Do Raccoons Like Light?

Raccoons are very smart animals and once they target your house as a food source, they won’t give up easily. If you consistently notice raccoons approaching your garden or yard at nighttime, you must try to remove any possible food sources such as litter or pet food. Then, you should consider using pest control repellents. 

In this article, we will explore whether garden lights keep raccoons away. 

So, are raccoons scared of light?

Raccoons are scared of light, as they are nocturnal animals. However, outdoor lights won’t keep every raccoon away because they get used to constant light sources. You should therefore opt for motion-activated lights because the light movement will scare raccoons away.

So, repellent devices that use light can indeed be very effective. If you’d like to learn more about the best raccoon deterrent lights, read on.

Raccoon running away from outdoor light

Why don't raccoons like light?

Most raccoons don't like light because it disorients them due to their nocturnal nature. However, a constant light source might not be enough to completely deter raccoons because they may get used to it.

Instead, you should opt for motion-activated lights, as they're more likely to spook predators away.

Outdoor security lights with motion sensor have shown to be extremely efficient in deterring raccoons away from houses, gardens, and even public spaces. The reason for this is that these lights emit up to 1000 lumens, which is very bright, specially for raccoons. Plus, they're motion-activated, so the light movement is more likely to scare raccoons away.  

Will porch lights keep raccoons away?

One of the most common questions from our readers is whether porch lights keep raccoons away. So, let’s take a look at how effective porch lights are to deter raccoons.

Porch lights are essential for dark winter nights. These outdoor lights not only add a warm exterior design to your home, but also add a layer of security to your property.

This is because porch lights alert burglars to your presence, particularly if indoor lights are on too. The porch light also acts as a spotlight on the front door. You can easily see who's approaching through either a window or peephole.

But, will porch lights keep raccoons away?

Yes, in most cases, porch lights keep raccoons away. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, which means they can be very sensitive to light. However, it doesn’t mean that porch lights will scare every raccoon away. You should use this method together with other pest control repellents to increase its efficiency.


Best Lights to Scare Raccoons

Now that you are aware of the outdoor lights' efficiency to scare raccoons away, you’re likely questioning yourself about what are the best raccoon deterrent lights. We’ve got the answer for you! Listed below are the most effective raccoon deterrent lights.

Solar Red Flashing Lights

These solar-powered lights are an extremely effective raccoon deterrent. Besides being self-sustainable, which means you won’t have any electricity costs, solar red flashing lights are also 100% portable. This allows you to use the lights even in remote areas, such as a farm or a property with limited access to electricity.

Additionally, these lights are red, which is perceived as threatening by raccoons. Their motion-like flashing feature also scares raccoons away. All these qualities make this outdoor light the most complete raccoon deterrent.

LED Motion Activated Lights

LED motion lights are known for being a great raccoon deterrent. Motion sensor lights will deter raccoons from hanging around your house and raiding your dust bin for food leftovers. This is because the shock of an unexpected blast of light scares raccoons away.

Additionally, LED lights are energy efficient and have a long lifespan. So besides keeping raccoons away, these lights will be a great addition to your home or property.

LED Floodlights

Floodlights are high-intensity artificial lights. When these lights are installed all around the perimeters of the house or areas which you are protecting, they are very effective at scaring raccoons away due to how strong and bright these lights are.

In addition, these lighting fixtures are also great to alert thieves and burglars to your presence. All these characteristics make LED floodlights a great all-rounder raccoon deterrent light.

Raccoon in a garden

Learn more

Would you like to learn if LED lights can get wet? Are you interested in knowing about the outdoor lights that attract the least bugs? Then, follow our lighting blog to learn all things related to outdoor lights and outdoor decoration!

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