At war with raccoons in trash cans archived

Try Tabasco Sauce. Sprigle it on and around the garbage cans.

We put very heavy rocks on top of our garbage can lids. Raccoons are wicked smart... we try remedies that we hope will defeat them on the physical strength front.

We used to do bungee cords and rocks or a large stump on top. Right now, I simply don't put the trash out until the morning of the pickup (we have an early pickup).

So far I haven't resorted to ordering the bear-proof screw-on lid cans...

susan1014 said:

So far I haven't resorted to ordering the bear-proof screw-on lid cans...

I think that is the best solution---the other things can deter them, but a determined raccoon will find away around any obstacles.

Bungee's work for me, but I flip the hooks over so they face out, if that makes sense. No problems since that small change.

Full disclosure: It's a huge pain in the neck to unhook.

I've been tossing a paper towel soaked with ammonia in the trash bags before I put them in the can. seems to keep the raccoons away.

I resorted to building a make-shift house for the bins. bought a rubbermaid storage unit and keep the bins in that. works, as long as i keep the door shut. got it at home depot, and the size was perfect. looks good too.

hubby built a frame - with a bar across the side. Human's can easily lift - racoons - nope!

I was told to put ammonia soaked clothes in the bin. I never have a problem when I remember to do it.

Significantly limit the amount of garbage that goes into the trash cans. Wrap smelly garbage in plastic before disposing (not a very green solution I admit). Wash disposable containers before putting in trash or recycling (depending on composition).

ml1 said:

I've been tossing a paper towel soaked with ammonia in the trash bags before I put them in the can. seems to keep the raccoons away.

Ditto. This has worked very well for us.

We now keep the cans in the garage in the summer....damn raccoons thwarted every single thing we tried previously.

Agree about the ammonia. The custodians at school would spray the garbage bins with ammonia daily to deter the raccoons and swore that it worked. Our garbage cans are in a closed compartment under our deck, so I don't have the problem, but one of my neighbors did and also found that the ammonia spray/wet paper towel solved it for her.

I pour bleach in I heard that racoons hate the smell...

Welcome to the neighborhood housewo. I keep my cans in my shed and only put them out the morning of pickup.

When you put ammonia or bleach, is it inside the garbage bag or garbage can? And is it soaked on something or just pour the liquid in?

We went through this war for 2 years. Our purchase of the Green Rubermaid Brute plastic can solved the problem. They can't get the lid off. From time to time they pull the can down and try but have never been able to get inside since the switch.

I just noticed that they've eaten a hole in my plastic garbage can lid. I'll have to replace it.
I've noticed my neighbors have metal cans with bungee cords which I may try.

flf said:

When you put ammonia or bleach, is it inside the garbage bag or garbage can? And is it soaked on something or just pour the liquid in?

If you can remember to soak a paper towel and throw it inside the garbage bag before you take it out, this is a good way to go. Pouring it in the bin itself will work, but opening the closed bin on a hot day and getting a face full of ammonia vapor is not great (you get much less of this if the ammonia is inside the bags). If you put it in the bin, you'll have to repeat frequently (probably once a week), as it will evaporate or be washed away by rain.

We were very consistent with the ammonia for a few weeks and the raccoons seemed to move on. I don't even do it anymore and we've had no problem for over a year. I don't know if this is a direct result of the ammonia, but I'm really glad not to have to pick up the garbage mess.

We use a toter with a hinged lid and upgraded two weeks ago to two heavy duty solid rubber straps to keep the critters out. My son can't open it now, but he's never really cooperated with the take out the trash chore anyway. No problems since the upgrade.

I've put really heavy rocks/trunks etc. on top of the cans but the raccoons apparently worked together to topple over the trash cans and get at what's inside.

They are like the penguins from Madagascar!

Kill the next racoon that tries to get into your trash and smear its blood all over your cans. Cut off its head and put it on a spike nearby as a warning to the other racoons.

Or the ammonia thing might work, too...

We haven't had this prob but I would try washing down the OUTSIDE of the trash cans w/ ammonia and water; add ammonia soaked rag inside can not in bags. Ammonia smell will disapate, to our sense of smell, in a couple of days. It will linger for a long time to animals.

Take the fight to the raccoons so they can't attack your garbage. Go into the trees and the sewers and leave them no place to hide.

Ubik said:

Take the fight to the raccoons so they can't attack your garbage. Go into the trees and the sewers and leave them no place to hide.

+1

BabFab said:

I just noticed that they've eaten a hole in my plastic garbage can lid. I'll have to replace it.
I've noticed my neighbors have metal cans with bungee cords which I may try.

BabFab - this may be squirrels instead of raccoons. The crazy squirrels in our yard chewed holes in two of our plastic lids.

Bungees have worked for us in keeping the raccoons out.

We've been fighting this war for a while, too. We used to slide a wooden broom handle through the handles of two trash cans, to lock them together into one theoretically more stable unit. This deterred them for a while, but then they learned to knock the whole thing over. I went out one night to find two of them in one can, happily splitting shrimp shells. A flashlight in the eyes, banging on the can, and yelling were not enough incentive to get them out. Only when I tipped up the knocked over can and dumped them both on the driveway did they beat a lazy retreat. We've since added a fifty pound rock to the top of the cans, that seems to be work. Though we did come out a few weeks ago to find that they had chewed through the bottom of the trash can (really thick plastic), and pulled part of the trash bag out that way. We'll try ammonia, I think it's time for chemical warfare.

I pour bleach right into the dumpster. Actually I used this method last summer and after about a week the racoons stopped getting into the dumpster...

rastro said:

Kill the next racoon that tries to get into your trash and smear its blood all over your cans. Cut off its head and put it on a spike nearby as a warning to the other racoons.

Or the ammonia thing might work, too...

I am seriously laughing out loud! Cannot stop!

housewo said:

rastro said:

Kill the next racoon that tries to get into your trash and smear its blood all over your cans. Cut off its head and put it on a spike nearby as a warning to the other racoons.

Or the ammonia thing might work, too...

I am seriously laughing out loud! Cannot stop!

Same here...lol!