Dealing with raccoons

You are far more likely to do battle in the garden with rabbit , cervid , and Marmota monax than raccoons . But when you do come up against this species , you’re able to bet you will have your hands full .

Raccoons - superb climbers , dexterous manipulator , and first-class job solvers - scoff at the traditional lineup of tools we use to resolve issues with garden pests . If there is good newsworthiness about this , though , it is that raccoons will be more attract to undefended trash cans , favourite nutrient , Pisces the Fishes in water feature , or compost than most garden vegetables . But for the foods they like - berries , angelical corn , and , specially , grapes - they will not pause to glean these pabulum before you do .

In increase to food thievery , the main concern most people have with raccoon are lyssa and feces . If you find a raccoon ( or any untamed animal ) that appears queasy , avoid it and contact your local animal - control bureau . Raccoon feces are a concern because they can contain the eggs of a parasitic dirt ball ; fortuitously , raccoons tend to habituate latrines on elevated surfaces , such as a cap or woodpile , rather than the garden . remotion of this material from roofs , attics , and other areas often requires professional attending , but burning contaminated wood outdoors is all right . The key to live with raccoons is not to be overly interested about them . You just need to fuck how to answer conflicts involving them using strategy that are safe and humanist .

3 Methods to ward off raccoons

-John Hadidian is managing director of Urban Wildlife political program for The Humane Society of the United States in Washington , D.C.

FromFine Gardeningissue # 138 , pageboy 30 .

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