A Raccoon Got Into Your House—Here’s Exactly What to Do Next, According to Pest Control Experts

Homes should be frequently inspected and well-maintained to reduce the number of bugs, rodents, or other pests from creeping their way inside. Even the smallest of gaps in the fascia or soffit panels can create openings for pests to enter the home. While small invaders, like ants, are relatively easy to deal with, even without calling in the pros, larger wildlife, like raccoons, can pose a significant threat to you and your property.

It’s important to take action as soon as possible if a raccoon is found inside your home to ensure your ongoing safety and to mitigate the potential damage the critter could cause. However, don’t let one or more raccoons cause a panic. Use this guide to find out exactly what steps you should take if a raccoon gets into your house or attic, according to pest control specialists.

Signs of Raccoons in Your Attic

You can’t always physically see a raccoon that has invaded the home, but there are a few signs to watch out for that could indicate a raccoon has moved in. Based on the severity of the signs, you can even tell if the raccoon has been living in the home for a while or if it has newly taken up residence in your house. Look for the following signs as indicators.

• Varying amounts of feces. If feces are found inside the attic or on the roof, it can indicate a raccoon has been living in the home.
• Noises in the attic. Listen for sounds like footsteps, scratching, snarling, or chewing, which can point to an unwanted raccoon house guest.
• Soffit panels are out of place. If your soffit panels look out of place or even pulled apart, this could be where the raccoon tends to enter and exit the home. Similarly, you might notice holes in the foundation vents that the raccoon uses to get inside.
• Pawprints and scratch marks. Look for either of these telling signs in the attic or on the home’s woodwork.
• Regular sightings of raccoons. Keep an eye out for raccoons around the house, in the yard, or even on the roof.
• Distinct trails or smears of dirt. Check the insulation in the attic for distinctive trails, as well as random smears of dirt on the outside of the home, which can point to one or more raccoons living in the house.

What Should You Do If a Raccoon Gets Into Your House or Attic?

Discovering a raccoon is hiding in your attic can be a stressful surprise, but it’s important to remain calm to help prevent the raccoon from panicking and causing additional damage to the home. “The first and most important step is to avoid direct contact with the raccoon. Keep all family members and pets away from the space the raccoon is in,” explains Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist and vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association. “If possible, open nearby windows and safely close any doors that will keep the raccoon from entering a different part of your house.”

Meg Pearson, training manager at Critter Control, says that the next step for homeowners should be to call a trained wildlife removal professional. “Raccoons are much smaller than humans, but don’t let that trick you into thinking they pose no physical threat to you,” she says. “Not only are they carriers of disease, but they are also deceptively strong with dexterous front paws that have long fingers and nails capable of doing serious damage to your property and harm to you, if they feel threatened.”

How to Get a Raccoon Out of Your House

Removing a raccoon from the house isn’t easy and comes with many risks, including damage to the property, physical injury, and disease, so it isn’t recommended for a homeowner with no prior pest control training to attempt this on their own.

Instead, Pearson explains that professional raccoon trapping services can safely remove the critters from your property, often with cage traps, the most effective and humane method for capturing them. Homeowners can, of course, try passive methods to encourage the raccoon to leave, including opening nearby windows and closing doors to prevent the raccoon from moving into other areas of the home.

Prevention Is the Best Defense

Fredericks notes that the best offense is a good defense. “Regularly inspect your home’s exterior, particularly the roof, for any potential entry points such as broken vents, holes, uncapped chimneys, or other openings. Seal these immediately. Install mesh covers or caps over chimneys and other exposed openings. Loose siding and damaged shingles should also be repaired to prevent access for raccoons.”

Generally, a professional will conduct a comprehensive inspection of the property, allowing them to determine how many raccoons are present, where they entered the building, how much damage or contamination has occurred, and to come up with the most effective way to remove the animal, usually involving bait and humane traps.

“Following the raccoon’s removal, the professional will work with you to identify all entry points and recommend methods to prevent future intrusions,” Fredericks says. “They’ll also recommend the best way to clean and sanitize any areas contaminated by raccoon waste, which is an essential step since their feces can contain parasites that pose health risks to humans.”

Tips to Prevent a Raccoon Infestation

The best way to deal with raccoons is to prevent them from entering the home in the first place. While repellents are simple to use, raccoons often become accustomed to the scent. Similarly, raccoons tend to get used to devices intended to frighten them away, so these methods are temporary, at best. Instead, homeowners should use the following helpful tips to protect their homes.

• Use animal-proof containers with tight-fitting lids. Store items in these types of boxes and put them in a locked shed or enclosed area away from the home to make them less attractive to raccoons.
• Eliminate bird feeders. Bird seed provides easy food sources for raccoons, so eliminating them from the yard should help dissuade raccoons from venturing closer to your home.
• Store firewood away from the house. Keep firewood at least 20 feet away from the home, since raccoons tend to use wood piles for shelter.
• Install chimney caps and roof vent covers. Use these to prevent raccoons from easily entering your home or attic. Also, be sure to repair any damage to the roof as soon as possible.
• Trim tree branches. Pay close attention to remove branches that could provide access to the roof. Keep the yard tidy by regularly removing debris, brush, and leaf piles that could act as hiding spots for raccoons.