The short version
Keep raccoons away by securing the trash with locking lids, capping the chimney and screening the vents, trimming overhanging branches, and removing pet food and bird feeders at night. Prevention is cheap; removal is not.
- Secure the trash, seal the roofline, and trim the branches.
- Cap the chimney and screen the vents.
- Remove pet food and bird feeders at night.
- Check the roofline each spring and fall.
For homeowners and property managers who want to keep raccoons away before they become a problem.
What to look for
An unsecured trash can, an uncapped chimney, and an overhanging branch are an open invitation. Prevention is about removing those three invitations before a raccoon moves in. Raccoons come for food and shelter.
- 1Scratching or thumping overhead at night — raccoons are nocturnal and den in attics.
- 2Torn shingles, a bent soffit, or a damaged chimney cap where a raccoon forced its way in.
- 3Tipped trash cans and scattered garbage.
- 4A raccoon latrine — repeated droppings in one spot.
- 5A raccoon wandering in daylight, which can signal rabies or distemper.
- 6Kits crying in a wall in spring, meaning a mother has denned to raise a litter.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Raccoons are a primary rabies vector, so a daytime or aggressive raccoon is a real safety risk.
- Raccoon roundworm eggs in a latrine can survive for years and cause serious illness if ingested.
- A denning raccoon will damage insulation and structure raising its litter.
- An open entry means the next raccoon moves in after the first is removed.
A primary vectorRaccoons in U.S. animal rabiesCDC $300–$600Typical raccoon removal (published range)Fixr Serious in latrinesRaccoon roundwormCDC Treatment options and typical costs
Inspection and entry mapping
$150–$300
A provider finds every gap a raccoon could use and confirms whether one is denning now.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Any sighting or nighttime noise.
Trapping and removal
$300–$600
Live trapping and removal of the raccoon, done legally by a licensed provider.
- Time
- 1–3 days
- Best for
- A raccoon denning in an attic, chimney, or crawl space now.
Exclusion and repair
$400–$1,500+
Sealing the entry points and repairing the damage so the next raccoon can't follow.
- Time
- Half day to a full day
- Best for
- Repeat visitors or a home with known gaps.
Cleanup and disinfection
$300–$1,000+
Removing a latrine and contaminated insulation safely, with proper gear.
- Time
- Half day to a day
- Best for
- An attic or crawl space with droppings.
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Inside, look for flattened insulation, latrines and nesting spots. Leave cleanup to someone with the right gear.Secure the trash.
Use locking lids or bungee-strap the can, and take the bins out only on pickup morning. The single biggest draw is an easy meal. Raccoons are strong and clever with their paws, so a loose lid is no obstacle.
Seal the roofline.
Cap the chimney, screen the vents and soffits with sturdy mesh, and seal any gap larger than about four inches. Raccoons climb, so check the roofline, not just the ground floor.
Torn soffits like this are typical raccoon damage. Seal with heavy metal mesh once they're gone.Trim the branches.
Overhanging tree branches are a raccoon's ladder onto the roof. Trim them back so nothing touches the house — it's the cheapest exclusion step there is.
Remove the food.
Pet food left out at night, bird feeders, and fallen fruit all draw raccoons. Bring pet food in after dark, and clean up fruit under trees.
Check the season.
Do a roofline walk each early spring, before denning season, and again in fall. Catching a new gap before a raccoon does is the whole game.
The seasonal proofing walk.
Check the chimney cap, the vents, the soffits, and the branches. Do a roofline walk each early spring, before denning season, and again in fall. A new gap caught before a raccoon finds it is the whole game.
Why the trash matters most.
A raccoon that can't eat near your house has no reason to den there. Of everything, the trash is the biggest draw. Locking lids, bins out only on pickup morning, and no overnight pet food are the prevention that matters.
The chimney cap.
An uncapped chimney is a ready-made den. A proper cap with mesh is a one-time fix that closes the most common raccoon entry for good — and it costs far less than a removal.
Branches as a ladder.
Overhanging tree branches are a raccoon's route onto the roof. Trimming them back so nothing touches the house is the cheapest exclusion step there is, and it also cuts the squirrel and bat routes.
The overnight food rule.
Bring pet bowls in after dark, clean the grill, and take the trash out only on pickup morning. The simplest prevention habit is a rule, not a product: no food outside overnight. A raccoon that can't find an easy meal near your house keeps moving.
Prevention for a whole property.
Walk the roofline and the outbuildings twice a year. On a larger property, the same steps scale: secure every trash can, cap every chimney, and screen every vent and soffit. The more entry points and food sources you close, the fewer raccoon problems you'll have.
What affects the price
- Whether raccoons are denning in the attic versus just passing through the yard.
- The number and location of entry points that need sealing.
- Whether a litter is present.
- Whether a latrine needs cleanup and disinfection.
- The repair work required after roofline or soffit damage.
- Emergency or same-day calls.
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What is your biggest concern about raccoons on your property?
When to call for help
Call a licensed professional when a raccoon is denning in the attic, chimney, or crawl space, when you see one wandering in daylight, or when you find a latrine. Raccoons are a primary rabies vector (CDC), and wildlife trapping is regulated, so a licensed provider is required.
What you can do yourself
Prevention is safely yours: secure the trash, cap the chimney, trim the branches, and remove pet food at night. What isn't yours is the raccoon itself — trapping is regulated, and the latrine cleanup is a health job, because raccoon droppings can carry roundworm (CDC). Leave both to a licensed professional.
Where you live matters
In Raccoon Prevention, after treatment, ask what to watch for and when a follow-up visit would make sense. In Raccoon Prevention, if you have photos or a rough timeline of when the problem started, share them, because those details help the provider confirm what is going on and give you a more accurate scope and price. In Raccoon Prevention, a little preparation usually makes the visit more useful: clear access to the areas where you have seen activity, put away loose items, and note anything you have noticed recently. In Raccoon Prevention, getting the scope, the prep steps, and any follow-up terms in writing makes it much easier to compare providers fairly, and a good provider will walk you through each of these without pressure. In Raccoon Prevention, before you book, ask whether the inspection is included, what the treatment plan covers, how many visits to expect, and what the written quote includes. A local provider who knows Raccoon Prevention can point out the specific things that matter most here before you commit to a plan. In Raccoon Prevention, checking the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure usually turns up the conditions that are letting them in. The most useful first step in Raccoon Prevention is to note where you have seen raccoons activity and when it appears, so an inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. Removal and cleanup belong with a licensed professional. Raccoons are found nationwide and are a regulated wildlife species and a primary rabies vector. In Raccoon Prevention, it has to be timed outside the maternity season so young bats are not stranded inside, which is why it is usually a professional job rather than a do-it-yourself one. In Raccoon Prevention, exclusion is the durable fix: one-way devices let the bats leave but not return, and then every remaining gap is sealed. In Raccoon Prevention, a bat found in a room where someone was sleeping, or one that may have touched a child or pet, is treated as a possible exposure, so contact public health or a doctor before releasing it. In Raccoon Prevention, if you have seen a bat indoors, keep the room closed and do not handle it bare-handed. In Raccoon Prevention, a short watch at dusk is often the clearest way to confirm where they are getting in and out. In Raccoon Prevention, bats squeeze through gaps as small as three-eighths of an inch, so an inspection looks closely at ridge vents, gable vents, soffits, and the joints where the roof meets the wall. Most bat work is about the roofline and the attic. In Raccoon Prevention, that usually means sealing the gaps and moisture issues the inspection turned up, adjusting what is stored near the structure, and staying on top of the small warning signs before they become a bigger job. Prevention is the part that keeps the problem from coming back. In Raccoon Prevention, most problems do not disappear after a single visit if the conditions that caused them are still present, so the plan should spell out what changes afterward and how you will know it worked.
Simple ways to keep raccoons away
- Secure trash cans with locking lids and take them out only on pickup morning.
- Cap the chimney and screen vents and soffits.
- Trim tree branches back from the roof.
- Seal gaps under porches, decks, and sheds.
- Remove pet food and bird feeders at night.
- Check the roofline each spring and fall for new gaps.
Ask how kits will be handled and whether cleanup and sealing are included.Did you know?
Raccoons have extremely sensitive front paws and can remember solutions to tasks for up to three years.
A raccoon's facial mask reduces glare and may sharpen its night vision.
Raccoons are nocturnal, so one wandering in daylight can be a sign of rabies or distemper — not curiosity.
Questions people ask
Do raccoon repellents work?
Not reliably. Some scents and lights deter raccoons temporarily, but a locked trash can and a sealed roofline work far better and don't need reapplying.
What's the single best prevention step?
Sealing the roofline — capping the chimney and screening the vents — because that's where raccoons actually get in. Secure trash is a close second.
How do I keep raccoons out of my trash?
Use a locking lid or a bungee strap, and take bins out only on pickup morning. If raccoons keep tipping the can, anchor it.
Do I need to trim tree branches?
Yes, if any overhang the roof. Branches are a raccoon's route onto the house, and trimming them is the cheapest exclusion step.
Sources (5)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Raccoon Exterminator · Updated October 13, 2026 · How we write these guides