Silver Bullet Pest ControlStraight answers from Silver Bullet Pest Control, a licensed exterminator based in Garfield, NJ, serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585. Hablamos español.
Featured on Telemundo 47 • EPA Pesticide Safety Certified • 4.9 Stars on Google • NJ License 90568B
Text a photo of what you're seeing and we'll tell you what it is and what to do.
The best raccoon deterrent is taking away food and shelter: lock trash cans, bring pet food in at night, clean the grill, cap the chimney and cover roof and gable vents with heavy guards. Motion lights and sprinklers can help for a while in a yard, but raccoons learn fast. If a raccoon is already in the attic, chimney or under the deck, call Silver Bullet Pest Control at 973-510-2585.
| Deterrent | How well it works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Locking or bungee-strapped trash cans | Very well | Raccoons visit on trash night; no reward, no visits |
| No pet food or bird seed out at night | Very well | Removes the reason to come into the yard |
| Chimney cap and vent guards | Very well | Stops denning in the house |
| Sealing gaps under decks and sheds | Well | Use buried wire mesh so they can't dig under |
| Motion-activated sprinkler | Somewhat | Works in gardens until they get used to it |
| Motion lights | A little | Raccoons in NJ towns are used to lights |
| Ammonia, pepper, predator urine | Briefly | Fades fast and needs constant reapplying |
| Ultrasonic devices | Little evidence | Not worth relying on |
In North Jersey neighborhoods, raccoons den in attics (through roof vents and soffits), chimneys (especially mothers in spring), under decks and porches, in sheds and garages left open, and in hollow trees. A deterrent only works if every one of these is closed off around your house. See how raccoons get into the attic.
The three situations behind most of these calls in North Jersey:
We get squirrels out with one-way doors and seal the roofline so they can't chew back in. Exclusion, not relocation.
Raccoons tear their way in and do real damage. We remove them from the house and close the opening with heavy-duty materials.
Ground animals cause foundation and yard problems. We find where they live and block access so they move on.
Raccoons and skunks dig under decks and sheds to make a den. The fix is an L-shaped barrier: galvanized wire mesh fastened to the bottom of the deck skirt and bent outward along the ground, buried a few inches. When they try to dig at the edge, they hit mesh. Make sure no animal is under there before you close it off; a one-way door or a few nights of watching tells you.
If you hear heavy walking in the attic at night, find a torn roof vent, smell a strong urine odor, or see a raccoon going in and out of the chimney, deterrents won't move it out. A mother raccoon with kits will stay no matter what. We remove raccoons with exclusion, handle kits so the family stays together, and rebuild the entry so it stays closed. See raccoon proofing.
Keep tree limbs about 6 to 8 feet from the roof so squirrels can't jump on.
Use cans with tight lids and bungee cords. Raccoons learn trash night fast.
A sturdy chimney cap keeps out raccoons, squirrels and birds.
Look for chewed soffit corners, loose vents and gaps at roof returns each spring and fall.
Tell us what you're seeing and where. A photo often lets us identify the pest right away. We answer 24/7 for emergencies.
A licensed tech finds the source: where the pest lives, how it gets in and what draws it.
We use the right method for the pest, placed where it works and kept away from kids and pets.
We close entry points and tell you what to change so the problem doesn't come back.
Call or text 973-510-2585 for the fastest answer, or tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you quickly.
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Removing food and shelter: locked trash, no outdoor pet food, and sealed vents, chimneys and decks.
Not for long. Raccoons in suburban NJ get used to lights.
Briefly. The smell fades quickly and has to be reapplied constantly.
There's little evidence they do. We don't rely on them.
Use cans with locking lids or bungee cords, and keep them in a garage or shed until pickup morning.
Make sure none is inside, then install buried L-shaped wire mesh along the deck skirt.
Not when it's done right. We use one-way doors and check for babies first so nothing is sealed in.
They chew wiring, tear insulation and leave droppings and urine. Raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm, so their droppings need careful cleanup.
Yes. Squirrels gnaw constantly, and chewed wiring in an attic is a real fire risk, which is one reason to act quickly.
It depends on how many entry points there are, the roof height and whether repairs are needed. Estimates are free: call or text 973-510-2585.
Yes, with exclusion, and then we seal the entry with heavy-duty material.
Based in Garfield, we serve these towns and the rest of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B
