What Smells Do Raccoons Hate? (10 Scents to Repel Raccoons)

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In this article, we’ll answer the question:

“What smells do raccoons hate?”

First, you’ll find a short summary of the types of scents raccoons hate, then get a detailed list and explanation of the smells that repel raccoons. You’ll also find a list of tips on how to use smells raccoons dislike to effectively repel these animals from your property or home.

Raccoons are medium-sized mammals in the family Procyonidae under the order Carnivora. These omnivores are native to North America but are also distributed across mainland Europe, the Caucasus, and Japan, and are well-known for their striped ring-tail appearance.

raccoon

What Smells Do Raccoons Hate?

Raccoons hate smells that are unpleasant, irritating, or threatening to them such as hot pepper, onion, garlic, peppermint oil, citrus, predator urine, and predator hair.

Irritating Smells Raccoons Hate

Irritating smells are those that cause discomfort or pain to the raccoon’s nose or mouth. These smells can make raccoons leave an area quickly and avoid coming back.

Hot Pepper

Hot pepper contains capsaicin, a compound that gives peppers their heat and spiciness. Capsaicin is irritating to raccoons and other animals, especially when it comes in contact with their mucous membranes. 

You can use hot pepper in various forms, such as powder, flakes, sauce, or spray, to repel raccoons. Sprinkle or spray hot pepper around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls. 

Be careful not to touch your eyes or skin after handling hot pepper, as it can cause burning sensations.

Onion

Onion contains sulfur compounds that are known to be repulsive to raccoons. Onion has a strong smell that can overpower the food odors that attract raccoons. 

You can use onion in various forms, such as bulbs, slices, juice, or powder, to repel raccoons. Place onion around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls. 

Be aware that onion can also deter beneficial insects and animals from your garden.

Garlic

Garlic is another bulb that contains sulfur compounds that are unpleasant to raccoons. Garlic has a strong smell that can disrupt the raccoon’s ability to smell food sources. 

You can use garlic in various forms, such as cloves, powder, juice, or spray, to repel raccoons. Sprinkle or spray garlic around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls. 

Be aware that garlic can also deter beneficial insects and animals from your garden.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is a mineral compound that has a bitter taste and smell that raccoons dislike. Epsom salt can also dehydrate the raccoon’s skin and fur if they come in contact with it.

You can use Epsom salt as a granular repellent by sprinkling it around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls. You can also dissolve Epsom salt in water and spray it on plants or surfaces that you want to protect from raccoons. 

Be careful not to overuse Epsom salt, as it can affect the soil pH and plant growth.

Masking Smells Raccoons Hate

Masking smells are those that cover up or reduce the food odors that attract raccoons. These smells can make raccoons less interested in foraging in an area and more likely to look for food elsewhere.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is an essential oil that has a strong minty smell that raccoons find unpleasant. Peppermint oil can also mask the food odors that attract raccoons.

You can use peppermint oil as a liquid repellent by diluting it with water and spraying it on plants or surfaces that you want to protect from raccoons. You can also soak cotton balls or rags with peppermint oil and place them around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls.

Be careful not to ingest or inhale peppermint oil, as it can cause nausea or respiratory problems.

Citrus

Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruits, have a strong acidic smell that raccoons find unpleasant. Citrus can also mask the food odors that attract raccoons.

You can use citrus in various forms, such as peels, slices, juice, or oil, to repel raccoons. Place citrus around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls. You can also spray citrus juice or oil on plants or surfaces that you want to protect from raccoons.

Be aware that citrus can also deter beneficial insects and animals from your garden.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is a liquid that has a sweet and pleasant smell to humans, but not to raccoons. Vanilla extract can also mask the food odors that attract raccoons.

You can use vanilla extract as a liquid repellent by diluting it with water and spraying it on plants or surfaces that you want to protect from raccoons. You can also soak cotton balls or rags with vanilla extract and place them around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls.

Be careful not to ingest or inhale vanilla extract, as it can cause nausea or respiratory problems.

Predator Smells Raccoons Hate

Predator smells are those that mimic the scent of animals that prey on raccoons. These smells can make raccoons feel threatened and scared and avoid an area.

Predator Urine

Predator urine is a natural repellent that contains pheromones and hormones that signal danger to raccoons. Predator urine can be obtained from animals such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats, or wolves, either in real or synthetic form. 

You can use predator urine as a liquid repellent by spraying it on plants or surfaces that you want to protect from raccoons. You can also soak cotton balls or rags with predator urine and place them around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls. 

Be careful not to touch or inhale predator urine, as it can cause irritation or infection.

Predator Hair

Predator hair is another natural repellent that contains pheromones and hormones that signal danger to raccoons. Predator hair can be obtained from animals such as dogs, cats, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, or wolves, either in real or synthetic form. 

You can use predator hair as a granular repellent by sprinkling it around the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls. You can also place predator hair in mesh bags or socks and hang them from trees or fences near your property. 

Be careful not to touch or inhale predator hair, as it can cause irritation or infection.

Predator Sounds

Predator sounds are another natural repellent that mimics the noises of animals that prey on raccoons. Predator sounds can be obtained from recordings of animals such as dogs, cats, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, or wolves. 

You can use predator sounds as an auditory repellent by playing them on speakers near the areas where raccoons are active, such as trash cans, gardens, or pet food bowls. You can also use motion-activated devices that play predator sounds when they detect movement near your property. 

Be careful not to play predator sounds too loud or too often, as they can disturb your neighbors or other wildlife.

How to Effectively Use Smells That Raccoons Hate

Using smells that raccoons hate can be an effective way to repel raccoons from your property. However, there are some tips and precautions that you should follow to ensure the best results:

  • Use Multiple Smells: Raccoons are smart and adaptable animals that can get used to one smell over time and ignore it. To prevent this from happening, you should use multiple smells that raccoons hate and rotate them regularly. This way, you can keep the raccoons guessing and avoid habituation.
  • Use Fresh Smells: Raccoons have a very keen sense of smell and can detect subtle changes in odor intensity and quality. To make sure that the smells that you use are effective, you should use fresh smells and reapply them frequently. For example, you should replace onion or garlic slices every few days, or spray peppermint oil or predator urine every week. You should also store the smells that you use in airtight containers or bags to preserve their potency.
  • Use Appropriate Smells: Raccoons have different preferences and tolerances for different smells, depending on their individual personalities and experiences. What works for one raccoon may not work for another. Therefore, you should use appropriate smells that match the situation and the raccoon that you are dealing with. For example, if you are dealing with a raccoon that is used to human activity and food sources, you may need to use stronger or more irritating smells than if you are dealing with a raccoon that is more wary or timid. You should also observe the raccoon’s behavior and reaction to the smells that you use and adjust them accordingly.

Learn More About Raccoons

Now that you know more about the smells raccoons hate, you may also be interested in these other educational guides on these mammals:

Smells Raccoons Hate Summary

You now know the answer to the question about what smells do raccoons hate.

As you discovered, raccoons dislike smells that are unpleasant, irritating, or threatening to them such as hot pepper, onion, garlic, peppermint oil, citrus, predator urine, and predator hair.