Racoons are a common nuisance for homeowners, particularly in the fall when they are trying to find cool places to sleep during the heat of the day.
Raccoons will try and stay away from humans as much as possible, but if you have one in your attic it is best to remove them immediately before the problem gets worse.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Raccoon infestations in attics are common, and can lead to serious health risks and property damage. |
| Signs of a raccoon infestation in the attic include scratching noises, droppings, and damage to insulation. |
| Effective raccoon control requires a combination of prevention, removal, and exclusion methods. |
| Prevention methods include securing trash cans, removing potential food sources, and sealing entry points such as gaps or holes in your roof or walls. |
| Trapping raccoons can be legal, but it’s important to research and follow local laws and regulations. |
| Raccoon removal should be handled by professionals to ensure safety and avoid harm to both humans and animals. |
Here are some simple steps that you can take to get rid of raccoons in your attic once and for all:
Physical Removal of Raccoons
If you have raccoons living in the attic, you need to physically remove them. Here’s how:
Use a flashlight at night to locate them. You can also look for their droppings or footprints.
Use a raccoon eviction fluid (also called a repellent) to drive them out of your home and into another area of your property where they will not be able to access the attic easily and come back for more food.
The eviction fluid is applied as a liquid spray around your property; it contains chemicals that are very unpleasant for raccoons, so they won’t want to stick around long enough for it to dry on their fur or paws before running away from you!
If necessary, use water from a garden hose or other source in order to spray any remaining animals off of surfaces such as walls or beams within the attic until no more ones remain inside.
If you have a raccoon problem, trapping them is one way to get rid of them. Check out our easy guide on how to catch raccoons using a live trap and how to set it up properly.
Deter the Coons with Sounds and Sights
When an animal is curious, it will come closer and investigate the source of the sound. This can be a useful trick to keep raccoons away from your property. The following are ways to deter them with sounds and sights:
Use a radio. Playing music or talk radio can be effective when it comes to keeping unwanted visitors away from your home. Even if you’re not a fan of country music, try switching on some classic hits—it may just save you from having to deal with these creatures in your attic!
Use a flashlight or strobe light. If raccoons have taken up residence in your attic and have stopped coming down into the rest of the house, then shining lights into their hiding spots is an effective deterrent that will drive them out of their homes and make them think twice about coming back anytime soon!
Use a laser pointer or scarecrow doll/raccoon decoy as well as loud noises (a whistle works best) to keep raccoons at bay while they’re outside searching for food because once they’ve found something tasty elsewhere (like cat food), they’ll stay put if there isn’t anything else available nearby—and what better place than yours?
Break Down Raccoon Dens With Dogs
The use of dogs to find and break down raccoon dens is also very effective. Dogs have a natural sense of smell and can be trained to break down dens even if they don’t have the scent of the raccoons involved.
This method works well, but it requires you to make sure that your dog is healthy enough for this kind of work. It’s important to remember that many dogs are not meant for digging into small spaces like those created by raccoon dens.
If you’re worried about your dog’s health, it might be better for you to find another way to get rid of your pests instead.
Preventing raccoons from entering your property in the first place is a proactive way to keep them away. Our simple guide on how to keep raccoons away provides tips like securing your trash cans and removing food sources that can attract them
Seal up Entrances and Exits
Steel wool is a great way to plug holes. You can find it at most hardware stores, or online (look for “steel wool” and then filter by “fine”).
Caulk works well for sealing cracks between your home and the attic floor. If you don’t have any caulk, consider using foam sealant instead—it’ll be similar but slightly more difficult to work with because of its consistency.
If you do use caulk, buy some that’s specifically designed for animal control (i.e., look for “raccoon repellent”) so that you don’t end up trapping a raccoon in your attic!
To further prevent raccoons from getting into your house via the roof, consider covering any gaps between the top of each rafter with metal flashing—this will keep them out even if they’re able to chew through other parts of your home’s insulation.*
Eliminate Food Sources for the Coons
If you want to know how to get rid of raccoons in the attic, the first thing you should do is eliminate their food sources.
Remove all food sources that might attract raccoons, including pet food and garbage. Dispose of trash regularly, and use a covered trash can rather than an open one. The same goes for compost piles; make sure they are kept tidy and away from the house so that raccoons can’t easily access them.
Raccoons love seeds—particularly those from bird feeders—so if you have any type of bird feeder on your property, make sure it’s secure at night when no birds are around (most feeders will automatically turn off once it gets dark).
If possible, remove or relocate your bird feeder during this time as well; otherwise just be sure to clean it thoroughly every few days so that there aren’t any food crumbs left behind where raccoons could find them later on!
Raccoons are notorious for rummaging through garbage cans. Our simple way to keep raccoons out of trash cans guide offers effective solutions such as using bungee cords to secure lids or investing in raccoon-proof trash cans.
Use Repellents to make them leave
The best way to repel raccoons is with strong-smelling repellents. This will force them out of your home, and they won’t want to come back because they associate the smell with a bad experience.
There are many ways you can do this. Some examples include:
- peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil (combined)
- ammonia and coffee grounds
- ammonia and mothballs
- ammonia and cayenne pepper
Trap Them and Relocate Them
If you build a raccoon trap and place food in it, the raccoons will go inside. Then, you can catch them and relocate them far away from your house.
You can also use live traps to catch them; putting food in the trap will encourage them to come near it and then snap shut on their tails or legs when they try to leave.
Another way of getting rid of raccoons is by putting up a feeder for birds outside your window so when the raccoon comes out he sees all these other birds that have been eating there for weeks now and decides that its not worth trying anymore because then we would probably just get more food from somewhere else
Protect your Home from Future Infestations
To prevent raccoons from coming back and infesting your home again, you will need to take some steps.
First, seal all holes that they may have used to gain entry into your attic or home. You should also make sure that you keep trash bins away from the house and in a location where raccoons can’t reach them. Keep pet food indoors or in sealed containers so that it doesn’t attract wild animals.
You will also want to keep your home clean, including the attic and garage. If there is water damage in these areas of your home, this can create an ideal environment for raccoons due to their love of moisture and wet environments!
The best way to prevent this is by keeping your attic dry at all times, especially during winter months when there are no leaves on trees blocking rainwater from entering overhanging eaves directly into attics through ventilation louvers installed above doors leading into basements/garages with exterior walls below windows covered by siding materials made out of vinyl (like aluminum).
Raccoons can cause damage and pose a health risk when they make their home in your attic. Our guide on how to get raccoons out of your attic explains measures like setting up exclusion devices and using repellents that can help to safely remove them.
Spread Mothballs in Attic Spaces
A few mothballs placed in the attic will keep raccoons away. The smell of mothballs will serve as a repellent, which makes it difficult for raccoons to return once they have been scared off by it.
However, make sure you use the right amount of mothballs! If you use too many, they won’t be effective at keeping the critters away and could potentially harm your health (see below).
Here’s how much to use: Spread about five pounds of mothballs in areas where you think there may be raccoons living such as attics or under eaves.
You can spread them out evenly throughout these spaces or put them in small piles close together if there are places with holes or gaps that are easier for raccoons to enter through. This should drive them out completely!
Deterring raccoons from your property can be done in various ways, such as using natural repellents. Check out our pro tips on how to deter raccoons which includes tips such as bright lighting, loud noises, and ammonia to discourage raccoons from coming near your home.
Conclusion
The best way to get rid of raccoons in your attic is by sealing off all the entrances and exits. That includes holes in the walls or ceiling, vents, pipes, doors and windows.
If you have raccoon damage from last year or even decades ago, then it’s time for an upgrade! You can buy equipment online that will make this job much easier.
Further Reading
Getting Raccoons Out and Keeping Them Out: The Humane Society’s guide on raccoon control provides detailed information on raccoon behavior, potential health risks, and humane removal methods.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons in the Attic: This article from Bob Vila includes step-by-step instructions on how to identify and remove raccoons from your attic, as well as preventative measures to avoid future infestations.
What to Do if There is a Raccoon in Your Attic: Urban Jungle Wildlife Removal’s blog post provides tips on raccoon removal and prevention, as well as advice on how to handle raccoon babies.
FAQs
What are the signs of a raccoon infestation in the attic?
The main signs of a raccoon infestation in the attic include scratching or thumping noises, droppings, damage to insulation, and signs of entry like holes or gaps in the roof or walls.
Is it legal to trap raccoons on your property?
Regulations on trapping raccoons vary by state and local laws. In most cases, you will need a permit or license to trap a raccoon. It’s important to research local laws and regulations before attempting raccoon removal.
How can I prevent raccoons from entering my attic?
Prevention methods include securing trash cans, removing potential food sources, sealing entry points, and keeping trees and branches trimmed away from your home. Installing motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also help deter raccoons.
Are raccoons dangerous to humans?
Raccoons can carry diseases like rabies, and their droppings can spread diseases like roundworm. It’s important to wear protective gear when handling raccoon waste or cleaning up after raccoons.
Should I attempt to remove raccoons on my own?
Raccoon removal should be handled by professionals, especially if the raccoon is sick or injured. Attempting to remove a raccoon on your own can be dangerous and may cause more harm than good.
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!
