Barriers Of The Raccoon To Plants
Normal fencing will not keep raccoons from your garden. If they can't go under it or through it, they'll wiggle themselves over it. It takes a special fence to stand in the way of a hungry raccoon intent on getting into your garden.
Products to control raccoons are in our Yardener's Tool Shed; click here.
Electric Fence - Electric fencing is actually the only truly effective fence against raccoons. Most gardens need only two strands of wire-one at 6 inches and the second at 12 inches. Use PVC poles since raccoons can climb wooden posts holding electric fencing. A combination of chicken wire and electric fence is an effective deterrent. Rig the fence about two weeks before the corn is about to ripen.
For all the components you need to build an electric fence go to our Yardener's Tool Shed; click here
Floppy Wire Fence - A floppy wire fence is another option. Attach chicken-wire fencing to stakes, leaving the top foot free. When the raccoon tries to climb the fence, this loose section will bend so far backward that the masked bandit can't make it over.
Barriers On The Plants Preventing Raccoon Contact
Stove Pipe On Fruit Trees - If losing fruit is your problem and your fruit trees have no limbs below 4 feet, a four foot piece of 8 inch stove pipe (chimney of wood stove) set around the trunk is an effective barrier. The pipe is cut lengthwise and then after being set around the trunk, wired together again in two or three places.
Other Preventive Options
Here are some ideas tried with varying success by gardeners across the country struggling with raccoon attack. These measures may work for awhile, but in the end, a serious raccoon is only controlled by an electric fence.
Bird Netting Over Corn - Cover blocks of corn plants with black plastic ?bird netting? stretched over the blocks and pinned to the ground every 12 inches with bent wires made from coat hangers.
Plastic Taping Trick - Tape the corn ears with 3/4 in. wide glass-yarn filament tape; called "packing tape" and sold in stationary stores. The tape is first circled around the top of the ear below where the kernels are unfilled, then looped securely around the stalk to secure the ear before being wrapped around the bottom of the ear. Thus, there is a closed tape loop around the top and bottom of the ear which prevents the husk being torn apart without cutting the tape.
Barriers To Entering The House ? Closing Holes
Place garbage cans inside where raccoons cannot get to them
