Cotton balls, serum, and cinnamon sticks
Home - Garden
Banish Raccoons From Your Yard With One Genius Cotton Ball Trick
By KATIE FRANCIS
Raccoon with his paw on a tree
There is a simple and cost-effective raccoon deterrent that will keep them out of your yard for good: Simply place cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil around your property.
Racoon underneath a picnic table
Raccoons have a great sense of smell that they use to scope out food, but they don't like the scent of peppermint and will flee an area as soon as they catch a strong whiff of it.
Raccoon on mulch
To begin, you need to know where the problem is. Check your property at night to try and find them, or figure out their favorite spots by finding footprints in the day.
Cotton ball in peppermint oil
Next, put enough peppermint oil in a bowl to allow the cotton balls to fully absorb. Once they're soaked, put the scent-filled cotton balls in the target areas of your yard.
Peppermint oil and leaves
Since they will dry up quickly, be sure to keep a close eye on your DIY deterrents. They will need to be replaced a few times a week to maintain full efficiency.