Raccoon Removal Services

Common signs of raccoons in an attic include heavy thumping, scratching, or chattering sounds—especially at dusk and dawn—along with a strong ammonia-like odor from their droppings. On the exterior of your home, look for broken soffit panels, damaged ridge vents, or claw marks around rooflines and chimneys.

Raccoons can pose real risks to people and pets. They are a known rabies vector species and can also carry raccoon roundworm and leptospirosis (diseases transmissible to humans and dogs). Beyond health risks, raccoons that feel cornered or are protecting kits will scratch and bite. If you’ve had direct contact with a raccoon, contact your doctor promptly and call a wildlife professional to assess and remove the animal.

The most effective prevention combines eliminating food sources with sealing potential entry points. Secure trash cans with bungee cords or locking lids, bring pet food indoors at night, and install chimney caps on any open flues. For longer-term protection, have a wildlife specialist inspect your roofline, soffits, and vents for gaps raccoons could exploit.

A raccoon active during daylight hours isn’t automatically sick, but it’s worth paying attention to its behavior. If the raccoon is moving normally and seems alert, it may simply be a nursing mother foraging for extra food. However, if it appears disoriented, is staggering, or seems unaware of your presence, it could be ill. Keep pets and children inside and call a licensed wildlife professional rather than attempting to handle or trap it yourself.

Contact a professional wildlife control company. Raccoons are a rabies vector species, which makes DIY handling genuinely risky. And in many states, there are legal restrictions on how trapped raccoons can be relocated. Varment Guard’s certified wildlife technicians handle every step, from inspection through exclusion, and all exclusion work carries a 5-year warranty.

Raccoon removal pricing varies based on the severity of the situation, the location of the animal (attic vs. exterior), and whether exclusion or cleanup work is needed. Trapping alone starts at $497, but attic access, entry point sealing, and insulation restoration are typically quoted separately after an on-site inspection. The $149 inspection fee can be applied to any accepted service. Request a free estimate to get accurate pricing for your specific situation.

Raccoons are strong and persistent. They can rip through wooden fascia, tear off vent covers, and pry open loose shingles or soffits to create their own entry points. Common access areas include ridge vents, gable vents, roof-soffit intersections, and uncapped chimneys. Even a small gap or pre-existing damage gives them a foothold. After raccoon removal, sealing every potential entry point with raccoon-resistant materials is critical to preventing re-entry.

The trapping phase typically spans 7 service trips, with traps checked daily Monday through Friday. Once all animals are removed, exclusion work and any attic cleanup are completed as a separate step. In most cases, clients see resolution within 2 to 3 weeks from the start of trapping. Emergency removal—for a raccoon already inside the living area of your home—is available same-day if you call before 4:30 p.m. local time.