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Raccoon Removal

Raccoons in Your Attic?

Hearing noises in your attic?

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Raccoon infestations in residential areas are becoming an increasing concern for Dallas homeowners. Raccoons are known for their adaptability, intelligence, and dexterity, making them difficult to remove once they find their way into an attic or garage. They will not give up their new home easily, and they can cause significant damage to property, risk the health and safety of occupants, and spread diseases such as rabies.

A raccoon in the attic is more than just a minor inconvenience. These masked bandits can chew wires, damage insulation, tear up duct work, and cause other structural damage, leading to costly repairs. Furthermore, raccoons are known to carry various types of parasites and transmit diseases like leptospirosis, which can endanger both humans and pets. Many homeowners and commercial property owners don’t need reminded – but addressing raccoon problems quickly is imperative to ensuring a safe and sanitary living environment.

To help homeowners effectively address raccoon removal, the below discusses various methods, preventive measures, and professional assistance options you can leverage if you have raccoons in your attic. By understanding the best practices for dealing with a raccoon infestation, individuals can make informed decisions that protect both their property and well-being.


raccoon

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Identifying Raccoon Presence

Signs of Raccoon Activity

Common indicators of raccoon activity include:

  • Noises: Raccoons are nocturnal animals and can be heard during the night, especially between midnight and 5 am. Listen for thumping, scratching, or vocal sounds like screeching, growling, or chattering.
  • Feces and urine: Raccoon droppings are distinct and can be identified by their tubular shape and dark color. Look for accumulated feces and urine-soaked insulation or wood in the attic - it is often in one area, known as a raccoon latrine, vs. being spread throughout the attic randomly, which is more indicative of an opossum.
  • Nesting materials: If you have raccoons living in your attic, they will likely have a nest area with leaves, twigs, and other miscellaneous items. A nest is a sure sign of raccoons or other animals living in your attic.
  • Damage to insulation: Raccoons often burrow into insulation, creating pathways and compressing the insulation material, which can lead to reduced energy efficiency in your home. If you quickly get rid of raccoons in your attic, you can minimize the impact they have on how unsanitary the attic is along with the insulation’s energy efficiency

Locating the Entry Point

After identifying raccoon activity, the next step is to locate the entry point they are using to access your attic. Entry points can be:

  • Roof vents: Check for missing, damaged, or loose vents; these are common entry points for raccoons.
  • Soffits and fascia: Examine any gaps, cracks, or holes in the soffits and fascia, which can be enlarged by raccoons to gain access to the attic.
  • Chimneys: Raccoons can climb up and down chimneys. Ensure your chimney is properly secured with a chimney cap. If it is a siding chimney, raccoons may have also gained entry along the base of the chimney.
  • Damaged roof or loose shingles: Inspect your roof for unusual damage or missing shingles, as raccoons can tear through weak spots to enter the attic.

By recognizing the signs of raccoon activity and identifying their entry point, you can more quickly and effectively address the issue and take steps to remove raccoons from your attic. Remember to be humane when dealing with raccoons or any other wildlife.

Raccoon Removal Methods

Raccoons can cause numerous problems when they move into your attic. In this section, we will discuss various methods to remove raccoons from your home, with a focus on live trapping and relocation, using repellents, and the most effective way - calling a professional.

Raccoon Trapping and Relocation

Live trapping is sometimes an option for raccoon removal, as it can allow the safe capture and relocation of the animal. A few points to consider when using this method include:

  • Use a sturdy, appropriately-sized trap
  • Place the trap in an area frequented by the raccoon(s)
  • Bait the trap with suitable food, such as sardines or canned tuna
  • Check the trap daily and follow local laws and regulations for relocating captured raccoons
  • When relocating the animal, wear protective clothing and be careful not to get within reaching distance of the raccoon when transporting the trap

Generally speaking, live trapping is only recommended when no other options are available though since raccoons are usually smart enough to avoid the live traps, wasting valuable time in the process. Raccoons are incredibly intelligent and are often wise enough to avoid live traps – especially if they have been caught in a trap anytime in the last few years.

Using Repellents

Repellents can be another option to try to deter raccoons from your attic. Some common repellent types include:

  • Chemical: Sprays or granules that contain ingredients raccoons dislike
  • Natural: Items like ammonia-soaked rags or predator urine
  • Electronic: Ultrasonic devices emitting high-frequency sounds

Similar to trapping, repellents are rarely effective. If you have raccoons in the attic, it will probably take a lot more than repellent to evict them. A single raccoon in your yard may be easier to deter with a combination of repellents. But once wildlife makes it into your house or commercial property, repellent very rarely solves the problem.

Calling a Professional

If you feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to handle raccoon removal yourself, you can always call a professional. Hiring a wildlife control specialist such as Critter Stop ensures that the raccoon problem is dealt with efficiently and humanely. Professionals possess the necessary equipment and experience to handle raccoons safely and comply with local regulations. At Critter Stop, we offer customers a thorough inspection free of charge so they know exactly what options are available to them.

When considering professional raccoon removal services, it is essential to research and find a reputable company with good customer reviews and a track record of successful removals. Targeting a wildlife specialist, instead of a handyman, roofer, or general pest control company is also wise, given the value of experience in this field and all of the unexpected things that can pop up during a project when working with a wild animal.

Preventing Raccoon Re-entry

Raccoons can cause thousands of dollars, and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, of damage if they gain access to your home. Efficient removal and preventing future re-entry is essential for keeping your property safe and avoiding costly repairs. This section will cover sealing entry points and raccoon-proofing your property.

Sealing Entry Points

To effectively prevent raccoon re-entry, identifying and sealing all possible entry points is crucial. Here are some steps to take:

  • Inspect your roof, eaves, and around the edges of siding for any gaps or openings. Raccoons can use these to enter your attic.
  • Check for signs of damage around vents or chimneys, as raccoons may exploit these to gain access.
  • Seal any openings with sturdy materials, such as metal flashing or appropriately-gauged hardware cloth. This will prevent raccoons from chewing or breaking through.

Remember, raccoons are clever and persistent animals, so thorough inspections are key to keeping them out.

Raccoon-Proofing Your Property

In addition to sealing entry points, here are some measures to raccoon-proof your property:

  • Trash bins: Secure your garbage bins with tight-fitting lids or locks, as raccoons are attracted to any and all food sources.
  • Pet food: Avoid leaving pet food outside, as this will also attract raccoons and other wildlife.
  • Bird feeders: Place feeders away from your house and on poles with raccoon-proof baffle to prevent access. Bringing the feeder indoors until the wildlife issue is resolved is also recommended.
  • Trees and branches: Trim tree limbs that hang near your home since they make access to your roof much easier for raccoons.
  • Gardens: Install fencing or netting around your garden to protect fruits and vegetables and eliminate a food source for them.
  • Water sources: Remove or secure access to any sources of water, such as fish ponds or outdoor fountains.

By following these steps, you can effectively reduce the likelihood of raccoons entering your home and property.

Health Risks and Dangers

Diseases Carried by Raccoons

Raccoons are known to carry diseases that can be harmful to humans and pets. Raccoon feces can carry diseases for ~2-3 years, presenting health hazards far years past the initial removal. Some of the diseases carried by raccoons include:

  • Rabies: A viral disease that affects the nervous system, causing erratic behavior and aggression in raccoons. A rabid raccoon can transmit its rabies through bites or scratches.
  • Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection that can cause severe symptoms in humans, such as kidney and liver damage, and can be transmitted through contact with raccoon urine or feces.
  • Raccoon Roundworm: Raccoons are common carriers of Baylisascaris procyonis, which causes roundworm infections. Humans can be infected by accidentally ingesting eggs found in raccoon feces.

To minimize the risk of contracting these diseases, it is essential to avoid contact with raccoons and proximity to “raccoon latrines” - where raccoons use the restroom - and to take proper precautions when handling raccoon feces or cleaning up contaminated areas.

Damage to Property

Apart from health risks, raccoons can cause significant damage to property. Some common issues include:

  • Attic damage: Raccoons often live in attics, creating entry points by tearing through the roof, attic vents, or soffits. Once inside, they can damage insulation, duct work, electrical wires, and wooden structures.
  • Lawn and garden damage: Raccoons are notorious for digging up flower beds in search of food, causing unsightly patches and weakening the root system of your lawn and garden. They can also damage garden plants and steal fruits and vegetables.
  • Garbage can issues: Raccoons have a knack for tipping over and scavenging through garbage cans, scattering garbage, and creating a mess.

It is wise for homeowners to take preventative measures by sealing potential entry points, securing garbage cans, and maintaining a clean yard to deter raccoons from invading their property.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Wildlife Protection Laws

In many areas, raccoons are protected under wildlife protection laws. It is essential to understand the specific laws and regulations in your area before removing raccoons from your attic or property. It is often illegal to:

  • Trap and relocate raccoons without a permit or too far from where they were trapped
  • Use poison or lethal traps
  • Kill raccoons without authorization

It is crucial to consult with your local wildlife agency or professional wildlife removal expert to ensure compliance with the law.

Humane Treatment

When dealing with raccoons on your property, it is important to treat them animals humanely. Raccoons are intelligent, and causing unnecessary suffering is both unethical and often illegal. This is something we feel strongly about at Critter Stop. Some humane removal methods include:

  • Installing one-way doors that allow animals to leave but not re-enter the attic
  • Using repellents and deterrents to encourage raccoons to relocate
  • If trapping is required, only using live traps - not lethal traps - followed by quick and proper relocation

It is recommended to always consult with experts to ensure that your raccoon removal methods are both legal and humane, avoiding harm to your local wildlife.

If you prefer to leave this work to the experienced and well-reviewed professionals, give Critter Stop a call and we can provide a free inspection and estimate!

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FAQ

At the same time, some other tips can help prevent future raccoon invasions:

If you have a mother raccoon with young raccoons in your attic, enlisting the help of experienced raccoon control experts is particularly important. Mother raccoons are likely to get aggressive and extra destructive when separated from their baby raccoons. For this reason, it is never advisable to separate a raccoon family. We want to keep all the raccoons together. If the baby raccoons are too small to exit a one way door installed over a primary entry point, then we want to hold off on installing it since once the mother racoon leaves, she will not be able to re-enter and relocate her babies. A better strategy is to leave the primary entry point open, install strobe lights and, if you can tolerate the noise, a speaker playing music near the raccoons nest, or as close as you can get if it is in a hard to reach place. Oftentimes, this is enough to cause the mother to relocate the babies.

Attics are a prime nesting spot for raccoons - especially if you have rodents in your attic, which the raccoons will hunt. To detect raccoons in your attic, listen for noises at night, inspect for large droppings, nesting materials, and odors. Additional clues include damaged vents or duct work, compressed insulation, or damaged electrical wires.

Our 4 Step Process

Critter Stop Inspection
1

Free Inspection

Critter Stop offers free in-home consultations to build custom solutions to your problems. We inspect your home thoroughly, inside and out, for signs of damage, animal entry, animal nesting, droppings, and more. Once we discuss the extent of the problem and what needs to be done to fix it, we’ll document a game plan together.

sealing home
2

Seal Your Home

Sealing your home immediately is our priority. The exclusion team will thoroughly patch up potential entry sites from the roof to the foundation and everywhere in between. Once we’re sure no other rodents are getting in, we’ll set our traps in those areas we suspect animal activity.

Raccoons inside your home
3

Remove The Critters

Our technicians will check in on your home several times throughout this process. If game cameras have been set up, we’ll review those with you to discuss the animal activity. Once the traps are cleared, we will reset them and re-evaluate all the sealed points of entry to ensure no critter has re-chewed a hole or found a new way into your property.

Restoring and Sanitizing rodent droppings
4

Restore & Sanitize

We don’t call it a job well done once the pest is gone. There’s more work to be done! We completely restore your affected area by pulling up and replacing damaged insulation. Additionally, we fog the affected area to disinfect and remove animal pheromones that can attract new pests in the future.

“I used Critter Stop due to rats and squirrels in my attic. They also chewed up siding on the house to get in. Critter Stop was able to remove the rodents and secure the entry points. Everyone I dealt with was very polite and professional. They were able to come out quickly, communicated well, and they always showed up on time. I would use them again.”

Jeff L. via Google

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