Raccoons love sifting through trash. If yours is left out in the open, you could end up with critters who will keep coming back. These animals can cause a lot of damage to your property if they decide they enjoy visiting regularly, so it’s best to try and deter them any way you can. Here are some wildlife control tactics you can use to protect your trash and property from critters.

How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Garbage

1. Secure Lids Tightly

Raccoons are clever animals, so if you have a garbage can with a lid simply placed over it, they can probably figure out how to remove it and get inside. To prevent this, try using a bungee cord to secure the lid tightly. Wait until the morning of trash day to remove it, since raccoons are nocturnal and likely won’t get into your garbage in those few hours leading up to your pickup time.

2. Double-Bag Smelly Garbage

Raccoons use their noses to determine where to scrounge for food. If yours is the most fragrant trash can on the block, they’re more likely to gather around your property. To mask the smell use an extra bag around any trash that contain food waste.

3. Sprinkle Ammonia on Trash

Raccoons find the smell of ammonia to be very unpleasant. It will mask the smell of any food waste and convince them to move onto another food source. You don’t need to cover your trash bin with it but sprinkle especially pungent bags with a few drops of it. Then clean out the bin periodically using an ammonia-based cleaner.

If you need professional wildlife control services around your property, call the professionals at 24-7 Animal & Pest Control in Saint Louis, MO. The wildlife control company offers a wide array of services, including bat removal, rodent control, and traditional exterminator services. The expert team is available day or night to address your concerns, and they have access to all of the latest training and technology to effectively eliminate your pest problem. Contact the wildlife control experts online or call (314) 236-7378 to request immediate service.