How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Garden

Raccoons are one of nature's coolest animals. The little masked bandit is also one of the most cunning thieves to ever prey upon humans and their gardens. Though quite cute to observe, a raccoon can wreck havoc on vegetable gardens especially when corn is present. Waking up to find broken stalks, shredded husks, and chewed on ears is a good sign that a raccoon or two has visited your garden. Here are some things that you can do to keep raccoons out of your garden.

Raccoons are primarily a nocturnal animal. Though not a certain sign, a raccoon that shows up in your yard or garden during the day might be rabid. This is especially true if the raccoon looks or acts badly. Matted fur, a 'drunken' walk, or aggressive behavior are all good signs that you need to get the heck away from the raccoon. If possible and legal shoot the raccoon and / or call your local authorities. Remember that raccoons, like all other animals, will become aggressive when cornered which is perfectly normal behavior. Since raccoons are normally nocturnal, providing light in the garden at night is a good deterrent. This may be difficult and expensive as well as causing problems with your neighbors if they live close.

Perhaps the best deterrent against raccoons in the garden is a dog. Dogs will themselves tear up a garden, but a woven wire fence around the garden will keep the dog out. The dog can then patrol the fence to keep out the raccoons (that would climb the fence if the dog was not present).

If a dog is not practical, then pretend that there is a do nearby. Placing dog hair, used dog beds, and other sources of dog scent around a garden will deter raccoons. Applying scent from coyotes (available from sporting goods stores and some garden centers) can work in a similar manner.

Some gardeners use various methods to cover the ears of the corn. Gardeners can place paper bags over the ears and attach the bagged ear to the stalk to keep raccoons from pulling them over easily. Other methods include taping the husk to the ear to keep raccoons from opening the ear. I find these methods to be too time consuming, but they do appear to work.

Nothing short of a dog sleeping in your garden all night or an electric fence will keep the raccoons from hitting your vegetable garden. Reducing the amount of damage that a raccoon is probably the best that you can hope to do. Use repellents in your garden and hope that the raccoons find it easier to raid your neighbor's garden!