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Managing raccoon pests

Last updated on November 1, 2022

Raccoons are not normally aggressive and rarely injure people; however, they can be dangerous when threatened or cornered. Remember that they're wild animals and should be treated accordingly.

Do not put food out for raccoons or other wildlife and never leave pet food where wildlife can get it. Dogs are not an effective method of keeping raccoons away so keep pets indoors at night.

Poultry, lawns and gardens:

  • Tightly cover doors and windows of poultry buildings
  • Place mesh-wire fences with an overhang around poultry yards
  • Install an electrical component to the fence around your yard

Garbage cans:

  • Keep garbage in plastic bags inside a building or shed
  • Secure garbage can lids with rubber straps and hooks (remove them before garbage collection)
  • Clean garbage cans with ammonia or bleach to reduce odours that may attract pests

Buildings: Raccoons cause damage when they try to enter attics, crawl spaces or chimneys. In extreme cases, they may tear off shingles or fascia boards. Cover access points with heavy wire screening. Prune tree limbs and place a piece of tin loosely around tree trunks to prevent access to rooftops.

Fish ponds: Use wire screening to protect fish in ornamental ponds.

Hunting & Trapping Raccoons

Do not use poison to kill any wildlife – it's illegal. Contact a professional pest control company or your municipality if you have a persistent raccoon problem.

Raccoons may be trapped (in season) by registered trappers who have a valid trapping licence. A mother and her baby raccoons cannot be removed from their nesting site until the pups are able to leave with the mother (about 12 weeks). Removing and relocating the pups without the mother will likely result in pups starving to death.

If you are in an area that is open to the discharge of firearms and you have a valid hunting licence, raccoons may be legally hunted. However, if you are in an area where the use of firearms is prohibited, raccoons may not be captured or killed without a permit.

Get more information about hunting and trapping regulations:

If you have a pest problem, contact a local pest management company for assistance. They can help you identify, prevent and treat pests common to your area.

Dead animal carcasses must be disposed of properly because they can carry disease and attract wildlife. Some animals can be thrown in the garbage or buried. Contact your local municipality to find out the proper method for your area.