Raccoon Removal And Control
Humane removal from attics, chimneys and crawlspaces, then exclusion and repair.
What we do about it
Raccoons are smart, adaptable, and persistent — which is exactly why they’re such a common nuisance in attics, crawl spaces, and chimneys. They tear apart insulation for bedding, chew or scratch through wood and vents to get in, and leave droppings and urine behind that create both odor and contamination concerns. They’re also nocturnal, so the noise usually shows up right when you’re trying to sleep. Beyond the mess, raccoon droppings carry roundworm risk, and the animals themselves can bring ticks or fleas into the home.
How it works
Inspect
We find what's active, where it's coming from, and what's attracting it.
Treat
Targeted treatment at the source, using Integrated Pest Management, not blanket spraying.
Protect
Seal, monitor and follow up. Unlimited callbacks for covered pests on a plan.
What to know
Removal has to be thorough, not just quick
Raccoons are strong and can be aggressive if cornered, so this isn’t a DIY situation. We start by finding every entry point — roof vents, loose soffits, gaps under decks are common ones — because a raccoon that’s evicted through one opening will simply try another if the rest aren’t sealed. Removal uses specialized, humane traps suited to the property and the level of activity.
Repairing what's left behind
Once the raccoons are out, there’s often real damage: torn insulation, chewed wiring, soiled areas that need sanitizing. We handle the repair and cleanup, not just the removal, because a hole that isn’t sealed properly becomes an invitation for the next animal — sometimes a different species entirely. We’ll also flag the attractants worth addressing: secured trash, pet food kept indoors, branches trimmed back from the roofline.
Once they're out, keep them out
Rodent coverage is included in our Comprehensive Rodent & Pest Defense Plan, starting at $65/month, with unlimited callbacks. It’s the easiest way to make sure the next scratching in the attic never happens.
Why raccoons move in when the weather turns cold
Raccoons don’t truly hibernate. They slow down during cold snaps and sleep for long stretches, but they stay active through most of the winter, and what they want from November on is a warm, dry, protected den. A chimney, an attic, a crawlspace or the space under a deck or porch gives them everything a hollow tree would, with better insulation and no wind.
Late winter is also the start of breeding season. Female raccoons look for a secure den site in January and February, and most litters arrive in the spring. That means the raccoon you hear in the attic in the middle of winter may be a female choosing a spot to raise her young, which is why winter and early spring are the busiest months for raccoon calls in Central New Jersey and Bucks County.
Raccoons are strong and persistent. They pull back loose flashing, tear through soffits and rotted fascia, rip off vent covers and peel back shingles to get to a roof opening. A gap that looks small and weathered from the ground is often all the encouragement one needs.
Signs of a raccoon in your attic, chimney or crawlspace
Raccoons are loud compared with most attic visitors. Heavy thumping, dragging, and what sounds like something moving furniture overhead are classic signs, and most of it happens at night. In a chimney you may hear chittering, scratching or the thin cries of young once spring arrives.
Other signs to look for around the house:
- Torn or displaced soffit, fascia, roof vents and chimney flashing
- Matted, crushed or relocated insulation in the attic, often with a flattened nesting area
- Droppings in one spot (raccoons use latrines, usually a corner of the attic or a section of roof or deck), and a strong urine smell
- Stains on ceilings that look like water damage but aren’t from a leak
- Overturned trash cans and torn bags, particularly if it happens every night
- Paw prints on dusty surfaces, siding or around the chimney cap
If you notice any of these in the cold months, it’s worth getting the house inspected before spring, when the problem gets harder to handle.
How raccoon removal and exclusion actually works
A raccoon problem is only solved when the animal is out, the way in is closed, and the damage it left behind is dealt with. Anything less and the next raccoon shows up in the same opening. Here’s what the work involves.
1. Inspection of the whole roofline and chimney
We start outside, looking at the roof, soffits, fascia, vents, chimney and the ground-level areas like decks and crawlspace access. Raccoons almost always have a primary entry and sometimes a second or third, and the goal is to find all of them before any work begins. This is where our extension-pole equipment helps, since we can reach up to 24 feet from the ground and check the high points of the house without ladders.
2. Removal that fits the situation
The right removal method depends on the time of year and whether young are present. In winter, with no young in the den, the focus is getting the adult out and keeping her out. In spring, the approach changes completely because a mother and her babies have to be handled together. Sealing a mother out while her young are inside is a mistake that leads to a ruined attic, a dead animal in the wall and a worse smell.
3. Exclusion that lasts
Once the animal is out, the entry points are sealed with materials a raccoon can’t pull apart: heavy-gauge steel mesh, properly fastened chimney caps, reinforced vent covers and repaired soffits and fascia. Sealing with foam or a thin board doesn’t hold. A raccoon will tear it off in an evening.
4. Repairs and follow-up
Raccoons leave damage: torn insulation, chewed wiring, soiled areas and broken trim. We’ll point out what we find during the inspection so you know exactly what needs to be repaired, and our wildlife clean-up service covers the contaminated areas.
Why trapping on its own isn't the answer
Plenty of homeowners start with a cage trap from the hardware store, and the results are usually frustrating. A trap may catch the first raccoon, but nothing has changed about how the house is open to the next one. Raccoons are territorial about good dens, and an empty, accessible attic in a neighborhood full of raccoons gets reoccupied quickly.
There are other problems with DIY trapping as well. Relocating a trapped raccoon isn’t as simple as driving it somewhere and letting it go. In New Jersey, the state’s relocation policy prefers release at the capture site once the cause is fixed, requires the landowner’s permission for any other release, and limits how far an adult raccoon can be moved, generally to within its township and no more than 10 miles. In Pennsylvania, the Game Commission lists raccoons as a rabies vector species that shouldn’t be relocated like other wildlife, and leaves a homeowner choosing between releasing and dispatching a trapped animal, with the added risk of bites and scratches. Trapping a mother in the cold months or in spring can also leave orphaned young inside the house. That’s why we treat removal and exclusion as one job rather than two.
Health and property risks of leaving raccoons in place
A raccoon in the attic is more than a noise problem. Raccoon droppings can carry a roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) whose eggs are dangerous to people, especially children, and the eggs can survive in the environment for a long time. Don’t sweep, vacuum or handle droppings without proper protection. Raccoons can also carry other diseases, including rabies, which makes any close encounter or bite a reason to call your doctor and local animal control.
On the property side, a raccoon den means compressed and contaminated insulation, which loses its ability to insulate, as well as damaged ductwork, chewed wires and stained ceilings. The longer the animal stays, the larger the repair bill, and an urgent winter problem becomes a larger spring one.
Raccoon removal across Central New Jersey and Bucks County
We handle raccoon problems from Mercer County and Somerset County through Middlesex County and across Central and Lower Bucks County, PA. If you’re hearing something in the attic or chimney, the best time to call is now, while it’s a winter problem rather than a nursery. Related services include wildlife exclusion, squirrel removal and dead animal removal.
Request a free estimate or call 609-356-PEST (7378).
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs a raccoon has moved in?
Scratching or thumping in the attic or walls at night, torn roof vents or shingles, shredded-looking insulation, paw prints near entry points, or a strong musky odor from droppings.
How do you make sure they don't come back?
We seal every entry point we find and reinforce weak spots — repaired vents, closed soffit gaps, secured chimney and crawl space access — along with advising on reducing attractants like open trash or outdoor pet food.
Why act quickly instead of waiting to see if they leave?
Raccoons rarely leave a comfortable nesting spot on their own, especially once they’ve had young. The longer they stay, the more damage accumulates and the higher the health risk from droppings and parasites. Quick action keeps a manageable problem from becoming an expensive one.
Raccoon Removal near you
We’re based in Lawrence Township, NJ and work across Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties, plus Bucks County, PA. Town pages for this service, and the county pages that cover everything we do there:
Central New Jersey
Ready to get your home back?
Contact us today if you’re hearing movement in the attic or walls at night. Raccoons rarely leave on their own, and the longer they stay, the more it costs to fix.