Is there anything you can do to keep racoons out of a pond?

[prime311]

Aside from killing all the fish eating bandits?

[Strauch]

You can spread some moth balls around the outer edge, they don't like the smell either...

[Longinus]

I still would say a shotgun is the best approach, granted, there is only one way to be sure

I put weighted screens up when there are some birds that drop poo in the pond and those seem to keep racoons out too.

[MM]

Short of a bullet, .... Maybe an alligator

[MM]

Sorry, the alligator idea may not be very helpful.

If you really are serious about keeping fish in your pond and don't want physical barriors like fencing, electric wire or a deeper pond, reducing your racoon numbers may be necessary. They are easy to live trap. The live trap allows you to easily release non-target critters. Do not trap and relocate as this will spread disease (distemper) in wild populations. A bullet needs to enter the equation somewhere. Believe me, you would not be doing any harm to wildlife by removing a few individuals from an over abundant species.

- Mark

[DDD33]

I did my thesis on urban white-tailed deer and the problems they create with home owners. We often fielded questions on other nuisance critters including raccoons. The number one non-lethal way to keep coons out of something is a dog but having a dog out all night long may not be an option. The second is noise like a radio played all night, however they often habitialize to it making it ineffective and this will probably not get you on any of the neighbors Christmas card lists. This is also the case with commercial repellents, if they want it bad enough they will live with the smell. As others have noted trapping and euthanizing is probably the most effective and if done in a timely fashion, you hopefully take out the nuisance animals before they teach to many others. Good luck.

Derrik

[MM]

Good thoughts Derik, motion sensors with sound electronic dog barking, or better a motion sensor with a high velocity spray of water accross the pond maybe tied with a bright light. The parts for putting something like this together has gotten so much more affordable in recent years. I used similar set up with water back in michigan to keep deer out of an area. Light and water will not anger your neighbors.

- Mark

[Ereefic]

Me, my .22 rifle and a spotlight.

[O&J'sdad]

To keeo them out of our compost bin we brush the dogs and put the hair in the bin. You could put dog hair in a bag or trip wire and flame thrower.

[Falcon57]

To keeo them out of our compost bin we brush the dogs and put the hair in the bin. You could put dog hair in a bag or trip wire and flame thrower.

Flame the bastard.