raccoons like cucumbers, but they do not like the prickly cucumber stalks, nor the large cucumber leaves. The prickly stalks bother their paws, while the large leaves obstruct their view around them, making them feel more vulnerable to threats. Cucumber plants will grow like a vine around your garden plants, just around the perimeter, hiding everything that matters behind them. Raccoons will eat the cucumbers, but stop there; they will not pass any further into your garden of fruits and vegetables.

Set Up Scare Devices

Just like scarecrows are intended to keep the birds away, there are devices you can install that will scare off raccoons. Once example that works well is motion-sense lighting. When these lights detect motion, they instantly turn on with bright intensity, scaring off timid raccoons. Another device that works well is a sound machine. These sound machines have all sorts of options, such as predator noises, human chatter, and more. Since raccoons prefer to stay away from dogs and people, the sound machine can keep them away from your house. Even a radio that plays a station can work.

Repellents

Toxic chemical repellents should never be used for any species of wildlife. However, you can make non-toxic, homemade raccoon repellents that are safe and humane for animals and the environment. Spices like ground pepper, cayenne, peppermint, menthol, cinnamon, and Eucalyptus are strongly disliked by raccoons, so you can sprinkle these around your garden to ward them off. See our blog Homemade Raccoon Repellent Recipe to learn how to make one yourself. It is cheap and easy to do! You can also use bowls of mothballs around your garden.

Professional Intervention

When you just can’t seem to get a nuisance raccoon problem under control, it is time for some professional help. Contact a licensed and insured Louisville raccoon removal and control company for help raccoon-proofing your property. They have the skills, experience, and resources to safely resolve a nuisance raccoon issue at a fair price.

Got Raccoon Problems?

Louisville Raccoon Removal

Louisville Raccoon Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 if you are experiencing raccoon problems in Louisville, Kentucky. We offer residential and commercial raccoon removal and control, as well as, raccoon proofing and prevention, minor restorations for raccoon damages, raccoon cleanup, and much more. We may even be able to perform home owners’ insurance claim work. Request a free estimate or advice, anytime. Request a free estimate, anytime.