Can ammonia get rid of raccoons? Here is all you should know.

Raccoons are creatures of the wild that sometimes find their way into human dwellings or around human spaces.

There are many possible explanations for their presence around homes. One of them includes the continuing outward expansion of cities which shrink the natural habitats of these creatures.

Ammonia Racoon Control

With raccoons coming around your home, these cute and friendly animals may become dangerous when cornered.

Also, you could end up making contact with saliva from a sick raccoon that could cause serious diseases in humans.

Another potential health risk you’re exposed to by raccoon presence is rabies.

Why Get Rid of Raccoons?

Before we get into details about the efficacy of ammonia on raccoons, it’s important to understand the why of raccoon control. For a lot of people, these cute medium-sized creatures might look harmless.

However, the truth remains that raccoons can be highly destructive.

These creatures can also increase your exposure to all sorts of diseases.

You don’t want to have to deal with such creatures. You should take action to keep them out of your home and surroundings. Such actions might not necessarily be hostile.

Let’s take a brief look at these problems.

  • Damage to Property

With raccoons around your home, the potential to destroy your property to gain entry is quite common. With the help of their sharp teeth, these creatures will gnaw on, and chew through whatever stands in their way.

The longer they remain, the more damage is caused.

  • Damage to Garden

Raccoons will readily destroy plants in your garden.

These animals are omnivores and feed on just about anything. You might find your wild grapes, citrus fruits, cherries, berries, apples, plums, and peaches among others destroyed.

Such damage will continue for as long as raccoons remain.

  • Spread of Disease

Apart from raccoon bites which are quite rare unless threatened or when infected with rabies, the droppings and urine of these creatures easily enhance the spread of diseases.

Raccoons must be excluded from your surroundings to reduce such risks.

Using Ammonia For Raccoon Control; Is it a Good Idea?

 You might have read through or come across articles promoting the use of ammonia as a raccoon repellent. While this chemical compound indeed repels ammonia, it might not do so consistently.

In other words, raccoons may eventually get used to the pungent smell of ammonia.

How Ammonia Works

When applied around raccoon-infested areas, the pungent smell given off by ammonia drives away pests like raccoons. Such pungent odor smells like urine. It’s common knowledge that raccoons are clean eaters.

Although they add filth to your surroundings through their droppings and urine, they are mostly clean feeders.

By applying ammonia, you should expect these creatures to leave as the smell permeating treated areas is overwhelming to these creatures.

As stated earlier, raccoons increasingly become tolerant of the pungent smell and could remain.

To have any real results, consider using multiple treatment methods. Of course, ammonia should be among those being used. Before long, these pests should be gone.

How to Treat for Raccoons with Ammonia

What’s the best treatment strategy using ammonia? There are several!

As long as your pesticide includes ammonia it should be effective enough. However, excess dilution of ammonia could lower its efficacy on raccoons.

So, how do you go about the process? There are several ways;

Some of these methods include having ammonia-soaked rags placed along paths frequented by raccoons.

Others include making ammonia spray for application around infested areas and also treating areas with the most raccoon activity. Target your trash can for treatment.

Let’s take a brief look at each of these ammonia treatments.

  • Having Ammonia-Soaked Rags Placed Along Infested Areas

Ever heard of raccoons ammonia tennis balls? Here is the concept.

Rags or any form of absorbent cloth, tennis balls, or cotton balls can be soaked in concentrated ammonia. These soaked cotton balls or rags are then placed along with infested areas.

They retail much of the solution for longer periods, thus ensuring the repellent effects are felt for long.

Raccoons tend to avoid surrounding areas where such soaked rags or cotton balls have been placed. For this treatment to be long-lasting, you’ll need to have these rags re-soaked in ammonia.

This reinvigorates or renews the pungent smell of the chemical compound.

  • Making Ammonia Spray

If rags soaked in ammonia don’t seem to be your thing, you might want to consider making a spray. Pure liquid ammonia can be used for this type of treatment.

All you have to do is get a spray bottle and have the desired quantity poured in. Simply target areas you’ve noticed raccoon droppings or presence.

Unlike ammonia-soaked rags, sprayed or treated areas don’t retain this chemical pesticide for long. As such, you’ll need to reapply after a few hours. This ensures the area isn’t conducive for raccoons to the harbor.

If you must dilute your ammonia spray, it must not be much.

  • Treating Areas where Raccoons have been Spotted

Have you seen these creatures loitering around your home lately?

You might want to take note of the areas with the most presence for later treatment. You can spray such areas with ammonia to get the desired repellent effect.

As stated in the previous point, the frequent application will be necessary to keep raccoons at bay.

  • Treating your Trash Can

One thing you might be unaware of is that raccoons are attracted to your trash cans. The smell of food in your trash cans makes them want to get to it.

Asides from washing your trash can regularly, have a cup of ammonia poured into every trashcan. This should serve as enough deterrence to raccoon presence.

Ammonia Treatments might not be as Effective

We earlier said raccoons may get more tolerant of ammonia treatments. During such times, no amount of application will repel them.

You’ll need to think of alternative measures to keep them out. Your best bet is having wildlife control specialists come around for removal.

You’ll also need to seal up all possible entry points being exploited by these creatures.

By excluding these pests and sealing possible entry points, you’re making your surroundings less conducive for their presence.

The above strategies can be followed when treating raccoon problems. As seen above, there’s only so much you can do with ammonia treatments.

Always consider alternative strategies such as those discussed.

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