Tips for Getting Rid of Raccoons Under Your Deck

Winter is an important time for raccoons. They generally mate during this season and give birth in the late spring/early summer. How does this concern people who own or are considering buying a deck? Well, one of a raccoon’s favorite habitats in under your deck. (This is their second choice after the attic.) All they need is shelter from predators and harsh weather as well as a food supply and they are more than happy to seek a home on private property. If you’ve seen or suspect that raccoons have been taking up residence under your deck, you might be wondering if there are ways to get rid of them without causing them harm. Here are some steps you can take to prevent them from making the space beneath your home one of their stomping grounds.

• Do not leave pet food outside: If you feed your pets outside do so during the day as raccoons are nocturnal by nature. After they are fed, be sure to bring in your dog or cat’s bowl when nighttime approaches.
• Secure you trash cans: Use metal trash cans strapped down with bungee cords as raccoons love to forage through the garbage for food scraps. Additionally, you may also wish to take the additional precaution of placing a heavy object on top of your lid as raccoons are quite persistent.
• Clean up fallen fruit around your fruit trees. As most people know, raccoons are quite persistent and will not miss an opportunity for a free meal. Fallen fruit from fruit trees has been known to lure raccoons to come out on a shopping trip even in the daylight hours.
• Use scent deterrents: Natural repellants can be quite effective against raccoons as they hate the smell of cayenne, vinegar and ammonia. Place these scents in areas that you suspect raccoons may be living. Additionally, hunting supply stores carry manmade raccoon pellets as well as chemicals that mimic the urine of a raccoon’s predators.
• Hire a trapper: If you suspect that a raccoon has taken up residence under your deck you should never attempt to corner it yourself. Raccoons can be vicious when confronted by people or their pets and can also carry and spread diseases. Hire a professional who will be able to assess the level of damage that the pest has caused and can trap it and release it into the wild.

Despite their appearance and the many videos showing them to be lovable little creatures, raccoons are super pests that cannot be allowed to live near our homes. Here is a just a sample of the harm they cause:

• Steal dog food, bird seed or other food-related items you store outside.
• Dig up your flower beds and destroying fruit-bearing trees.
• Harass your pets, especially if they live outside.
• Rip up insulation from the underside of your porch or deck.

So, if you have plans to purchase a new deck contact Decks by Ziec. Don’t be deterred by these pests. We specialize in deck building, NJ Deck refinishing and inspection. If you have an old deck that is showing its age, we can inspect it for safety and recommend actions that you can take to ensure the security of your family.