Raccoons in the Attic

HunterDave · #1 03-12-2015, 08:05 PM

What's the best way to get rid of raccoons from the attic and keep them from coming back without hiring someone or buying expensive traps? Is there some sort of scent that they can't stand and will vacate on their own and not return?

This isn't for me, it's for a lady that lives back east. Thanks!

omega50 · #2 03-12-2015, 08:11 PM

I like to go up in the attic with a mask on!
Freaks them out-That racoon is huge. I am not messing with him

Hydro1 · #3 03-12-2015, 08:18 PM

If trapping and such is out of the question, tell her to find the highest % ammonia she can find. Put it on several rags and toss them in the attic. Should be gone in under 48 hours then block off where they got in..

HunterDave · #4 03-12-2015, 09:45 PM

Thanks Hydro, that sounds like a plan. I knew that there was something that they can't stand but I couldn't remember what the smell was. Cheers!

Hydro1 · #5 03-12-2015, 10:01 PM

slough shark · #6 03-12-2015, 10:17 PM

I would say time for coon skin caps!

gatorhunter · #7 03-12-2015, 11:11 PM

Set up a light and radio in the attic. Raccoons hate the light and noise. They'll move out in a matter of a hours. Then block their entrance so that nothing else moves in.

quasi · #8 03-13-2015, 03:59 AM

boom box playing country music, they hate country music. Or put up a Confederate flag, they hate that as well.

Kim473 · #9 03-13-2015, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorhunter

Set up a light and radio in the attic. Raccoons hate the light and noise. They'll move out in a matter of a hours. Then block their entrance so that nothing else moves in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quasi

boom box playing country music, they hate country music. Or put up a Confederate flag, they hate that as well.

Loud music for a while as well as the lights. Skunks don't like it as well.

Zulu9er · #10 03-13-2015, 06:50 AM

Had them in my roof,, chewed a hole right thru it. Was our cottage at Blue Mountain Ontario. Tossed a bag of mothballs in the hole,, gone in less than a day. The roof repair was $1,200. They used the TV Antenna tower to get on the roof.

colroggal · #11 03-13-2015, 07:57 AM

2nd the mothballs. My uncle lives in Nova Scotia and has used them for years. He says they keep mice out of his woodpile as well.

coastalhunter · #12 03-13-2015, 07:59 AM

.22 shorts.

CNP · #13 03-13-2015, 08:52 AM

They have a route from the ground enabling them to get into the attic. Cut off the route or the problem will never go away. Some people don't want to hear that they have to cut down a tree/move a tower...................they never do and expect different results?

dgl1948 · #14 03-13-2015, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorhunter

Set up a light and radio in the attic. Raccoons hate the light and noise. They'll move out in a matter of a hours. Then block their entrance so that nothing else moves in.

Not so sure about that. An old uncle of mine had them getting into his corn patch. First night he put a radio out there. In the morning a lot of corn was gone and he figured they just dined to the music. The next night he had the radio going and a light put there as well. In the morning he checked things out. Not only did they dine to music but the light helped them find the biggest cobs.

Nellie5 · #15 03-13-2015, 09:42 AM

Hello all,
Can anyone give me a good website and/or advice on the hawks in my area? I work in the Foothills Area just off Barlow Trail in Calgary, AB. I need to put together a safety presentation at work, and I would like it to include info on the hawks themselves as well as any possible safety measures/deterrents for the upcoming spring season. Last year, we had a couple of them diving at us in our yard, I'm assuming because their nests were close by. I think they must be either Swainson or Red-Tailed Hawks. Anyone who could give me any info would be much appreciated. Believe it or not, Google has been very unhelpful.

Regards, Chanelle

Redfrog · #16 03-13-2015, 11:06 AM

I have success with moth balls. to move skunks or raccoons out of a building,

It is a little tedious collecting them though. I hold them by the wings, but some folks hold them by the legs.

HunterDave · #17 03-13-2015, 01:02 PM

Thanks folks! All suggestions have been passed on to the lady in need.

Fisherpeak · #18 03-13-2015, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coastalhunter

.22 shorts.

^^^^ That right there ,Gawd I wish I had racoons,always wanted to have a few pelts for the cave.Hear they are good eating too.I have a few squirrel pelts from dummies that thought it was a good idea to mess with my shop.

Xbolt7mm · #19 03-13-2015, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nellie5

Hello all,
Can anyone give me a good website and/or advice on the hawks in my area? I work in the Foothills Area just off Barlow Trail in Calgary, AB. I need to put together a safety presentation at work, and I would like it to include info on the hawks themselves as well as any possible safety measures/deterrents for the upcoming spring season. Last year, we had a couple of them diving at us in our yard, I'm assuming because their nests were close by. I think they must be either Swainson or Red-Tailed Hawks. Anyone who could give me any info would be much appreciated. Believe it or not, Google has been very unhelpful.

Regards, Chanelle

lol new question equals new topic, which invites people who know something about the topic.

gatorhunter · #20 03-13-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nellie5

Hello all,
Can anyone give me a good website and/or advice on the hawks in my area? I work in the Foothills Area just off Barlow Trail in Calgary, AB. I need to put together a safety presentation at work, and I would like it to include info on the hawks themselves as well as any possible safety measures/deterrents for the upcoming spring season. Last year, we had a couple of them diving at us in our yard, I'm assuming because their nests were close by. I think they must be either Swainson or Red-Tailed Hawks. Anyone who could give me any info would be much appreciated. Believe it or not, Google has been very unhelpful.

Regards, Chanelle

Have you tried to stay away from their nests?

HunterDave · #21 03-14-2015, 01:07 PM

LOL......Here I was giving her all of this fancy DIY advice and she told me this morning that she shot 4 of the 5 raccoons that she saw and boarded up the access to the attic that they were using. I didn't think that she was looking for the obvious solution of just shooting them.

Hydro1 · #22 03-14-2015, 05:10 PM

Haha, thats much more effective than most of our idea's on here.
Good to hear she got rid of them!

Redfrog · #23 03-14-2015, 06:55 PM

"What time is it?"

"Here's how i would build a clock"

nube · #24 03-14-2015, 07:44 PM

I use mothballs at my trapline to keep the mice and squerrels away from the cabin. I rarely see a track around it so I think it works. Might work for coon

HunterDave · #25 03-14-2015, 08:17 PM

Well hell, I figured that she was asking for ideas to get rid of them because she couldn't shoot them.....lol. Of course shooting them will get rid of them!

Nellie5 · #26 03-16-2015, 02:45 PM

Hi Xbolt, yes I know I should have started a new thread, but I can't seem to figure out how to do it on this site. Looked everywhere, and then just decided to roll the dice and throw my question in with people who were talking about animal issues.

Hi Gatorhunter, the problem is that their nests are in the trees in our work yard. We can't avoid their territory, so I'm looking for any advice to stop us from scaring them, or to deter them from swooping down at us.
Thanks.