Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Build an Electric Fence to Keep Raccoons Away
How to Build an Electric Fence to Keep Raccoons Away. Raccoons can be a major pest around the home. They knock over garbage cans in search of food, may gain access to an attic or crawlspace to make dens, and can carry rabies and other diseases. Raccoons are smart when it comes to breaking and entering yards, and it can be a frustrating exercise to...
Raccoons can be a major pest around the home. They knock over garbage cans in search of food, may gain access to an attic or crawlspace to make dens, and can carry rabies and other diseases. Raccoons are smart when it comes to breaking and entering yards, and it can be a frustrating exercise to discourage them. While an electric fence to discourage raccoons may not be the cheapest option, it might be worth the expense if your other attempts have been unsuccessful.
Things You'll Need
Fence charger
Electric fence wire
Grounding rods
Fiberglass fence rods with insulators
Wire cutters
Hammer
Measuring tape
Voltage meter
Measure the perimeter of the area you want to fence. This does not have to be an exact measurement; electric wire comes in large rolls giving you a bit of leeway on the measurement.
Install your corner fence rods. Using a hammer, pound them at least 1 feet deep into the ground.
Install the remaining fence rods at 8 foot intervals around the perimeter.
Slip the insulators over the rods and slide them down to about 5 inches from the ground.
Tie the end of the electric fence wire to the insulator on a corner rod. Keeping the wire tight, thread it through the insulators on the other rods around the perimeter.
Attach the fence charger to a wooden pole or wall near your fence and attach the fence wire to it, according to manufacturer's directions.
Install ground rods according to the fence charger's manual; the number of ground rods required will vary by model.
Turn on the charger and test the voltage on the fence with a digital voltage meter to ensure it's working and is within the manufacturer's specifications.
Tips & Warnings
Consider placing a physical barrier, such as a chicken-wire fence, a few inches inside the electric strand to increase your fence's effectiveness.
Place warning signs around the fenced area and keep children and pets away from the electric strand. While they won't receive major injury from an electric fence, they may get a painful shock.
