How to Get Rid of Raccoons and Other Critters

How to Get Rid of Raccoons: Key Insights

• The right removal method depends on where the animal has denned, not just which species is involved.
• Skunks and groundhogs need different handling than raccoons, since one digs in the open and one climbs and dens in structures.
• Most provinces restrict how far wildlife can be relocated, which limits how effective DIY trapping actually is.
• Sealing an entry point too early in spring can trap young animals inside and turn a small problem into a bigger one.
• A property that has hosted one den often attracts a second animal unless the entry point gets sealed for good.

In this guide, you'll read about:

1. How to Get Rid of Raccoons: Overview
2. How to Get Rid of Other Backyard Critters
3. Signs of Raccoons, Skunks, and Groundhogs
4. Safety Considerations Before You Act
5. Preventing Raccoons, Skunks, and Groundhogs from Returning
6. How to Find a Pest Control Pro on HomeStars
7. FAQs

How Do I Get Rid of Raccoons? An Overview

Raccoons are intelligent, strong, and comfortable living close to people, which is exactly why they end up in backyards, under decks, and in attics across the country. The right response depends on where the raccoon has settled in, since one passing through a yard needs a different approach than one that has already moved into an attic.

Raccoons in the Backyard

A raccoon visiting the yard is usually chasing food, not looking for a den. Secure garbage cans with bungee cords or clips, bring pet food inside overnight, and pick up fallen fruit from trees before it attracts nightly visits. A closed compost bin works better than an open pile, since raccoons will dig through loose compost for scraps.

Raccoons Under the Deck

Before sealing a den under a deck, confirm it's empty. Loosely pack the entrance with crumpled newspaper: if the paper stays undisturbed for a few nights, the den is likely vacant. Wait until you are confident there are no kits before closing the gap with galvanized wire mesh buried a few inches into the ground.

Raccoons in the Attic

An attic is the most serious of the three locations, since raccoons can tear up insulation, chew wiring, and leave roundworm-contaminated droppings behind. Attic access points are usually high up and hard to reach safely, so this is one scenario where a pro installing a one-way door, and confirming no young are present first, is the more practical choice over a homeowner attempting the climb.

How to Deter a Raccoon from Returning

Deterrence works best while a raccoon is still deciding whether your property is worth the effort. A radio left on a talk station, a motion-activated light, or an ammonia-soaked rag near a suspected entry point can convince it to look elsewhere. Raccoons get used to a single method fairly quickly, so rotating between two or three tactics at once tends to work better than relying on just one.

Find a raccoon removal pro on HomeStars

How to Get Rid of Other Backyard Critters

Skunks and groundhogs share some habits with raccoons. They will use the space under a deck or shed, and they are drawn to easy food. But their behaviour, risks, and removal timing are different enough that a raccoon strategy will not necessarily work on either one.

How to Get Rid of Skunks

Skunks are generally calm animals that only spray when they feel cornered, so the goal is to avoid startling one rather than confronting it directly.

A one-way door at the den entrance lets a skunk leave to feed and prevents it from getting back in, but check for kits first: a mother skunk with young under the deck between spring and early summer should be left alone until the litter is old enough to leave on its own.

Note: If you do get sprayed, plain soap and water will not fully clear the smell. A mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and a small amount of dish soap applied directly to skin or clothing works far better than the often-repeated tomato juice trick.

How to Get Rid of Groundhogs

Groundhogs behave differently from raccoons and skunks because they dig open burrows in lawns and gardens rather than denning under structures, and they are active during the day rather than at night.

A buried wire fence around a vegetable garden, angled outward at the top, is one of the more reliable ways to keep a groundhog from getting to the plants it is after. Planting garlic, chives, or lavender around garden borders can help too, since groundhogs tend to avoid strongly scented plants.

Note: Never flood or gas a burrow: it is inhumane, often illegal, and rarely effective since groundhog burrows typically have more than one exit.

Signs of Raccoons, Skunks, and Groundhogs

Each animal leaves a different calling card, which makes it easier to identify what you are actually dealing with before deciding on a plan.

Animal	Common Signs
Raccoon	Overturned garbage, hand-shaped tracks, scratching sounds in the attic at night
Skunk	A lingering musky odour, small cone-shaped holes in the lawn, a den entrance under a deck or shed
Groundhog	A single large burrow hole with a dirt mound, chewed vegetable gardens, daytime sightings near the yard

Safety Considerations Before You Act

Wildlife on the property comes with real safety considerations that go beyond the nuisance of a chewed garden or a smelly deck.

Health risks

• Rabies: both raccoons and skunks are common carriers of rabies in parts of Canada, so an animal that appears aggressive, disoriented, or active during the day should be reported to local animal control rather than approached.
• Roundworm: raccoon droppings can contain roundworm eggs that pose a risk if inhaled or handled without gloves, so cleanup should never be done bare-handed.

Handling risks

• Never approach: avoid cornering, chasing, or handling any of these animals yourself, and keep children and pets away from a den site until it has been confirmed empty.
• Never poison: poisoning wildlife is inhumane and illegal in most of Canada, and it often leaves a carcass somewhere inaccessible, which creates a worse problem than the one you started with.

Preventing Raccoons, Skunks, and Groundhogs from Returning

Once a den has been confirmed empty, closing off access for good is what actually keeps the problem from repeating itself, and this is a step beyond anything covered above.

• Trimmed tree limbs: Cut back branches within four to six feet of the roofline so raccoons cannot climb from a tree straight onto the house.
• Capped chimneys: Install a proper chimney cap, since an open flue is one of the most overlooked entry points into an attic.
• Buried garden fencing: Extend wire fencing at least a foot underground with the top angled outward, which stops a groundhog from tunnelling beneath it.
• Cleared hiding spots: Remove woodpiles, brush, and debris near the foundation so animals have fewer places to shelter close to the house.

Skipping any one of these steps tends to leave an opening for the next animal, even if the original one is long gone.

How to Find a Pest Control Pro on HomeStars

DIY deterrents work well for a raccoon passing through the yard or a groundhog nibbling at the garden, but attics, occupied dens with young, and repeat problems usually call for a professional. Pest control pros on HomeStars handle raccoon, skunk, and groundhog removal, and browsing profiles and past reviews first makes it easier to pick someone who has actually dealt with your specific situation. Pricing depends heavily on the animal, the access point, and whether young are involved, so it is worth checking a raccoon removal cost guide or a broader pest and animal control cost guide before requesting quotes. From there, connect with pest control pros near you and compare a few options before deciding who to hire.

Connect with a wildlife removal pro on HomeStars

FAQs: Your Questions About Raccoon, Skunk, and Groundhog Removal Answered

Is it legal to trap and relocate a raccoon, skunk, or groundhog yourself in Canada?

In most provinces, relocating wildlife any real distance from where it was caught is restricted or requires a permit, since releasing an animal into unfamiliar territory can harm both the animal and the local ecosystem. Ontario, for example, limits relocation distance for trapped wildlife under provincial rules. A licensed pro found through HomeStars will know exactly what is permitted in your area, which takes the guesswork out of it.

Does home insurance cover damage caused by raccoons, skunks, or groundhogs?

Most standard policies treat wildlife damage as a maintenance issue rather than a covered peril, so chewed wiring or a collapsed deck footing is often the homeowner's responsibility to repair. Some policies do cover resulting damage, such as a fire caused by chewed wiring, even when the initial entry point is excluded. It is worth calling your insurer directly to confirm what your specific policy covers before assuming either way.

What time of year are raccoons, skunks, and groundhogs most likely to move onto a property?

Spring is the busiest season for all three, since raccoons and skunks are typically raising young between March and June, and groundhogs are just emerging from hibernation and looking for new burrow sites. Waiting until late summer or fall to deal with a den, once any young have left on their own, is often easier and more humane than acting in the middle of a birthing season.