How To Get Rid Of Raccoons

Getting rid of raccoons on your own requires a cautious, strategic, and humane approach. These intelligent and persistent animals can cause significant property damage, spread diseases such as rabies and leptospirosis, and create sanitation issues if they establish nests in attics, chimneys, or crawl spaces. Here is how home and business owners can remove raccoons safely and effectively on their own:

Identify the Problem

Before taking action, confirm that raccoons are indeed the culprits. Look for:

Tracks: Distinct hand-like prints with five fingers.
Droppings: Cylindrical and dark, often left in one area (raccoon latrine).
Noises: Scratching, thumping, or chattering sounds, especially at night.
Damage: Torn soffits, ripped shingles, overturned garbage cans, or disturbed insulation.

Locating their entry point and determining whether it’s an active nesting site (with babies) is critical before proceeding.

Eliminate Food and Shelter Sources

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders. Removing attractants drastically reduces their interest in your property:

Secure garbage: Use metal cans with locking lids or bungee cords.
Remove pet food: Never leave pet food outdoors overnight.
Protect compost bins: Use raccoon-proof containers.
Eliminate water sources: Fix leaky outdoor faucets or remove birdbaths.
Seal shelter options: Close off decks, crawl spaces, and sheds with sturdy wire mesh (after confirming no raccoons are inside).

Use Deterrents to Make the Area Unappealing

Raccoons prefer quiet, dark, and secure spaces. Disrupting these conditions can encourage them to move on:

Light and sound deterrents: Place bright lights, radios, or ultrasonic repellents near nesting sites.
Scent repellents: Apply ammonia-soaked rags, vinegar, or commercial raccoon repellents in and around access points.
Motion-activated devices: Install sprinklers or lights that activate when raccoons approach.

These methods work best when used consistently and in combination for several nights.

Seal Entry Points

Once you’re certain all raccoons have left, seal every potential entry point:

Use heavy-gauge hardware cloth or sheet metal to close gaps in soffits, vents, chimneys, or foundations.
Install chimney caps and vent covers to prevent re-entry.
Reinforce weak structures (raccoons can tear through thin wood or loose shingles).

If you are unsure whether or not the raccoons are gone, first use a one-way exclusion door that allows them to exit but not return, then replace the one-way exclusion door with a more permanent solution after you are sure the raccoons are gone..

Live Trapping (If Necessary and Legal)

In some areas, live trapping is permitted but regulated. If allowed:

Use a sturdy live trap (at least 32" long) baited with marshmallows, canned tuna, or cat food.
Place traps near active entry points or feeding areas.
Check traps frequently (every few hours) to prevent harm to the animal.
Relocate according to local wildlife laws. Many states prohibit relocating raccoons more than a few miles or outside your property.

Always verify local regulations before trapping — raccoons are protected wildlife in many jurisdictions.

Clean and Sanitize the Area

After removal, disinfect nesting sites to eliminate odor and pathogens. Use a strong disinfectant or enzyme cleaner on contaminated surfaces, and wear gloves and a mask to prevent exposure to raccoon feces or urine.

Monitor for Return Activity

Raccoons may attempt to return to their previous den. Monitor the area for at least two weeks:

Re-check sealed areas regularly.
Reapply repellents as needed.
Keep garbage secure and food sources unavailable.

Key Cautions

Avoid direct contact. Raccoons can be aggressive and may carry rabies.
Do not attempt removal if babies are present. Wait until they’re old enough to leave with the mother.
Never use poison or lethal traps. These are inhumane, illegal in most areas, and dangerous to pets and non-target wildlife.

If, after consistent effort, raccoons persist or have nested inside a structure (especially with young), it’s best to contact our licensed wildlife control professionals. We can safely handle removal, seal entry points properly, and ensure long-term exclusion.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Raccoons

Hiring our professional pest control for raccoon removal is the safest, most efficient, and most reliable way to permanently resolve a raccoon infestation. While do-it-yourself efforts can sometimes offer temporary relief, raccoons are intelligent, strong, and often protected under state wildlife laws — which means improper handling can lead to legal trouble, injury, or recurring infestations. Here is why our professional raccoon control is the superior choice for homeowners and business owners:

Professionals Ensure Safe and Humane Removal

Raccoons can be dangerous when threatened, especially mother raccoons protecting their young. They may carry rabies, roundworm, leptospirosis, and other zoonotic diseases that can infect humans and pets. Our pest control professionals are trained and equipped with the proper safety gear, traps, and techniques to capture and remove raccoons without direct contact or harm to either the animal or the property.
Our licensed technicians also follow state and federal wildlife regulations, ensuring humane handling, relocation, and release procedures that comply with local laws.

Expert Identification and Inspection

Our professional wildlife specialists don’t just remove the animal — we identify how and why raccoons got in. Our experts conduct detailed inspections to locate:

All entry and exit points (including secondary or hidden openings).
Signs of nesting activity, droppings, or baby raccoons.
Structural vulnerabilities or environmental attractants.

By understanding the root cause of the infestation, we create a comprehensive plan that addresses both removal and prevention, ensuring the problem doesn’t recur.

Guaranteed and Permanent Exclusion

Our professionals use industrial-grade exclusion materials and proven sealing methods that homeowners rarely have access to. This includes reinforced steel mesh, chimney caps, vent guards, and heavy-duty sealants designed to withstand raccoon strength. We also know when to install one-way doors — specialized exclusion devices that allow raccoons to leave safely but prevent them from re-entering. This precision ensures complete, lasting protection from future intrusions, something DIY methods often fail to achieve.

Protection of Property and Health

Raccoons can cause costly structural damage, tearing up insulation, ductwork, roofing, and wiring in search of nesting materials. Their droppings and urine can also contaminate insulation and pose serious health hazards due to pathogens. We not only remove the raccoons but also provide decontamination and restoration services to safely clean and disinfect affected areas. This protects your property value, air quality, and overall safety.

Legal and Ethical Compliance

In many states, raccoons are classified as nuisance wildlife, and trapping, relocating, or euthanizing them without a permit can lead to fines or criminal charges. Our professional wildlife control experts are fully licensed and familiar with local regulations governing raccoon removal and relocation. We ensure that every action taken is lawful, humane, and environmentally responsible, removing the legal risk from the property owner.

Efficiency and Peace of Mind

DIY removal can take days or weeks, often resulting in incomplete removal — especially when multiple raccoons or babies are involved. Our professionals, on the other hand, use experience, specialized equipment, and proven strategies to resolve the problem quickly and effectively. This level of assurance saves time, money, and frustration in the long run.

Comprehensive Prevention Planning

Our professional pest control isn’t just about removal; it’s about long-term prevention. Our experts can:

Identify landscaping and structural features attracting raccoons.
Recommend or install deterrents like motion-activated lights or sprinklers.
Provide ongoing monitoring and maintenance plans to ensure raccoons and other wildlife don’t return.

This proactive approach helps protect the property year-round, rather than relying on short-term DIY fixes.

While it may be tempting to handle raccoon problems independently, our professional pest control offers an unmatched level of safety, expertise, legality, and long-term effectiveness. Our licensed wildlife specialists don’t just remove the animals — we protect your property, your health, and your peace of mind. By investing in our professional raccoon control, home and business owners ensure the issue is handled quickly, humanely, and permanently, preventing future infestations and costly damage.

Get Rid Of Raccoons With Miche Pest Control

Hiring our team of professionals at Miche Pest Control is an investment in long-term protection, expertise, and peace of mind. Here’s why:

Personalized Service and Local Expertise: We know the specific pest pressures in the area—such as seasonal rodent activity, regional ant species, or local termite threats. Our technicians understand the environment, climate, and building types common to the area, allowing them to provide targeted, effective treatments.
High-Quality, Comprehensive Solutions: As a full-service provider, we doe’t just treat surface problems; we address the root causes. From inspections and prevention to exclusion and ongoing maintenance, we deliver complete, integrated pest management (IPM) programs designed to both eliminate infestations and prevent future ones.
Accountability and Reliability: We live and die by our reputation. We rely on trust, referrals, and repeat business, meaning we're committed to doing the job right the first time and providing exceptional customer care.
Faster Response Times: We respond quickly to emergencies and schedule services sooner than large, national chains. Especially when you’re dealing with urgent pest issues like rodents or wasps, that speed matters.
Customized Treatment Plans: We tailor our services to your property’s specific needs instead of using one-size-fits-all chemical treatments. This results in safer, more effective pest control that minimizes environmental impact and reduces unnecessary pesticide use.
Highly Trained, Experienced Technicians: We invest in training, certification, and continuing education for our technicians. We stay current on the latest pest biology, control techniques, and safety standards.
Long-Term Prevention and Value: Our focus on providing quality service means fewer callbacks, longer-lasting protection, and better value over time. Instead of repeated, temporary fixes, you get strategic solutions that protect your home or business for the long run and provide better peace of mind.

Hiring our team means you get expertise you can trust, faster service, safer and more effective treatments, and long-term results that protect both your property and your peace of mind. Contact us today!