Raccoon Behavior and Biology
Raccoons are nocturnal, omnivorous, and highly intelligent. Their front paws are hypersensitive and almost hand-like, allowing them to open latches, twist doorknobs, and manipulate objects. They are known to remember solutions to tasks for up to three years. In California, their primary food sources are garbage, pet food, birdseed, and garden produce. They are excellent climbers and can ascend brick walls and downspouts. Raccoons are solitary except during mating season (January–March) and when females are raising young. Females typically give birth to 3–5 kits in April or May, and the kits stay with the mother until fall. This is why spring is peak season for attic intrusions—mothers seek warm, safe places to birth and nurse.
Health Risks: Rabies and Raccoon Roundworm
Raccoons are a primary rabies vector in the eastern US, but in California, rabies is more common in bats and skunks. Still, raccoons can carry the virus, and any nighttime animal that appears disoriented or aggressive should be avoided. A far more common threat is raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis). The CDC reports that the eggs are shed in feces and can remain viable in soil or attic dust for years. Inhaling or ingesting even a few eggs can cause larva migrans, leading to severe neurological damage or death, especially in children. This is why professional cleanup is critical—HEPA vacuuming and chemical disinfection are needed to eliminate eggs. Never vacuum raccoon droppings with a standard household vacuum, as it will aerosolize the eggs.
Legal Considerations in California
California's wildlife laws are strict. Raccoons are classified as furbearers and are managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). It is illegal to trap and relocate a raccoon without a permit, and relocation is generally discouraged because raccoons often die in unfamiliar territory or spread disease. Live trapping is allowed only for the purpose of euthanasia, and traps must be checked every 24 hours. Homeowners can trap raccoons on their own property without a permit if they intend to release them on the same property (which is rarely practical) or humanely euthanize them. However, most people should hire a licensed wildlife control operator who holds the necessary permits. Additionally, some cities (like San Francisco and Los Angeles) have additional ordinances regarding trapping and use of lethal methods.
Exclusion: The Only Permanent Solution
Trapping alone is a temporary fix. If you remove a raccoon without sealing entry points, another will move in. Exclusion involves a thorough inspection of the roof, attic vents, soffits, chimney, and foundation. Common entry points include loose roof vents, gaps where siding meets the roof, and uncapped chimneys. Professionals use heavy-gauge steel mesh (1/4-inch hardware cloth) or sheet metal to seal holes. One-way doors are often installed at main entry points to allow any raccoons inside to exit but prevent re-entry. After exclusion, it's important to wait at least 48 hours before sealing the final opening to ensure no animals are trapped inside. A service guarantee from a reputable company like Raccoon Removal ensures that if a raccoon breaches the seal, re-treatment may be available under the provider’s written terms.
Raccoon problems by the numbers
Before you compare providers, it helps to know what independent surveys and published cost guides actually report about raccoon problems in U.S. homes. None of the figures below come from this site's own customers; each carries its source, date and population so you can weigh it yourself. For homeowners, the practical message is that few neighbors want more raccoons: 7.4% of metro-area residents reporting raccoons nearby preferred a small increase, in Puri and colleagues' 2022 survey (1,006 respondents, published 2024) of neighborhood attitudes rather than infestations. Some 22% of residents who reported raccoons nearby wanted a large decrease in their numbers, according to Puri and colleagues' 2022 survey of 1,006 people in a southeastern U.S. metro area (published 2024), a measure of neighborhood opinion rather than home infestations. Property managers fielding raccoon complaints can expect mixed views: 23.4% of metro-area residents reporting raccoons nearby wanted a modest decrease, according to Puri and colleagues' 2022 survey (published 2024), which measured neighborhood attitudes, not raccoons inside buildings. If an inspection finds a nest, a homeowner should expect to pay more, on the order of $300 to $750 according to HomeAdvisor's June 2026 publisher estimate, which is not a local quote but a useful reality check on any bid. A homeowner should budget realistically: 30% of respondents to ConsumerAffairs' February 2024 survey of 2,000 U.S. respondents who paid to address an infestation in the prior year reported spending $1,001–$5,000, a self-reported amount from a mixed pest-and-mold survey, not an observed bill. Use these numbers as context, not as a diagnosis. A provider's written inspection findings should drive the treatment plan, and any quote should spell out how many visits, which areas and what follow-up it covers.