How to Effectively Keep Raccoons Off of Your Downspouts at Home

Raccoons are destructive creatures that can cause severe damage to your gutters and downspouts. If you are not able to effectively deter them, these small animals can eventually nest in your home. 

Keep reading to learn some tips on how to keep raccoons off your downspouts, according to residential roofing experts.

Avoid Leaving Food Outside

Improperly putting food waste in the trash or leaving pet food outside the home will attract raccoons later. Make sure you don’t leave traces of food in your outdoor areas and keep the trash lid properly closed. If you live near trees and plants that yield edible fruit or produce, make sure small animals won’t be able to access them. You should also pick up any fallen food and trim branches that are hanging over your home roof.

Install Gutter Guards

Gutter guards at home will minimize the leaves and debris that are getting into your gutters and downspouts. They will also make it easier to clean and maintain these parts of your home. By keeping your downspouts clear of dirt and debris, raccoons won’t be attracted to these roof areas or your metal roofing. 

Grease Your Downspouts

Apply automotive grease on your downspouts to prevent raccoons from climbing to the gutter. The grease will cause the small animals to slide down every time they attempt to climb up. Make sure to apply grease to all the sides of the downspout. And to keep yourself from accidentally touching the greased section while working on your home, choose a high point on the downspout that you can’t reach from the ground.

Deschutes Roofing offers quality residential and commercial roofing systems that meet various needs. To schedule an appointment, call us at (541) 241-5720 (Bend), (503) 967-9590 (Portland), (541) 246-6860 (Eugene), (503) 468-7663 (Lake Oswego) or (503) 928-8750 (Beaverton). You can fill out this contact form for a free consultation.