16 – 28 in.Head to hindquarters

Average Size: 12″ tall; 24-38″ long; 14-23 lbs.

Size and Weight: The adult raccoon is a medium-sized mammal and the largest of the Procyonidae family. It averages 24 to 38 inches in length and can weigh between 14 to 23 lbs., or more, depending upon habitat and available food.

5-10 feet

While a normal raccoon wouldn’t attack a person, they will sometimes “bluff” if they feel threatened or cornered. Raccoons may huff, grunt, or “charge” at you, but they’re just trying to scare you off so you’ll leave them alone.

Raccoons can be remarkably affectionate. They can become very attached to their owners and spend long periods of time snuggling. However, if they are afraid or become angry, they can and will bite.

Though early Maine Coons were brown with raccoon-like tails, a cat and a raccoon did not mate to create them. A male raccoon cannot impregnate a female cat and a male cat cannot impregnate a female raccoon because fertilization of eggs cannot occur. The reason for this barrier is to keep each of these species distinct.

Most raccoons will kill cats for sports, even though larger cats have a good sense to steer clear of the raccoons, but the hunting skills of the raccoons make them so fast . Aside from smaller cats and dogs, raccoons have been found to attack other animals such as birds, and even fishes in the pond.

Generally, dogs are not afraid of raccoons. This is especially true for hunting dogs. While cats will always try to steer clear of the path of the furry masked bandit, a dog will never back down.

Raccoons Hate :

1. Hot Pepper Keeps Raccoons at bay- Hot pepper is one of the most potent scents that can eradicate raccoons because it irritates their sense of smell.
2. Spray a concoction of onion and pepper-
3. Peppermint essential oil-
4. Garlic juice-
5. Epsom Salt-

Raccoons dislike bright lights, loud noises and strong odors.

You can sprinkle cheap coffee grounds around the barn, stables, hay bales, storage areas, and feeding areas. The scent of the grounds will deter raccoons, but just be sure to reapply weekly to keep them effective.

Top 10 Things That Scare Raccoons

• Light. Just like owls and bats, raccoons are nocturnal animals who only show their scruffy faces once the sun goes down.
• Sound. Raccoons are creatures most commonly found in the cities.
• Smell.
• Predators.
• Sickness.
• Humans.
• Water.
• Traps.

After human urine is older than 24hrs, the urea turns into what’s called ammonia, a smell that raccoons can’t stand. And since raccoons process urine in a similar fashion, they dislike the smell of ammonia and don’t urinate near their dens or around their food. So in theory, yes, human urine does keep raccoons away.

Best Raccoon Repellents: Top Picks

• Havahart Critter Ridder 3146 Animal Repellent. This animal repellent comes in different sizes that you could choose from, depending on your need.
• Austin’s Ammonia Clear.
• Eco Defense Organic Home Pest Control Spray.
• Nite Guard Solar.

Raccoons sometimes get into scraps with cats and they may occasionally prey on small animals housed outside, such as chickens and rabbits. When no other food is available, raccoons might even prey upon kittens and small cats, but other times, they can be seen eating side-by-side when cats are fed outdoors.

Raccoons have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find accessible food sources. You can take advantage of this trait by using scents they dislike, such as hot pepper, onion, garlic, peppermint oil and Epsom salt to repel them.

If raccoons are raiding your garden, try scaring them off with motion-detecting sprinklers or strobe lights. Radios and other noise-makers can also deter raccoons. Switch up your scare strategies to keep raccoons from becoming accustomed to one method.

Raccoons are wild animals and a raccoon who feels cornered or threatened can be dangerous. Raccoons (along with foxes, skunks, and bats) are “rabies vector species” (meaning they have a higher risk of contracting and spreading rabies) and therefore you should never attempt to handle them.

Most active at night, raccoons sometimes also forage for food by day. They will make their nests almost anywhere — in tree cavities, brush piles, abandoned burrows, chimneys, attics, crawl spaces, storm sewers, haystacks, and barn lofts — and usually have more than one den site available for use at any one time.

“Raccoons will just kick the mothballs to the side,” he said. And if too much of some those homemade remedies are used — like the ammonia or mothballs — they can become toxic.

Homemade Raccoon Repellents that can be used The soaked pieces of cloth can be placed around the house, such as near food sources or around garbage cans and bins. Pine Sol can also be used in place of ammonia. Raccoons do not like the taste of vinegar and may never return to the property.

If you need a more effective pest control repellent, use mountain lion urine, coyote urine, or wolf urine. After various surfaces around your yard are sprayed, raccoons will not go near your property.

Raccoon droppings are cylindrical in shape, have rounded or broken ends, and are typically dark in color, though coloration varies depending on what the animal has recently eaten. Raccoon scat is likely to contain berries, as they are a favorite food source.

As nocturnal animals, most raccoons prefer to stay out of the spotlight. Bright lights that resemble daylight can scare raccoons away. The Urban Wildlife Rescue Organization also suggests using a hot sauce repellent.

Skunk droppings look similar to those of a cat and are typically found in lawns and gardens. The waste is tubular, has blunt ends, and usually measures about a quarter to half an inch in diameter and one to two inches long. Skunk poop generally contains bits of undigested insects, berry seeds, fur, or feathers.

Put on disposable gloves and collect the feces or retrieve the dead raccoon. Double bag the feces or animal in plastic garbage bags. Remove gloves and place them in the garbage bags. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.

Raccoons can be dangerous to have on your property or in your home; raccoons are common carriers of rabies and other serious diseases that can be passed onto you and your pets. If you or a pet come into contact with a raccoon and are bitten or scratched you should seek immediate medical attention.

Most germs in bird droppings are killed by chlorine within minutes in a well-maintained pool. The germ Crypto, however, has a tough outer shell that allows it to survive for a long time in the environment. Crypto can survive for days even in properly chlorinated pools.

It’s not sterile. It’s not drinking water. The good news is that most germs causing RWIs are killed by chlorine within a few minutes. However, chlorine doesn’t kill everything right away….Fecal Incident and Outbreak Response.

Germ	Time
Crypto Parasite	About 15,300 minutes or 10.6 days 1