There is nothing more annoying than wild animals dropping in for a visit when out for a weekend retreat. A fun weekend spent camping with your family camping gets a sudden interruption. Raccoons appear out of nowhere trashing your camp site.
Raccoons are especially pesky critters that can really wreak havoc when you least expect it. Inexperienced campers and city dweller alike can’t seem to keep raccoons at bay.
Luckily with a few simple precautions, you won’t shouldn’t have to deal with them ever again. Here are a few simple tips and tricks that will help keep them away or at least detour their curiosity to your less fortunate neighbors.
How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Campsite
Keep Your Food Secure
Always put your food away and locked up. I use the same bear canister that I take into bear country. They might be smart, but they’ve never outsmarted my BearVault Food Canister. Once your done eating just pack everything up and your good to go.
Don’t leave anything out for them to get into and eat. Most don’t realize just how good a raccoons sense of smell actually is. Remember they use their nose to find food every day.
They can smell food over a mile away or even further. So do not leave anything out where they can smell it.
Locking Coolers Keep Out Raccoons
You can also consider buying a locking cooler. Straps and latches won’t do you any good. Look for a cooler that actually locks using a standard combination lock.
I bring this locking cooler on all my family trips and
If Possible Stow Your Food in a Vehicle
If you’re lucky enough to have a camper or
What About Secluded Spots
Backpackers won’t have the luxury of carrying big coolers and bear canisters. The only option you have is putting your food supply up high above the ground. Preferably suspended from a nearby tree.
Never Keep Food In Your Tent
Shouldn’t have to be said, but I will anyway. Always remember to never keep food supply in a tent with you. Unless you are a brave soul and don’t mind a not so friendly wake up call.
Never Burn Your Trash
Most campgrounds do not allow trash burning. In some
Remember what Smokey The Bear told you “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires”. Burning trash is downright dangerous and it’s one of the leading causes of forest fires.
If that’s not bad enough, the smell can linger in your clothes. Which could cause some unfriendly visitors as you’re going about your
Leave Nothing behind (Especially Food)
Always dispose of your trash, especially food properly. Never leave food wrappers, plates, disposable silverware etc. behind without properly disposing of it everything.
Probably won’t
So the next camper has to deal with not only the
Don’t Pitch a Tent By a Community Garbage Bin
I’ve forgotten this tip on numerous occasions, but it is NEVER a good idea to pitch your tent near a campsite’s garbage bin. You’ll get all kinds of wild critters, not just raccoons.
Every animal from miles around will go in search of scraps. At the very least it will cause annoyance at worst physical torment and injury. Not to mention the smell from garbage bins is horrible. So do yourself a favor and pitch your tent far away.
No Scented Stuff
Remember Raccoons, as well as other wild animals, are attracted to all types of unusual smells. I’m not just talking about food. Leave anything scented like shampoos, conditioners, soaps, colognes, feminine scented products, etc… at home.
You can go a couple days with a basic tub of camping soap. They attract not only
With such a keen sense of smell even if you don’t see wildlife that doesn’t mean it’s not around. For safety just do not include them in your camping gear or supplies.
If you do have to bring along anything like that(who knows maybe your trying to impress a date), make sure you treat them just like your other food.
Hang them high with your food or stuff it all into a locking canister. Definitely, DO NOT store anything of the sort in your tent with you.
Probably an old boy scout wives tale, but everyone’s heard of the boy who woke up to a raccoon licking the toothpaste off his lips.
That lesson taught all of us young boys not to spit toothpaste out onto the ground after brushing our teeth. If you like the smell of mint so does that pesky bear a mile away. Spit into a container that can be sealed up to throw away.
So play it safe and smart always keeping safety in mind.
Subtle Barriers To Keep Out Raccoons
Raccoons have an awesome sense of smell,
Spread a little bit of the chili powder around your campsite, to form a barrier between you and them. They will not cross it because they cannot stand the smell and will hopefully leave in the other direction if they venture anywhere near
Now if you don’t have any chili powder handy, you can try dried hot pepper or hot pepper juice as well. There sensitive nostrils can’t handle the spice.
For maximum
Light Up Your Campsite
Whether or not light scares off raccoons depends on where you’re camping. Being nocturnal means raccoons really don’t like
This won’t work in heavily trafficed campgrounds where raccoons are used to people. They’ve already started associating humans with food and there’s no coming back from that.
Just remember that they use the dark to cover themselves. So if you hear rustling in the woods all it takes is the quick shine of a flashlight to expose them and scare them away.
Not All Noise is Bad Noise
Raccoons like most wild animals do not like noise. The happy sounds of a group of campers talking and singing can help keep them away. Clapping your hands and moving around helps too.
You do not have to be super loud, but loud enough for them to hear. They usually scurry away afraid of the noise.
Raccoons May Be Cute But They’re No Pet
Never try and approach one! Might look like your friendly little cat, but they are wild animals. Therefore they can be and are very dangerous animals.
That friendly guy that you’ve been happily feeding all morning will turn on you in a second. If they feel danger they will lash out to protect themselves.
They bite and can and carry a wide variety of diseases.
If you happen to see one that appears sickly get away fast. Find a park ranger immediately and let them know. They don’t have full control of their brains, which makes them especially dangerous!
They are generally harmless but there have been cases of people being attacked. Especially watch your young children. So for
Raccoons are in Some of My Favorite Camping Stories
Remember experiencing the great outdoors with family and friends is something that you’ll always cherish. No matter how many times you go each time is an experience all its own.
Just stay safe and take a few precautions to protect yourself from wildlife. Let me know how you keep raccoons out of camp in the comments below.