You're spot on about raccoons being crafty—they're basically furry little ninjas. I've seen them bypass stuff you'd swear was foolproof. Motion lights are a solid idea, though ammonia rags can be hit or miss in my experience. Another trick I've found helpful is sprinkling cayenne pepper around entry points; they hate the smell and usually steer clear. Worth a shot if you're still having trouble... good luck dealing with your masked intruders!
"Another trick I've found helpful is sprinkling cayenne pepper around entry points; they hate the smell and usually steer clear."
Tried cayenne pepper myself... seemed like it worked at first, but those little guys adapted quick. Ended up reinforcing entry points with hardware cloth—bit more work, but actually did the trick.
Cayenne pepper never worked for me either... I swear the critters around my place must have Cajun roots or something, because they didn't even blink. Ended up using steel wool stuffed into gaps before sealing with expanding foam—cheap, quick, and they hate chewing through it. Just wear gloves, trust me on this one. Learned that lesson the itchy way.
Steel wool and foam combo is solid advice—used it myself a few times. Another trick I've found helpful, especially around metal roofing edges, is copper mesh. It's flexible, easy to stuff into tight spots, and rodents absolutely hate chewing through it. Plus, unlike steel wool, it won't rust out over time. Learned that one after replacing some rusty patches a couple years back...lesson learned the hard way.
"Plus, unlike steel wool, it won't rust out over time."
Copper mesh sounds interesting, but isn't it a bit pricey compared to steel wool? I've been using aluminum window screen scraps myself—cheap and doesn't rust either. Haven't noticed rodents chewing through yet, but maybe I've just been lucky... Has anyone else tried aluminum screening, or am I setting myself up for trouble down the road?
