Sometimes, raccoons will find a way into your attic and make themselves at home. Unfortunately, if you don’t take action quickly, they can cause a lot of damage to your home and leave behind unwanted odors.
The good news is that there are ways you can get rid of these pests once and for all!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Raccoons can cause damage to your attic and home, chewing through insulation and electrical wiring. |
| Look for potential entry points in your roofline and seal them off to prevent raccoons from entering. |
| If you hear scratching and thumping noises in your attic, particularly at night, you may have raccoons living there. |
| Be aware that laws and regulations surrounding trapping and removing raccoons vary by location. |
| Raccoons can carry diseases, so it’s best to avoid direct contact and seek professional assistance if necessary. |
Find The Entry Holes And Block Them
Once you’ve identified the entry holes, it’s time to block them. The raccoon will likely be waiting for you to leave in order to come back and get more food or water, so it’s important that you keep your house locked up tight while working on blocking the entry points.
Make sure to use a flashlight when inspecting your attic for holes because raccoons can squeeze through very small spaces.
If you find a hole, place a piece of cardboard over it and then spray it with soapy water. Raccoons hate this feeling on their sensitive noses and feet, so they’ll avoid going through that spot again.
You may need several pieces of cardboard if there are multiple holes leading into your attic space or crawl space under your house where raccoons might have been able to enter undetected by any other means (such as walking along rafters).
If you’re struggling with catching raccoons, don’t worry! With our simple and effective guidance on How To Catch Raccoons, you won’t have to live with them anymore.
Place A Trap Or Two Near The Entry Hole
If you catch a raccoon, the best thing to do is release it. If they’re trapped inside a structure and can’t escape, they can be dangerous to humans and other animals.
Make sure that you have enough food in your trap so that once the raccoon is caught, he has enough food until he’s released in the morning.
If you leave him without food overnight, he might become aggressive and try to attack people when released—and this could make him difficult or impossible for wildlife managers to safely handle later on.
In general:
- Check traps every day!
- Set traps before sunset each evening (so raccoons don’t get startled by your presence)
| Trap Type | Where to Buy | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Live Animal Trap | Home Depot | $47 – $80 |
| Havahart One-Door Animal Trap | Lowe’s | $45 – $60 |
| Tomahawk Professional Cage Trap | Amazon | $65 – $80 |
Here are some trap options to use near the entry hole to catch raccoons, along with where to buy and the general price range.
Remove Any Food Sources From Around Your Home
If you have a bird feeder on your property, it’s important to remove it. Raccoons who are hungry will take advantage of any food source they can find, including your backyard birds.
If you have pets in the yard, clean up any leftover pet food and never leave it in bowls outside overnight.
Raccoons also love finding garbage cans to rummage through, so be sure to keep these areas as clean and tidy as possible. They will also look for compost piles and fallen fruit from trees as easy meals for their families.
Raccoons can be persistent in returning to your home, but we’ve got you covered with our easy-to-implement solutions on How To Keep Raccoons Away to keep them from coming back
Use Ammonia To Repel Raccoons
The smell of ammonia is a great way to keep raccoons out of your attic, so consider spraying some around the entrance if you know they’re hanging out there. Ammonia can be purchased at any hardware store and comes in both liquid and solid form.
If you choose the liquid form, just pour it around any openings that raccoons might be using as an entryway into your home—the same places we discussed earlier when talking about how to seal up holes and cracks with caulk or other materials.
Ammonia also works well in combination with other methods for deterring raccoons from making themselves comfortable in your attic or crawl space.
For instance, if you use ammonia along with a motion-activated sprinkler system or ultrasonic sound machine (which we’ll discuss later), you will have even more success keeping these pests away from your property.
Pick Up Pet Food At Night
While raccoons are omnivores and will eat a variety of different things, they are also opportunistic.
They’ll take advantage of any food source that is readily available to them, including pet food. If you leave your pet food out at night, it may attract raccoons to your home or yard.
Pet doors can be another way for raccoons to get into your attic. Some homeowners install sliding glass doors in their basements so their pets can go outside without needing to go through the house first—but these same exits are often left open during the day when nobody’s home!
The key here: Always make sure that all pet doors are closed at night and locked tight when you’re not around (you can also buy special raccoon-proof locks).
Cut Back Tree Branches
While raccoons are agile climbers, they won’t be able to get up into your attic if you cut back tree branches.
Limbs should be trimmed to 3 feet away from the house, and overhanging limbs should be removed entirely. This will keep raccoon nests out of reach and prevent them from using trees as ladders to get atop roofs or ledges.
Once you’ve completed this task, make sure that your trees are healthy and strong enough to survive without pruning in the future.
A well-maintained tree is also less likely to attract insects that could become infestations inside your home.
Many people choose to water their trees during periods of drought; however it’s important not overdo it as too much water can damage roots and cause diseases such as root rot or trunk decay (Source).
Are you tired of finding raccoons in your trash cans? Look no further than our simple way of keeping raccoons out of your trash and away from your property for good
Seal Off Potential Entry Points
Seal off potential entry points. Raccoons can enter your attic through small gaps around doors and windows, around pipes, vents and chimneys and other openings in the building structure.
Use caulk or foam sealant to seal gaps larger than 1/2 inch (1.27 cm). Use wire mesh to prevent raccoons from entering the attic if there are small holes that you cannot otherwise close or repair.
| Location | Materials Needed | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Attic Vent | Hardware Cloth and Staples | $20 – $40 |
| Roof Vents | Expandable Foam Sealant | $7 – $15 per can |
| Soffit | Soffit Vent Mesh and Screws | $10 – $20 per roll |
Remove Or Cover Standing Water Sources
When it comes to getting rid of raccoons, you have a few options. You can trap and relocate the animal or you can kill it. The third option is to let the raccoon go on its own accord, which isn’t always possible depending on where the animal is nesting in your attic.
If you choose to remove raccoons from your home using traps and relocation, there are certain steps that need to be taken when setting them up.
One important thing is that you need to make sure they aren’t setting up residence somewhere else in your home while they’re waiting for their trap’s bait (usually food) to appear so that they come out again once caught.
Keep Your Trash Bins Sealed Tight
Raccoons are notorious for getting into trash bins. Raccoons carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans and their pets, so keeping their food source out of reach will help protect your family from contamination.
Raccoons may also be stubborn in their efforts to get at food inside your house. They’re known for being noisy creatures, so if you hear something moving around above your head during the night, it’s best not to assume it’s a mouse or rat—it could be a raccoon!
And if they’ve found a way into the attic space of your home, they might decide that tearing apart insulation is worth the effort if it means finding something tasty inside.
Removing raccoons from your attic can seem like a daunting task, but with our comprehensive guide on How To Get Rid Of Raccoons In Attic, you’ll be able to take back your living space in no time
Don’t Leave Pet Food Out Unattended For Long Periods Of Time
Another way you can keep raccoons from getting into your attic is by making sure you’re not leaving pet food out unattended for long periods of time.
Raccoons are attracted to pet food and will often tear up attics, basements, and garages looking for a meal.
Pet food should be stored in a clean container and kept in a secure location such as an outdoor shed or garage.
If raccoons get into the pet food, they may tear up the house looking for more. To prevent this from happening make sure the lid on your container has a tight seal so that no animals can get in it easily!
Close Up Any Holes In Your Foundation, Roof And Walls
The first thing you should do is make sure there are no holes in your home’s foundation, roof and walls.
If there are, seal them up with steel wool or caulking. Make sure there’s no way for the raccoons to get back into the house once they leave!
The natural world is full of creatures that have a vital role, even if they can seem like pests. Learn more about the value of animals and insects like ants to the environment in our article on The Role Of Ants In The Ecosystem.
Conclusion
Now you know how to get rid of raccoons in your attic, and you can start saving money on those pesky critters and their droppings.
If you have any questions about how to get rid of raccoons from your home, leave a comment below or contact us today! We’re always happy to help out.
Further Reading
Check out these additional resources for further guidance on removing raccoons from your property:
Getting Raccoons Out And Keeping Them Out – The Humane Society provides additional tips and advice for safely removing and deterring raccoons.
Raccoon in Attic? Here’s How to Remove It – Bob Vila’s home improvement website offers a step-by-step guide on removing raccoons from your attic.
4 Crucial Steps To Get Raccoons Out Of Your Attic – Summit Environmental Solutions provides a clear and concise guide on how to safely and effectively remove raccoons from your attic.
FAQs
Can raccoons cause damage to your home?
Yes, raccoons can cause significant damage to your home, particularly if they enter your attic or crawl spaces. They may tear through insulation, chew electrical wiring, and damage air ducts while they build nests and forage for food.
How do raccoons enter your attic?
Raccoons can enter your attic through small openings like vents and gaps in the roofline. They may even chew through weak points in the roof or soffit to gain entry. It’s important to thoroughly inspect your home and seal off any potential entry points to prevent raccoons from entering.
How do you know if raccoons are living in your attic?
If you hear scratching and thumping noises in your attic, particularly at night, you may have raccoons living there. Additionally, if you notice a strong odor or droppings resembling those of a small dog in your attic or near potential entry points, it’s likely that raccoons have taken up residence.
Is it legal to trap raccoons?
Laws and regulations around trapping raccoons vary by state and locality, so it’s important to research and comply with local laws before attempting to trap or remove raccoons from your property. In some areas, you may need a permit or hire a licensed professional to trap and remove raccoons.
Can raccoons carry diseases?
Yes, raccoons can carry diseases such as leptospirosis, rabies, and roundworm. It is best to avoid direct contact with raccoons and seek professional assistance if you suspect that a raccoon on your property is sick or behaving abnormally.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
