06/09/2026
NOTE: This is not one of my rescues. I’m sharing this to educate.
STOP TRAPPING AND RELOCATING WILDLIFE 🤬😫😭
⬇️See list below for how to humanely evict. ⬇️
It’s baby season. Local wildlife rehabbers are ALL FULL! Not just because of abandoned babies, but because of HUMANS trapping and dumping momma’s miles away and then… ohhh, there’s babies, now what?!?
This poor momma raccoon could very well die trying to make her way back to her babies. She was “relocated” miles away by someone this week for taking up residence under their mobile home. She could get hit by a car trying to get back, get in a fight with another raccoon in the territory in which she was dumped, etc.
Meanwhile, now there are abandoned babies who don’t have a mom. Often times, these babies sit in traps for days because people don’t know what to do with them while they search for a Wildlife Rehabber who has availability to help them. The problem is, this happens so frequently that everyone is full and there are no resources left to help these babies.
Please do better. There are ways of humanely evicting a family of raccoons that doesn’t involve separating families, dumping moms, and leaving babies abandoned to starve to death.
➡️ HOW TO HUMANELY EVICT RACCOONS: ⬅️
Raccoons typically have at least 2 other dens within about a 1 mile radius of their current location. What you need to do is make their current home as unappealing as possible so that they move along on their own. They often have multiple babies to move, so this can take time. Please be patient as they won’t be able to relocate overnight. It can sometimes take up to 5 days to relocate, as they can have up to 8 babies to move.
Once they have moved out completely, you MUST IMMEDIATELY repair the point of entry, or another family will move in and you will be starting over from square one.
If you do not want to make your home attractive to these “trash pandas”, secure your trash. Don’t leave pet food sitting out. They are very opportunistic and will want to stick around if there is a food source.
🔻 OPTIONS TO ENCOURAGE HUMANE EVICTION: 🔻
DO NOT use moth balls to deter raccoons or any other wildlife. They are extremely toxic.
SCENT:
1. Spray peppermint oil around the nest, but not directly in it. Reapply every few days until they leave, then secure the area.
2. Use Fox Urine. Foxes are natural predators for raccoon kits. If a momma smells fox urine near her den, she will relocate.
3. Put rags soaked in vinegar around the nest, but not directly in it. Reapply every few days until they leave, then secure the area.
4. Sprinkle “Repels All” at the entry point, but not right near and NEVER in the nest. It is a granulated ammonia product and they will not want to stick around and smell it.
SOUND:
1. A portable radio tuned to talk radio throughout the day can be helpful. Most momma raccoons are trying to rest during the day. If her nesting area becomes noisy, she will want to relocate.
2. Ultrasonic noise pest repellant boxes positioned at the point of entry can’t help deter raccoons and encourage them to relocate.
SIGHT:
1. A bright light on constantly.
2. Amber Strobe lights positioned near the nest. Raccoons will not tolerate flashing lights for long.
