How much does it cost to remove raccoons?

Raccoons are nocturnal mammals easily identified by the black "mask" on their faces, small, stocky bodies, and striped tails. Raccoons are frequently found in areas such as chimneys and attics, particularly when a female is ready to give birth; they prefer the enclosed, warm, dry spaces that most homes can provide. Depending on food sources and access, you may also find raccoons in your porch or outbuildings. Removing raccoons should be done by a professional because these pests can spread disease and make an enormous mess in your home.

Removal of the raccoons and patching the holes they used to enter costs around $350 to $500 on average, but may cost more if substantial damage has been done.

Damage

Raccoons are inquisitive animals that frequently leave a large mess in their wake. This means that if you have raccoons nesting on your property, you are likely to see substantial damage in and around your home, including:

• Damage done to lawns and vegetable gardens as they forage for food.
• Tipped over trash cans that were not tightly fastened.
• Flattened or compressed insulation in the attic.
• Damage to drywall ¹ and electrical cords in the attic by nesting mothers and young.
• Damage to ductwork by entering raccoons.
• Feces in swimming pools.

Health risks

In addition to the damage they can do to your property, raccoons bring several health risks as well. The number one associated illness with raccoons is rabies, but the pests can also carry canine distemper, which they can pass along to your dogs. They may also have a type of raccoon hookworm, which can become airborne and passed to humans through inhalation of their dried stool. Some raccoons may also be infested with fleas or ticks, which they can spread throughout your home, costing around $270 to treat.

Symptoms of raccoon infestation

Often the first sign that you may have raccoons in your home is the noise that they make at night. Many raccoons are nocturnal, meaning that they are awake at night, and you may hear the sounds of them scampering overhead in your attic or in your chimney after dark.

Not all raccoons are dormant during the day, however; those living in your home may be frequently spotted during the daylight hours entering and exiting their living space. You may see raccoons on your roof, near vents, and other potential openings. If a raccoon has died inside your home, the smell of the decomposing body will be strong and unpleasant, and this may tip you off to the presence of more raccoons. Other signs that a raccoon may be living in your home is visible damage to the area where they have been living, as well as raccoon feces in and around the area.

Labor

The most common method of dealing with raccoons on your property is trapping and removal. The raccoons are relocated to a minimum of 10 miles from your property to prevent their return; normally only sick animals will be euthanized.

In most cases, the pest removal service will include an inspection of your property for free to determine the extent of the infestation. This inspection includes determining the entry points of the raccoons, finding their various living spaces, and determining how much damage has been done and where, and what steps will need to be taken to both prevent the raccoons from returning after removal, and how to decontaminate the area and repair any damage that has been made.

Costs start at around $80 to $100 just for the traps and relocation; any repairs, decontamination, and prevention will typically cost more, with clean-up starting at $500 and repairs and prevention starting at $300. To trap the raccoons, a large cage trap baited with something like bread or marshmallows is used, with one trap needed per raccoon. If you have a large infestation, several visits may be necessary to trap all the raccoons, with each visit costing at least $80, more if multiple removals are done each time. If there are dead raccoons, these are removed at the same time; dead raccoons can sometimes be difficult to reach, which can drive up the costs of removal to $275 to $300 per raccoon, with additional repairs necessary afterward.

Once the raccoons have been removed, most services will offer prevention, remediation, and repair services, including the following:

Prevention

Preventing raccoons from inhabiting your home is the best course of action to protect yourself and your family from the diseases and damage they spread. There are many ways you can discourage raccoons from entering your home, and most are things you can do yourself for free or minimal costs. These include:

• Securing the lids on trash cans.
• Tying trash cans to a fence or wall.
• Sealing up or covering holes to attics or chimneys, with cost of chimney caps starting at $1,000.
• Not leaving food or exposed trash near your home.
• Bringing pet food in at night to keep it out of reach of raccoons.
• Trimming trees back 6 - 8 feet from the house to prevent their climbing into the attic.
• Install animal proof vents at $300 to $400 each.

Enhancement and improvement costs

• While most companies will offer removal, not all will offer remediation and clean up services.
• If the problem is significant, or you have a repeat issue, you may want to consider having exclusion barriers installed for $10 to $20 a linear foot, with more people paying around $100 to $200 to secure their homes.
• You may also want to consider having professional cleaning to deal with the bacteria and feces that are left behind for $500.

Additional considerations and costs

• Raccoon removal should not be considered a DIY project. While some companies offer advice on how to deal with the issue yourself, this is not always legal in all areas. Raccoon bites can also be dangerous if the animal carries diseases like rabies, which makes this project best left to the professionals. Some lethal traps are available, but many are illegal in certain states; check with your state animal control to find out more.
• Raccoon repellents are available, but most are considered ineffective. One method that may have some success is to shine bright lights in the attic along with extremely loud music. This may drive the raccoon out after two or three days.
• Some repairs done after raccoon removal may be covered by your homeowner's insurance; check with your adjuster to find out if this is covered by your policy.
• Always make sure that any raccoons being relocated are taken at least 10 miles from your home to prevent them from re-entering.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Drywall: Type of plasterboard, commonly used to build walls and ceilings, composed of gypsum that is layered between sheets of heavy paper