How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Backyard Ponds and Local Water Features

Did you know that raccoons love water and are excellent swimmers? And, did you know that raccoons have a habit of "washing" their food before consumption? Perhaps this explains why raccoons are so drawn to all kinds of water features - from backyard pools and DIY garden ponds to park retention ponds and ornamental fountains in courtyards and public parks.

While watching a raccoon or two going for a leisurely swim in your backyard may sound entertaining, our nimble little trash pandas actually cause a slew of damage, including pool and pond liner damage, ecological disruption, leave a big mess, and pose disease risks. The biggest risk is water contamination from raccoons infected with rabies. This would put your pets and other wildlife at great risk. In this article, we'll explore some of the issues, answer common questions from pond owners and provide both practical and legal solutions for protecting your backyard pond and/or remove raccoons from your GTA property.

What Types of Ponds and Water Features Are at Risk?

• Residential Ponds – Decorative garden ponds, backyard fish ponds, and small man-made water features.
• Commercial Water Features – Fountains found in plazas, hotel landscapes, golf courses, and public parks.
• Natural Ponds & Local Lakes – Community parks, forest edges, and rural properties.
• Municipal Stormwater Ponds – These bodies of water are often located near residential complexes.
  
  

Why Do Raccoons Target Ponds & Water Features?

• Ponds typically offer a variety of foods for raccoons (fish, frogs, and aquatic insects).
• Ponds allow easy access to drinking water and for washing food.
• Shelter and cover often accompany water features (trees, shrubs, and sheds).
• Seasonal patterns – ponds or pools are particularly popular in warmer months.
  
  

What Damage Can Raccoons Cause?

• Fish loss and damaged aquatic plants;
• Contaminated water from droppings and debris or saliva of a rabies infected raccoon;
• Damaged pool or pond liners and landscaping;
• Aggressive encounters with pets.
  
  

DIY Raccoon Control for Your Ponds and Water Features

Wondering how to keep raccoons out of backyard ponds, fountains, and other water features? The bad news is that there are no truly effective barriers or deterrents. Trapping and relocation or permanent raccoon removal are really the only option.

Physical Barriers

• Low-Voltage Electric Fencing: A low-cost, low-voltage electric fence, placed a few inches above the ground, can acts as deterrent. Consult with your local hardware or feed store.

Sensory Deterrents

• Motion-Activated Sprinklers: The sudden spray and noise can be effective for a few days - until raccoons have gotten used to them and realize that sprinklers are harmless.
  
  
• Motion-Activated Lights: Raccoons prefer the dark and a sudden, bright light can disorient and scare them away. Again, this is temporary at best. Raccoons are highly intelligent and quickly learn that there is no actual danger.
  
  
• High-Frequency Sonic Repellents: Devices that emit sounds inaudible to humans may be irritating to pests. And again, raccoons will learn to studiously ignore such sounds.
  
  

Habitat and Food Management

• The Don't Feed Rule: IIf you want to get rid of raccoons around pools or any outside area, it is of utmost importance that you do not leave pet food outside and ensure that garbage cans are securely sealed. Consider a fence around your vegetable garden and pick up any fallen fruit from your orchard.
  
  
• For Public Areas: Community members are encouraged to coordinate with park authorities, condo boards, or commercial property managers to ensure a consistent "no feeding" policy.
  
  

Fortifying Your Pond's Structure and Environment

Raccoon Control Methods for Decorative Ponds:

• Submerged Shelters: Create safe havens for your fish by using PVC pipes, cinder blocks, or large, flat rocks to create tunnels and overhangs that a raccoon's paws can't reach into.
• Steep Sides and Deep Water:  A pond with steep, vertical banks (not a gentle slope) makes it difficult for raccoons to stand and hunt. A depth of at least 3 feet gives fish enough time and space to retreat.
  
  

For Public and Natural Water Features:

• Natural Barriers: Planting a dense ring of thorny shrubs around the water's edge may serve as a deterrent, making the area less appealing for raccoons.
• Designing with Raccoons in Mind: Steep, non-grassy banks for new pond construction may help prevent easy access.
  
  

What Doesn’t Work (and Why)?

• Fake predators—Raccoons are quick to learn that fake predators pose no physical danger;
• Lights may work for a night or two but will lose effectiveness shortly thereafter;
• Poison or unstable DIY traps—Poisoning wildlife is illegal in Ontario and along with unstable or unsuitable traps cruel and inhumane.
  
  

Professional Raccoon Trapping and Removal

• The Professional's Role: A licensed professional can humanely trap a problem raccoon and legally relocate it or humanely euthanize it, if you so wish.
  
  
• When to Call a Professional: Consider a professional to get rid of raccoons when other methods have failed, especially in cases of persistent damage or when the raccoon has become trap-shy.
  
  
• Hawkeye’s Permanent Raccoon Removal Solution: Permanent Raccoon Removal guarantees that the trapped animal will never return.
  
  

Long-Term Maintenance to Keep Raccoons Away

• Schedule weekly inspection of pond edges and check water clarity.
  
  
• Be vigilant about possible food sources nearby.
  
  
• Consider adding unappealing vegetation (thorny bushes) around pond edges.
  
  

FAQ Section

Q: How do I know if raccoons are visiting my pond at night?

A: You may see foot prints and/or hear typical raccoon chatter. Also, keep a close eye on the number of fish in your pond.

Q: Are raccoons dangerous to humans if I approach them near a pond?

A: No more or less than anywhere else. Make sure you do not corner them and thus provoke an attack. If you notice an animal with unusual behavior or that seem unstable and disoriented, please call your local animal control unit. These may be signs of a raccoon with rabies.

Q: How do I protect my koi fish pond from raccoons?

A: An electric fence installed low to the ground should help. Also consider creating rock overhangs under which your fish can seek shelter and protection.

Q: Can raccoons swim across large ponds or lakes?

A: That would depend on your definition of a large pond or lake - but most likely, the answer is yes. Raccoons are actually quite accomplished and enthusiastic swimmers, able to swim for three to eight hours! 

Q: What time of year are raccoons most active around water features in the GTA?

A: Raccoons will flock to water all throughout spring, summer, and fall - so basically anytime there is open water outside of the winter months, when raccoons slow down and enter torpor.

Q: Is it legal to relocate raccoons from my property in Ontario?

A: Yes, as long as your release site is no farther than 1km from where you captured the raccoon. Keep in mind, that raccoons return to where they were caught more often than not.

Q: How can I protect my pond without harming wildlife?

A: The previously mentioned electric fencing is a good way to deter wildlife without causing injury. Several landscape and pond modifications can also prove helpful.

Q: Do raccoons also target bird baths and small fountains?

A: Indeed, they do. In fact, if you have issues with raccoons in your yard, it's a good idea to empty your bird baths in the evening and refill it in the morning.

Q: How much does it cost to remove raccoons from ponds?

A: Wildlife control companies like Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control charge by the number of traps used and the amount of visits by a certified wildlife technician. Check out pricing here: https://www.hawkeye.ca/raccoons-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know

Conclusion 

Effective raccoon exclusion uses layered tactics - that means using more than one method. Having said that, the only way to truly protect your pond and aquatic friends is to remove the raccoons. 

Contact Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control today for humane and legal raccoon removal from areas with ponds in Toronto and beyond. We serve all of the GTA including Mississauga, Brampton, and Oakville.