Coyotes, Raccoons, and Skunks: The Wildlife You Are Probably Not Thinking About
Bears get most of the attention when it comes to wildlife-resistant storage. And for good reason. But for the majority of Canadian homeowners, the wildlife problem showing up on their property is not a bear. It is a raccoon going through the recycling at midnight. A skunk under the deck drawn in by pet food. A coyote circling the yard because the garbage has been out since last night.
Urban and suburban wildlife pressure is a year-round reality across Canada. And the animals causing the most frequent problems are the ones that rarely make the news.
The Urban Wildlife Problem
Raccoons, coyotes, and skunks are highly adaptable. They thrive in suburban and urban environments because those environments offer reliable food sources: unsecured garbage, compost, pet food, and birdseed left outside. Once an animal finds a consistent food source at a property, it returns. And it tells others.
The consequences range from scattered garbage and property damage to more serious concerns. Skunks and raccoons are known carriers of rabies and other diseases. Coyotes drawn to residential areas by food sources can pose a risk to small pets. The pattern, once established, is difficult to break without removing the food source entirely.
What These Animals Can Get Into
Raccoons are remarkably capable. They can open standard latches, tip over bins, pry apart lids that are not properly secured, and return night after night with increasing persistence. Skunks are drawn to low-to-ground attractants and will investigate anything that smells like food. Coyotes are opportunistic and will work at a waste source if it is accessible.
Plastic bins, thin-walled metal containers, and unsecured lids do not stop any of them for long.
Removing the Attractant
The most effective way to manage urban wildlife pressure is to remove what draws animals to the property in the first place. For most homeowners, that means securing garbage and recycling in a container that cannot be opened, tipped, or pried apart.
TuffBoxx galvanized steel containers are built to hold up against sustained wildlife pressure from raccoons, coyotes, skunks, and larger animals. The residential product line includes options for single and multiple garbage bags, polycart enclosures, and recreational storage for docks, decks, and outdoor spaces.
- Keep garbage secured until collection day
- Store pet food and birdseed inside or in a sealed steel container
- Remove compost attractants or secure them in a wildlife-resistant bin
- Do not leave anything with a food scent accessible overnight
You Do Not Have to Live in Bear Country to Need Secure Storage
Wildlife-resistant storage is not just for properties in the wilderness. It is for any property where unsecured waste creates an open invitation. For most Canadian homeowners, raccoons receive that invitation more often than bears.
Contact TuffBoxx to find the right solution for your property.
Keep wildlife out. Contact TuffBoxx today. 1-844-426-5553 | tuffboxx.com
Note: For additional urban wildlife resources and tips, visit BearWise at bearwise.org. Permission to reference BearWise content to be confirmed before publishing.


















