Suburban Raccoons

If you are a homeowner and notice that raccoons are hanging around your home, chances are they live in someone’s attic. They could be in yours or your neighbors. The first step is to check for signs of scat or poop around on your roof. Next, check for entry points. You may notice that the soffit is pushed up somewhere near the roof line, and they are entering your attic. In horrible situations, they have torn a hole in your roof near a wall or somewhere easy to gain entry. Once you have established that they are actually in your attic, you want to find out how to get rid of raccoons in your attic as quickly as possible.

This post will give you the basics, but most people will want to hire an expert to eliminate the raccoons. Forget trapping them or killing them. Once a den is in your attic, other families will come and take up residence unless you employ the right long-term solution.

How Can I Get Rid of Raccoons in My Attic?

The best solution to get rid of raccoons in my attic is to install a one-way trap door over the entrance to your attic used by the raccoons. They will be able to leave your attic easily but not re-enter. Raccoons are nocturnal and will usually leave sometime over the next few days, unable to get back inside. They generally have up to five dens in the area so that they will go to another somewhere in the neighborhood. You may want to let your neighbors know about the problem.

If you reacted quickly and they have been in your attic only for a few days, you should be ok. The installer can replace the trap door with a permeant heavy gauge wire mesh so they cannot return to your attic. While he is on your roof, have him cover all other possible entry points with wire mesh.

Young Baby Raccoons

If you did not notice them in your attic, you may have several other problems. They could have young pups in your attic. If so, you have to wait until they are old enough to travel on their own before installing the one-way trap door. Or you need to go into the attic and physically remove them. Leaving them in the attic to die is not an option. The decomposing bodies will smell and the parents may literally tear your roof apart to rescue them.

If you do go inside the attic, make sure that you wear protective breathing apparatus. Avoid breathing dust and microscopic worms that can be floating in the air. These worms can live for a long time in your attic. They cause irreparable damage to humans if ingested into the longs. They are carried by raccoons and excreted in their poop which you may also find in your attic.

Use an expert to help get rid of the raccoons in your attic and do it in a safe manner with a permanent solution like a one-way trap door. For more information on getting rid of raccoons or medical information, click here.

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