Pet food outside or inside an open pet door will likely attract raccoons and other animals at night, happy to get an easy meal!

• Close pet door at night and bring in pet food at night is the easiest solution.


• Install a pet door that works like a garage door opener - opening when your pet's collar activates the door opener.


• Close the door for a few nights and leave a rolled up bath towel soaked with ammonia outside the pet door to break the pattern. Then re-open pet door at night being sure the pet food is put away in a smell proof container.


• Buy a bit of extra food and live with the occasional wild visitor eating the food in the bowl. (Cats, dogs and raccoons generally couldn't care less about each other)


• Raccoons can almost always get away if a dog chases them. They are agile athletes that can get over a fence quickly.


• Note: Occasionally a mother raccoon will risk coming to eat pet food in the daytime in late June when she is feeding herself + her babies. This will only last for a few days, so be patient.