A raccoon under the house is a problem worth fixing, not just because of the noise, but because they can tear up insulation, chew wiring, and leave a mess that spreads disease. The catch is that you can’t just seal the hole, because there might be babies under there. I’ll walk you through getting them out the right way and keeping them out.
- Confirm the raccoon is out before you seal anything. A one-way door is the safe way to do that.
- Assume babies are present from late winter through summer. Sealing then traps the young inside.
- Seal every gap with hardware cloth buried below ground.
- Remove the food and shelter that drew the raccoon in the first place.
Why Raccoons Live Under Houses
Raccoons want a dark, dry, sheltered spot that’s close to food, and the space under a deck, porch, or crawlspace fits perfectly. Add a garbage can, some pet food, and a bird feeder, and you’ve basically hung out a vacancy sign.
From late winter through summer, a raccoon under your house is usually a female raising a litter. She’s picked the spot because it’s warm and safe for her babies. That matters, because sealing the entry while the young are still inside will trap them, and then you’ve got a much worse problem.
How to Get Them Out Safely
- Watch at dusk to see if it leaves. Raccoons head out at night to feed. If you’re not sure it’s gone, assume babies may still be inside.
- Install a one-way exclusion door over the entry. It lets the raccoon out but not back in. This is the safest method when no young are present.
- Use a live trap if it won’t leave, baited with marshmallows, cat food, or fruit, and check it often.
- Call a pro if you suspect a mother with babies. Removing a litter safely usually needs a licensed wildlife control operator.
How to Seal the Entry
Once you’re sure the raccoon is out:
- Bury hardware cloth along the gap, at least several inches down, with an outward bend so it can’t dig under.
- Fasten it with screws and washers so it can’t be pushed aside.
- Cover any crawlspace vents with hardware cloth and fix damaged access panels.
- Remove the attractants first, garbage, pet food, birdseed, and fallen fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Droppings, tracks in the dirt, a strong musky smell, scratching at night, and a worn path leading to a gap in the foundation or deck are the usual signs.
Not reliably. Once it’s found a dry, safe den, it tends to stay. An exclusion door, a trap, or a pro is usually what gets it out.
Don’t seal the entry. If you see or suspect babies, call a licensed wildlife control operator. Trapping the mother without the young, or sealing the young inside, makes things worse and is often illegal.
Yes. They can tear insulation, wreck ductwork, and chew wiring, which is a fire hazard. Their droppings also build up and spread disease.
It varies by area and whether a litter is involved, but expect to pay a few hundred dollars for professional removal, with sealing and exclusion on top. Get a written estimate before work starts.
The Bottom Line
Get the raccoon out carefully, assume babies if it’s the right time of year, and use an exclusion door or a pro. Then seal every gap with buried hardware cloth and remove the food that brought it in. Skip the sealing and the cleanup, and the next raccoon moves right in.
