Raccoon Eviction Fluid: Why It Works & How To Use It

racoon on roof

Raccoons are well known creatures that dig around your garbage at night. The last thing you want is for one – or an entire family – to make themselves cozy inside your attic. If they’ve already moved in, raccoon eviction fluid can get them out.

Raccoon eviction fluid is a concoction made of male raccoon urine and gland secretions. It stimulates the idea for a female raccoon that an unknown male raccoon is nearby and to leave the attic due to the possible threat to her offspring. This is a way to get female raccoons to leave on their own.

Read on to find out why raccoon eviction fluid works and how to use it. We’ll also go over some of the other ways you can keep repel raccoons from your home and yard.

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Does Raccoon Eviction Fluid Really Work?

No raccoon repellent is a guaranteed solution. If the female raccoon feels she can safely relocate her young, then raccoon eviction fluid is worth a try. 

According to the University of Missouri, raccoons are one of the biggest urban nuisances. They invade garbage cans, bird feeders, garages, attics, chimneys, and other buildings. 

Raccoons are also known to carry diseases and may pose a threat to both humans and animals. Allowing a family of raccoons to make a home in your attic is not an ideal situation. 

Note: Raccoon eviction fluid is intended to remove an existing raccoon occupation, not repeal another family thereafter.

There are studies strongly suggesting that the use of eviction fluid is anywhere around 25% to 50% effective – depending on the geographical location.

The University of Nebraska from 2009-2012 studying the habits of female raccoons during peak den season in both Cortland, Illinois and Granby, Connecticut. One of the products studied was Wildlife Control Supplies Raccoon Eviction Fluid.

Water was used as the control during the study. There were around 19 houses affected by a raccoon attic occupation. 

The study concluded that Wildlife Control supplies raccoon eviction fluid was 50% effective overall and was 25% effective in pushing the mother out of the den with her young.

While this study shows some efficacy that raccoon eviction fluid does work – it’s also common sense that it indeed, does work.

When mother raccoons need to have a space to raise their young, warm homes in the suburbs become comfortable options. When the fluid was used, the mother raccoon did not abandon her offspring. This would lead to a grim situation where the kits would be left to survive on their own, becoming another problem for the homeowners.

Please make sure you check with your local township or pest control professional on your areas local ordinances with using raccoon eviction fluid or any other pest repelling method before use. In many areas, you need proper licensing to relocate or evict raccoons.

When Should You Use Raccoon Eviction Fluid?

Raccoon looking for food in trash can

If you have a family of raccoons hanging out in your attic, it is time the mother raccoon finds another den. Since raccoon eviction fluid is a humane, safe deterrent, you can use it when you first discover their presence. 

Raccoon eviction fluid, when applied effectively, will safely remove a family of raccoons. If the critters breached your property line and are now residents, it may be time to use raccoon eviction fluid.

Will Raccoon Eviction Fluid Work Long-Term?

Raccoon eviction fluid properly utilized will deter raccoons from wanting to build a den in your home for a good amount of time thereafter. After the family of raccoons leaves, they will be on the hunt for a new den. 

The previously-mentioned study showed that the raccoons did not attempt to reoccupy the house they deemed dangerous

This shows that there is time to inspect your attic and home for any structural vulnerabilities and have them repaired as soon as possible. Just be sure that all the raccoons are out of your space before sealing it up!

Keeping the outside free from open trash containers will help shield your home from the next family of raccoons from sourcing your home as a den.

Long-term solutions are keeping raccoons out. Since raccoon eviction fluid’s efficacy is based on removal and not deterrence, it is not a permanent solution. Keeping a property free of possible raccoon food and welcoming structural discrepancies will keep them away. 

Combined with an array of methods and products, deterring them is much different than getting them out. 

Another study conducted by the Missouri University of Science and Technology revealed that rainfall did not keep them away. It also concluded that warmer temperatures harvested an increased presence of raccoons. So, the summer heat and water will not melt them away like the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz.

What Will Scare Away Raccoons?

racoon and babies in yard

Following the abrupt eviction of your former houseguests, a mother raccoon and her young generally will not return. To ensure they do not contemplate a comeback, there are various effective methods to scare them away.

Everybody has a different living situation that revolves around a particular region. Noted by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, raccoons are particularly attached to areas with high crop numbers, especially cornfields. 

So, depending on where you live and the subsequent environment involved, there are methods that may or may not work. Trying each method and/or product to see what works and what does not is relatively inexpensive and worth exploring. 

Methods of Natural Raccoon Control Include:

The Absence (or Reduction) Of Trash Helps To Deter Raccoons

Raccoons love snooping around your unattended and unprotected garbage. Cover it or bring it inside to make your place less inviting! Trash can be an open invitation to racoons to come have a feast. Keep the lid on your cans or put them behind a fence.

Cover Holes And Other Points Of Entry To Deter Raccoons

Raccoons are nimble, small creatures that can fit themselves in small places – just like cats. Ensure your roof and the exterior of your home is free from damage such as holes and other potential points of entry. This will keep critters out and is the most effective method to never having to worry about a new family moving in.

Sprinklers That Detect Motion Will Keep Racoons Away

Not many mammals enjoy being doused with water unexpectedly. Even some water dogs like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever avoid water when they do not expect it. Using water is a great way to deter racoons from coming into your yard.

The Smell Of Ammonia Or Vinegar Deters Raccoons

racoon behind tree

Ammonia can be sensed as the urine of a predator. Vinegar is harsh to a raccoon’s sense of smell as well. Ammonia may be a bit more of an extreme option and should be handled with care. Starting out with a milder solution such as vinegar is a good place to start.

Blast Light And Sound To Keep Raccoons Away

Something like the Univerayo Solar Predator Control Lights is a great option to repel raccoons. These products absorb sunlight to work throughout the night. Flashing red lights fool raccoons (and other wildlife) into mistaking them for the eyes of predators or fire. Just make sure you aim it away from the direct sight of neighbors.

You can also take a peak at our post, 8 Sounds and Noises That’ll Scare Racoons!

Guard Dogs Will Deter Raccoons

Raccoons are threatened by animals larger than them who hiss, bite and bark. A dog that is willing to protect its home by barking at unwelcomed wildlife could potentially deter a mother raccoon and her kits from ever wanting to find a den inside your home.

Epsom Salt in Your Yard Will Make Raccoons Run

Deterred by the scent, raccoons will avoid a yard sprinkled with Epsom salt. The effects of the salt will not last, so it is important to reapply more often than not. Reapplying the Epsom salts is especially important during rainy seasons, since the salts are continually getting washed away.

Predator Urine Frightens Racoons

Animal urine such as wolves, foxes, male raccoons, and even humans may scare a female raccoon mother and her kits away. Luckily, these products can simply be bought online such as Shake Away Fox Urine Granules

Physical Deterrents Can Keep Racoons Away

If you already have a fence around your property or garden, consider adding some security with something like Critter Pricker Raccoon Deterrent. These go atop your fence and prevent raccoons, along with other wildlife, from climbing over your fence.

Fake owl prop: Let us be honest for a moment. Who looks at an owl and does not think how creepy their stare is? As humans, we know they pose no threat, but to a critter like a raccoon and their kits, owls are huge threats.

Placing a scarecrow owl prop like Besmon’s Plastic Owl Scarecrow somewhere around your yard may allow a family of raccoons to rethink plans for their next den. This particular product also has a rotating head to make it more realistic.

Use Scents & Smells Raccoons Hate

Here is an article all about what scents will deter raccoons. Although Raccoon eviction fluid has been proven effective, it is interesting to know that following the extraction of the raccoons, the mother and her kits will find another house susceptible to wildlife entry. 

Again, it is important to understand that raccoons have a heightened sense of smell and work off what their nostrils communicate to them.

Can Household Seasonings Repel Raccoons?

racoons in nest

An interesting method to keeping raccoons away from your home is the utilization of household seasonings. 

Raccoons are known to have a weaker sense of vision and make up for it through heightened smell and hearing. The stronger and spicier the seasoning, the better. Placing small piles of the spiciest seasoning a few feet away from where you do not want them entering is the best practice. 

Raccoons do not care for citrus. Using lemon or lime peels will help keep them away. Thai basil Combines both spice and citrus, making it a powerful concoction to deter raccoons.

The great thing about using spices to repel raccoons is you will indirectly deter other wildlife such as rodents and insects.

You may also want to read our post Hot Pepper: Here’s How to Use it to Repel Raccoons..

Seasonings are a mild deterrent and will only be effective when trash and other cleanliness methods are applied in tandem.

The next time you are in your kitchen; swing open your pantry where you keep your spices and check for the following alternative seasonings to repel raccoons:

  • Black pepper
  • Nutmeg
  • Dill
  • Chicory
  • Sage
  • Oregano
  • Chili pepper
  • Cinnamon
  • Garlic
  • Bergamot
  • Mace
  • Citrus-based seasoning
  • Thai basil

Does Raccoon Eviction Fluid Really Work? Our Conclusion!

Studies suggest that yes, raccoon eviction fluid works in most raccoon occupation situations. Outside of great practices such as keeping things cleaned up and free from trash and structural vulnerabilities, particularly in your roof’s structure, the concoction is effective. 

Removing raccoons that already made a home in your attic is done with raccoon eviction fluid, while keeping them away is done with alternative methods. These methods include owl props, predator urine, light machines, Epsom salt sprinkled throughout the yard, and other tactics and/or products. Household seasonings are slightly effective as well.

Now you can evict your unwanted guests and keep them away for good! But always remember, If you’re ever unsure about a raccoon or don’t feel you can handle the situation on your own, get help from a professional! They will know exactly how to handle a raccoon that has accidentally made its way into your home.

References

Armstrong, J, Gallagher, G. Proceedings of the 15th Wildlife Damage Management Conference, 2013. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1172&context=icwdm_wdmconfproc

Beasley, J. C., & Rhodes, O. E. (2008). Relationship between raccoon abundance and crop damage. Human-Wildlife Conflicts, 2(2), 248–259.

Hatten, Suzanne Inger. The Effects of Urbanization on Raccoon Population Demographics, Home Range, and Spatial Distribution Patterns. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2000.

Yocom-Russell, C. J, & Verble, R. M. (2020). Using Camera Traps to Evaluate Predator Urine Avoidance by Nuisance Wildlife at a Rural Site in Central Missouri, U.S.A. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 29.

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