It’s late, and you hear a scratching noise in your walls or crawl space. At first, you might think it’s the wind, but the sound gets louder and harder to ignore. Soon, you realize—wildlife, possibly raccoons, has moved into your home.

Dealing with raccoons can feel overwhelming, but Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is here to help. We’ll guide you through humane raccoon removal and show you how to handle them safely and responsibly. Acting quickly can prevent further damage and restore peace to your home.

Learn how to spot raccoon activity, remove them safely, repair any damage, and prevent future intrusions.

Listen for Signs of Raccoons in Your Home

Raccoons can be more than a nuisance when they find their way into your home—they can cause damage and create unsanitary conditions. Identifying their presence early is the first step to addressing the issue before it escalates. Here’s how to listen and look out for signs of these nocturnal visitors:

• Nighttime noises: Scratching, scurrying, or soft thuds coming from walls or ceilings are common signs of raccoon activity, especially at night.
• High-pitched chirps or whines: During nesting season, baby raccoons (kits) often make these sounds as they call for their mother.
• Visible entry points: Check for damaged vents, roofing gaps, torn insulation, or scratches along siding and soffits.
• Unpleasant odours: Waste and nesting materials can create a noticeable smell over time, signaling an active raccoon shelter.

If you’ve noticed these signs, it’s time to act. Safely removing raccoons and sealing entry points is key to preventing further damage and ensuring your home stays secure.

Do Not Try to Remove Them Yourself

Discovering raccoons in your walls or crawl space can be stressful, but trying to remove them yourself often creates more problems.

Mother raccoons are protective of their kits and may become aggressive if threatened, leading to bites, scratches, or health risks. DIY attempts, like blocking entry points, can separate mothers from their young or trap the animals inside. This often results in property damage or hygiene issues as the raccoons struggle to escape.

Professional wildlife experts understand raccoon behaviour and use safe, humane methods to remove the entire family without harm, protecting your home and the animals.

Identify Entry Points and Damage

Determining how raccoons made their way into your home is just as important as removing them. They’re excellent climbers and opportunists, capable of exploiting weaknesses in your home’s exterior.

Common access points include roof vents, attic gaps, or loose soffits. Look for damage, such as missing shingles, claw marks around entry points, or areas where insulation has been pushed aside to create nesting spaces. Waste and nesting materials may also accumulate near these entrances, leaving behind visible droppings or debris.

This investigative step not only confirms the extent of their activity but also helps pinpoint vulnerabilities in your home that need to be addressed to prevent further incidents.

Cleaning and Repairing the Area

Even after raccoons are removed, there’s still work to be done. Their nesting habits can leave behind damage and contamination that pose risks to your home and health.

Urine and droppings accumulated during their stay can introduce bacteria, parasites, or mould. Nesting materials, such as fur and debris, compound the problem if left untreated. A thorough cleanup eliminates these hazards, restoring your space to its original condition.

Repairs are equally important. Raccoons often damage insulation, chew wires, or scratch at wooden structures as they explore and nest. Addressing these repairs promptly prevents safety hazards like fire risks, mould growth, or long-term structural issues.

Cleanup and restoration also remove lingering scents caused by raccoon activity, which could otherwise attract more animals to the same space.

Preventing Raccoon Infestations in Your Home

To prevent this kind of situation from happening again, a few proactive steps can make a big difference. Animals seek shelter in places that seem safe and accessible, so securing your property creates a deterrent.

Here are some key strategies for long-term protection:

• Ensure trash bins have tight-fitting lids, removing an easy food source.
• Regularly inspect your roof, vents, and potential gaps in the exterior for vulnerabilities.
• Trim tall tree branches that hang near your home’s roof, limiting climbing access.
• Install barriers beneath decks and porches so there’s no chance of nests forming.
• Consider scheduling home inspections to stay ahead of structural wear over time.

Small measures like these show big results when it comes to safeguarding your house.

Entrusting Professionals for Humane Solutions

Hiring a team like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control ensures the problem is resolved effectively and responsibly. Structured methods prevent further damage, avoid harming the raccoons, and restore your home’s peace.

Here’s how our process works. First, we conduct a thorough inspection to understand the scope of the issue and locate entry points and activity areas. Using specially designed one-way doors, we guide the raccoons out. These doors allow them to leave your home safely but prevent them from returning.

Before sealing any entry points, we carefully check to ensure no kits are left behind. Post-removal, we clean and restore the area, repairing damage to insulation, wiring, or wood to eliminate safety risks. Proper sanitation ensures odours are removed, preventing future wildlife activity in the same area.

With professional assistance, you can trust the problem will be handled safely, ethically, and effectively.

A Peaceful Home Is Just a Call Away

A raccoon family living in your walls can cause big problems, from property damage to unpleasant odours. Dealing with raccoons in your walls safely is important to protect both your home and the animals. By using humane raccoon removal tips and focusing on repairs and prevention, you can keep raccoons out for good.

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is here to help. We’re experts in preventing raccoon infestations in your home and ensuring they leave safely without harm. Contact us today to request a quote or learn more about how we can restore peace to your home.