We've had a problem with raccoons coming in our kitty door and eating her food. The only thing that has helped (so far) is playing talk radio loudly and all night in kitty's room. Good luck.
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We have a big raccoon problem. They pull up all my freshly planted flowers to eat the bugs underneath and they defecate everywhere. Our pool is not yet complete but I am now worried they will be using it as a potty like they do with kitchenshock's pool.

I recently heard about using a predator's urine to keep them away. Have not tried it yet but I think I'm going to order some today. Apparently "CoyotePee" works to keep Raccoons away.

www.predatorpee.com

Oh no! This is worrisome. We're building our pool this summer, and we already have a problem in our neighborhood with raccoons. I'll be interested to see if anyone else out there has had any solutions to this problem...

I know people have used a fake, floating alligator in their pool to help keep ducks away. Maybe racoons are too smart for that? May be worth a try, though.

Google "motion activated sprinkler".
Worked in my yard to keep out the neighbor's dog.

The sprinkler is also called a scarecrow sprinkler. They are very effective. I use them to keep heron's out of my pond.

-we have racoons that visit our backyard...where our pool will be going in in 2 weeks. We have 2 big dogs who pretty much are in the house at night; they know when the racoons are out there at night (-even when we don't hear them). The dogs are a great deterent -the racoons stay away for quite a while if we let the dogs out when the dogs alert on them. IF you use dogs as a deterent, make sure they have had an up-to-date rabies shot, just in case. Make sure to keep garbage, pet food, etc. out of the area-they'll come for that. Motion lights may work too. Our "visitors" tend to leave when we turn the lights on. -we're in a rural area, so it's not a problem for us to battle "nature" w/the dogs.

goodtimes/keith thanks for the tip. I just ordered one of the sprinklers from Amazon to see if they work. This might also help with my other animal problem which are Grackles that use my waterfall to drink water from and of course, crap on the rocks. I put an owl out and all they did was use it a a perch and occasional toilet.

dogpaddle, my neighbors on both sides of me do not have the same problem as I do. They have traditional pools with traditional steps. My pool has a large sun step that they like to walk on. Its only got about 3" of water on it and it makes for a perfect spot for them to wash and eat their food. They also use the bowl of my waterfall as well. However, they never go on my sun-shelf which is 18" deep. If your pool is like mine, then stay tuned. I will report back on the sprinkler scare-crow.

kitchenshock, Whew! That's a relief knowing you have a 3" sun step. The shallowest part of our pool is an 18" baja shelf. I've been sort of hoping the raccoons will fall in and drown but then again I don't want to deal with hauling them out infront of the kids.

I was told almost all pools in FL were enclosed. Maybe you should do that. Heard aligator trick works on ducks, never heard about coons. We have a problem with them in the garbage here, I have a creek nearby. It was mostly last summer during the 100+ deg heat and drought. I read on the net, that they don't like the sound of people. Get a satalite radio and play Howard Stern all night, maybe that will work.

Why not trap and relocate them yourself? You can buy a trap for about 50 bucks (google havahart). It's pretty simple and can be done quite safely for all involved.

If you are going to take the advice to live trap and relocate - be sure to check with your state fish and wildlife dept. before doing so. Some states have regulations regarding relocation of racoons and other mammals. Your state fish and wildlife staff are the best people to turn to when dealing with wildlife issues like this -- they deal with these issues all the time and can provide you some guidance. It is worth the time you spend on a phone call.

We also had a problem with a family of racoons a year ago. They came, slept on our 2nd story deck, ate our figs, and pooped all over. Luckily, we did not have a pool at the time. After a month, we hired a professional trapper who came out to set up the trap and used our fresh figs as bait. It worked. The mama and the baby got caught the very first night. It was the saddest thing; neither my husband nor I slept that night because we could hear them trying to get out. It was even more sad because we knew they'd be put to sleep the next day. The trap company said since these animals have been domesticated living in the neighborhood, they will not survive if they were relocated out to the wilderness.

Anyway, for the next four days the papa came back every night and waited and waited. He was very smart since we could not get him trapped. He was also very stubborn. We had our flood lights on and even shined a bright flashlight at him, the most he did was stared right back at us or turned his back toward us. If we throw things at him, he'd run away for a little while but then he'd come right back to the same spot. After four days, he must have realized that the rest of his family was not coming back so he left and we have not seen him since. Since then we have cut down our fig tree and had our pool built. We're hoping that we will not have to experience that again. By the way, it cost us $250 to have the trap set up for 5 days.

Ditto yellowfin and another thing, when your releasing those cute little fellas, the fastest runner should do it and the rest of you should stay in the car.....lol
A mad racoon is nothing to trifle with. A friends dog in Springtown tangled with one. His face looks like a road map.

kurtv: I called a trapper and they said that it is illegal to catch and release raccoons in our county. He said he can catch the animal and will euthanize it for $200 per animal. I just see that as a losing battle. He said I could also buy a trap and catch and kill them myself. That is something I am not prepared to do.

Anyhow, I tried something that seems to be working. I took my brush and net poles and crisscrossed them across the sun step so that the raccoon will have to grab onto them to climb in the pool. They are placed in such a way that they will flex a lot and give a very insecure feeling to the raccoon. I have gone two days now with no traces of raccoons on my sun step. However, I know that its probably only a matter of time before they figure out they can climb over the poles. My motion sprinkler should arrive today, so I will test that this weekend.

I just bought a trap yesterday at TSC and caught the naughty little masked bandit who's been raiding my bird feeders every night. I don't get up early enough to refill for the birds so I got the trap. He'd eat all the sunflower seeds in a shallow tray, so I used that as bait inside the trap. He's so cute but has been peeing me off every time I thought I'd 'coon proofed the feeders, he'd outsmart me! I'll take him on a drive for a few miles today and release him. I hope he's not too T'd off, colt357 2004!

corn, I was told by a trapper that you need to take them at least 7-10 miles away or they will find their way back.

Just to update, I bought the ScareCrow sprinkler and it has worked great. I left it on for a week and just about all the wild life that was interested in using my pool is gone. I now just put it out once in a while. The only negative I have found with it is when you forget its on and walk in front of it. Happened to the wife when she was leaving for work and went out to retrieve a towel on a chair the kids had left out. She got it in the face and was not a happy camper.

ROFLOL!

kitchenshock: Thanks for the feedback on the ScareCrow sprinkler. If our pesky racoons are still around after our pool build is complete we will have to get one of those. Maybe we will have to post a sign nearby to remind us it is on. Your poor wife. I can just imagine how upset she would have been ... first of all having to go out and pick up after the kids and then to get a shot of water in the face for her trouble! LOL!

Last night after working late (3am) I looked out my kitchen window to see 4? adolescent age racoons leaping on & off my husband's car, running in & out of our storage shed, climbing & shaking our birdfeeders AND running around the edge of our grandchildren's 3'x 8' above ground pool! I couldn't see if they got all the way in, but they were in up to their arms for sure, batting away at the balls & innertubes floating in the pool. One of them bit into and shoot the daylights out of one of the plastic balls. I was grossed out! It was just the day before that my 5yr. old granddaughter was swimming her heart out and opening her eyes (& occasionally mouth!) under water for the first time. I cringed at the thought of what may have been entering the pool water! In the morning, I discovered that they had also put 3 sets of holes in the filter/pump tubing, so water was leaking out! I am going for the sprinkler, & if that doesn't work, I don't have a problem getting something done permanently! We have had racoons in our chimney & garbage cans, & have "havaheart" trapped & released them, but this won't do! My grandchildren's health is a priority and these critters are getting a bit too bold. The pool cover is going back on, & hopefully the unsteadiness will keep them from walking on it! Does anyone know of a not so expensive hard cover for pools this size & if so, where to get them! PLEASE HELP! We have a very bright light on the shed right next to the pool. THEY COULD CARE LESS. You would think they were on stage. God's blessings.

I just got a three 1x4 planks at Home Depot made of PVC (8 foot long). I laid them next to each other and put a pavers on either end covering my steps. The planks are flexible making it very wobbly for the raccoons to step on. I see the foot prints, but NO POOP for months

I have read numerous articles about issues people have with racoons. As a homeowner, former hunter, current fisherman, as well as a wildlife rescue participant, I understand both sides of the fence wanting to maintain/preserve a home/pool , and living with wildlife. Racoons are a nuisance, yes.. and having them damage/destroy your home isn't exactly tolerable either, so figuring out how to deal with them fairly around your property can be challenging.....but there are steps you can take to minimize/stop the visits without resorting to injuring them or killing them. If you've ever raised one...ever.....it will forever change the way you look at these amazing animals. They are amongst the smartest animals in the world.....and are extremely curious as well....so dealing with them is not easy.........but it can be done.

Natural animal odors helps, but will need to be re presented regularly....especially if you are in a wet climate. Some are more effective than others, but they are effective and harmless. Wolf. coyote, fox are among those used....

Dog barking helps immensely, but as racoons are nocturnal, it isn't a great deterrent if you and your neighbors need your rest ( who doesn't ) especially at night.

Motion activated sprinklers ( especially rainbirds ) is very effective, especially around pool areas, but there is a cost. Works to protect pond fish ( Coi, etc ) too without harming fish

Remove any and all food sources from areas that can be damaged from their presence

Seal up all entry points in/around your home, as they will try to create a " nest " to live and raise their family. Babies are amazingly cute......but not worth the damage the family can cause.

Installing fences can help, but racoons can scale screen fencing, so anything else with larger hand/foot holds is even easier.....and they are very determined to get in if there is food for the taking.....remove the desire to enter, and they will look for an easier target.

AVOID poisons at all costs.......as it can easily lead to loss of animal life all around your home. Treat them like they were your neighbors dog.......or better yet.....your own dog........ Keep them away humanely......

Humane trapping can help, but be willing to relocate them miles and miles away ( 20 plus )....and some careless trappers have been bitten.....which can lead to serious issues.

We have many racoons in our area, and have raised many of these amazing animals. They are all released as far from humans as possible. Have had a few leave their droppings in our pool, which can be a real issue of course, but we now have a screened lanai, which is probably the best method of keeping them away, and your pets safe at the same time.

Im writing this in hopes some learn to simply live with these incredible animals, as its hugely rewarding and memorable..... If you have a swimming pool, install a lanai, or an automatic rainbird sprinkler system that will come on with movement around the shallow end/steps of the pool. If they get sprayed a few times, they will often stay away.............and find a pool without protection. They learn quickly!