Raccoons in the attic chew wires, destroy insulation, and leave droppings carrying raccoon roundworm, a parasite that threatens your family’s health.
Here is how to spot the signs, remove them with one-way exclusion doors, and seal every entry point to keep them out for good.
- Raccoon droppings are dangerous: They carry raccoon roundworm, a parasite that can cause severe neurological damage in humans if accidentally ingested. Always wear PPE when handling attic debris.
- Use one-way exclusion doors: Never trap or seal raccoons inside. A one-way door lets them exit to forage but prevents re-entry, keeping mothers and babies together.
- Seal all gaps with 1/2 inch hardware cloth: Raccoons have dexterous forepaws and enough leverage to work a gap wider. Only 12-gauge galvanized 1/2 inch mesh can stop them.
- Combine exclusion with repellents: After removal, use light, sound, and scent deterrents to discourage new raccoons from investigating the territory.
What You Need
- 1/2 inch hardware cloth (12-gauge galvanized steel, welded wire)
- One-way exclusion door (heavy duty, raccoon-specific size)
- Chimney cap (stainless steel, weather resistant)
- Vent cap / mesh cover (for soffit and gable vents)
- High-powered flashlight (for attic inspection)
- Heavy-duty work gloves (cut and bite resistant)
- N95 or P100 respirator mask (for handling droppings)
Step 1: Confirm Raccoons Are in the Attic
Before you take any action, make sure the animal in your attic is actually a raccoon and not a squirrel, opossum, or stray cat. Raccoons leave very specific signs that are easy to identify once you know what to look for. Start with the noise identifier if you have not seen the animal yet.
- Sounds at night: Raccoons are nocturnal. Listen for heavy thumping, shuffling, and chattering vocalizations between dusk and dawn. Kits make high-pitched chirping or mewing calls.
- Droppings: Raccoon scat is tubular, 2 to 3 inches long, with blunt ends and visible undigested seeds or berries. It is often deposited in piles called latrines, usually near entry points or on attic floor joists.
- Structural damage: Chewed electrical wires, torn ductwork, crushed insulation, and bent soffit panels. Raccoons use their forepaws to force gaps wider.
- Tracks and smudge marks: Look for five-toed footprints (front paw looks like a tiny human handprint) and dark grease marks along rafters where raccoons squeeze through tight spaces.
Step 2: Find All Entry Points
Raccoons are remarkably strong and resourceful. Their dexterous forepaws let them grip, twist, and pull at materials until a weak spot gives way. A gap as small as 3 to 4 inches is enough for an adult raccoon to enter once it pries the opening wider.
Conduct a thorough exterior inspection of your roof line at dusk and dawn, when raccoons are most active. Check these common access points:
- Roof vents and soffits: Loose or missing soffit panels are the number one entry point. Raccoons pull them down from below or push them up from inside the attic.
- Chimneys: Uncapped chimneys are a direct highway into your home. Raccoons are excellent climbers and will descend right into the flue.
- Gable and ridge vents: Plastic or aluminum vents can be pried open or chewed through. Corroded mesh on older vents is no match for raccoon forepaws.
- Fascia and eaves: Rotting wood or gaps where the roofline meets the wall create natural entry points that raccoons eagerly widen.
- Roof-to-wall junctions: Check for daylight visible from inside the attic. If you can see light, a raccoon can get in.
Step 3: Install a One-Way Exclusion Door
The only humane and effective removal method for attic raccoons is a one-way exclusion door. These devices are mounted over the primary entry point and angled so that raccoons can push their way out but cannot re-enter.
This approach is critical during spring and summer because it allows mother raccoons to continue caring for their kits outside while preventing them from bringing the kits back inside.
Pre-bait the area: For 2 to 3 days before installing the door, place a small amount of wet cat food or marshmallows just inside the entry hole. This conditions the raccoons to exit through that specific opening at night to feed, making the one-way door more effective on installation day.
Mount the one-way door securely over the identified primary entry point, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check the door daily. Most raccoons exit within 2 to 4 nights. Once you confirm no raccoons have re-entered for 3 consecutive nights, you can remove the door and permanently seal the opening.
Step 4: Seal All Entry Points
Once the raccoons have left, you must seal every potential entry point before a new animal discovers the vacancy. Raccoons are neophobic: they are cautious of new objects in their environment, but their strong observational learning ability means they will watch from a distance and return once the exclusion door is gone if any gaps remain.
1/2 inch hardware cloth is the gold standard for raccoon exclusion. Use 12-gauge galvanized steel welded wire mesh. Anything larger or lighter can be torn open. Secure it with exterior-grade screws and fender washers, not staples, which raccoons can pull out.
Seal these specific areas:
- Soffit gaps: Replace missing or damaged soffit panels. Install 1/2 inch hardware cloth behind vented soffits.
- Chimney: Install a stainless steel chimney cap. This prevents raccoons, birds, and squirrels from entering the flue.
- Gable and ridge vents: Cover with 1/2 inch mesh vent caps or replace old plastic vents with heavy duty metal versions.
- Roof edges and fascia: Repair any rotted wood and seal gaps with galvanized flashing secured by screws.
- Utility line entry points: Seal around cables, pipes, and HVAC lines where they enter the roofline with hardware cloth and expanding foam (backed by mesh so raccoons cannot chew through the foam).
Step 4Step 5: Clean and Decontaminate
Attic raccoon infestations leave behind more than chewed wires and torn insulation. Urine soaks into wood and drywall, creating a strong ammonia smell that attracts other animals. Feces pile up in latrine sites and can harbor raccoon roundworm eggs, which remain infectious for years and are resistant to most household cleaners.
Always wear full PPE before entering an attic that has held raccoons. Use an N95 or P100 respirator, heavy duty gloves, disposable coveralls, and eye protection.
Never vacuum or sweep dry droppings, as this aerosolizes microscopic eggs. Instead, spray the droppings with a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) or a commercial enzyme cleaner, let it sit for 10 minutes, then carefully double-bag the waste in plastic and dispose of it in the trash.
Remove and replace heavily soiled insulation. Treat wood surfaces with an enzymatic cleaner designed to break down organic waste and neutralize odors. For detailed cleanup instructions, see my complete raccoon droppings removal guide.
Timing is everything when removing raccoons from an attic. Never seal the entry points while raccoons are still inside. They will chew through walls, ductwork, and even drywall to escape, causing far more damage. Always install one-way exclusion doors first and wait at least 3 days after the last exit before sealing. During baby season (March through August), check for kits before installing any exclusion device. If you hear high-pitched squealing from the attic during the day, you may need to wait for the kits to be old enough to follow the mother out, or call a wildlife professional for humane reunification.
raccoon roundworm (raccoon roundworm) poses a severe health risk to humans, particularly children. The microscopic eggs can survive for years in attic environments and are resistant to freezing, heat, and most disinfectants. Accidental ingestion of even a small number of eggs can lead to ocular, visceral, or neural larva migrans, which can cause permanent neurological damage or blindness. Always wear a properly fitted N95 or P100 respirator, disposable gloves, and protective eyewear when working in any area that may contain raccoon droppings. Wash hands thoroughly with hot soapy water immediately after handling any materials from a raccoon-infested attic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Raccoons produce a distinct set of sounds that differ from squirrels or rats. Listen for heavy thumping or stomping sounds at night. Raccoons are large animals (15 to 30 lbs) and their movements are deliberate and heavy.
You may also hear low growls, chattering clicks, or whining vocalizations between adults. If there are babies, you will hear high-pitched chirping or mewing sounds that intensify when the mother returns from foraging. The key difference from squirrels: raccoon sounds are slower, heavier, and lower in pitch.
A raccoon will stay in an attic as long as it provides safe shelter and access to food and water outside. A mother raccoon raising kits will occupy the space for 8 to 12 weeks, from birth through weaning (typically March through June).
Single raccoons may move in for a few weeks and then leave on their own, but they often return. Without intervention, raccoons can become permanent residents, using your attic as a den site year after year. This is why prompt exclusion is critical.
Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover sudden or accidental damage caused by raccoons, such as chewed electrical wiring that causes a fire, or a raccoon falling through a ceiling.
However, slow, progressive damage such as torn insulation, accumulated droppings, and structural wear from prolonged habitation is typically excluded.
Many policies also exclude removal costs. Check your specific policy and speak with your insurance agent, as coverage varies widely by carrier and state. Document all damage with photos before beginning any repairs.
The strong ammonia smell from raccoon urine and the musky odor of droppings requires a multi-step approach. First, remove all contaminated insulation, droppings, and debris while wearing full PPE. Next, scrub exposed wood surfaces with an enzymatic cleaner specifically formulated for wildlife waste.
These cleaners break down uric acid crystals that cause persistent odor. After cleaning, apply a shellac-based primer (such as Kilz or Bin) to seal any remaining odor into the wood.
Finally, improve attic ventilation and consider using a commercial ozone generator (following all safety precautions) to neutralize any remaining smell before replacing insulation.
Professional raccoon removal from an attic typically costs between a few hundred dollars for a basic exclusion job, which includes inspection, one-way door installation, and entry point sealing.
Prices increase if extensive repairs are needed, such as replacing chewed ductwork, rewiring, or replacing large sections of insulation. Full attic restoration after a severe infestation, including insulation removal, decontamination, and repair, can run into the thousands of dollars.
Most wildlife control companies offer free inspections and provide a written estimate before starting work. Always verify that the company uses humane exclusion methods and is licensed in your state.
Listen for thumping and growling at night, and look for fresh droppings and torn insulation. If you are unsure, set a trail camera at the entry point or sprinkle flour by the opening and check for tracks the next morning.
