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.

The average cost to remove raccoons ranges between $375-$625, with the average homeowner spending around $550 on traps, relocation, and basic cleaning of the area.

Raccoon Exterminator Cost

Raccoon Removal Cost by Method

Raccoon pest control strategies vary on a case by case basis. A pest technician must first assess your property to determine the location of the raccoon and how many of the wildlife are present. The total raccoon removal cost is usually inclusive of the inspection and the recommended treatments. If you do require any follow-up visits, that will cost an additional $150 or more. Usually, only a follow-up appointment is needed if you notice signs that the raccoon has returned, such as lawn damage or attic damage. The following are the three most common techniques used for raccoon removal.

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Raccoon Traps

Raccoon traps are non-lethal devices that are strategically placed around your home or yard. Once the raccoon pest control specialist has determined where the raccoons are nesting, a baited trap is set. Once the raccoon enters the trap, a mechanism locks the door behind the creature to keep it safely inside until the pest technician returns. Fresh vegetables or meats are typical baits for raccoon traps. The average cost of trapping a raccoon is around $75 to $125 per trap.

Grip traps are a lethal type of trap used on raccoons. Your pest control technician will be familiar with local animal rights laws to determine if using a lethal trap is permitted in your area. After the raccoon is killed, the carcass is removed, which may cost an extra $275 or more.

Raccoon Relocation

Raccoon relocation is considered the humane way to remove raccoons from your property. After capturing the animal, technicians must return to your property and properly relocate the raccoon to an approved spot. They must be relocated at least ten miles away to keep them from returning to your yard. Raccoon relocation costs start at $100 to $175.

Raccoon Manual Removal

Raccoon removal cost may surge if you need to pay for raccoon manual removal. Removing raccoons by hand is never a DIY job. Raccoons often attack and you could end up injured if you try to remove them from their nest. However, raccoon pest control technicians usually rely on manual removal only in cases of raccoon nests. Since the young raccoons are not likely to leave the nest for a baited trap, the technician manually removes them before attempting to capture the female. The cost to manually remove raccoons is upwards of $550 to $650 per nest.

Raccoon Removal Cost by Damage Location

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, ductwork, drywall ¹ and electrical cords, etc. The following are a few susceptible areas of the home that raccoons may wreak havoc on.

Raccoon Damage to the Yard

Raccoons cause additional damage to the yard besides tearing up your lawn. They may also tear apart any garbage left outside and leave debris all over your yard. Raccoon yard damage could also include defecating throughout different areas of your home’s exterior. Raccoons can also become aggressive when invading your yard and attack pets. The average cost to clean up your yard after a raccoon is between $200 and $600.

Raccoon Lawn Damage

Raccoons are very aggressive when they decide to attack your lawn. Instead of digging small holes, raccoons can flip over huge sections of turf. Once they start to tear up the lawn in search of grubs ² to consume, the critter will resume digging up your yard night after night to see if any more grubs can be located. The cost to repair raccoon lawn damage, including soil, delivery fees, and filling in any holes is between $200 and $800. Final cost is dependent on how much damage the raccoon has done before removal.

Raccoon Roof Damage

Since attics are common nesting areas, raccoons damage areas of the roof as they try to enter these spaces. They target areas under the eaves ³ and tear apart soffits ⁴ and chew through fascia boards. Shingles ⁵ on your roof could also be torn off by a raccoon. After raccoon removal, the average cost you’ll spend on roof damage repairs is around $300 to $800 for shingle repairs and fascia board fixes.

Raccoon Attic Damage

If a raccoon or family of raccoons enter your attic, they cause a lot of destruction in a very short period of time. One of the worst parts of a raccoon invading the inside of your home is the odor from the animal’s feces and urine can be difficult to remove. Professional raccoon pest control companies assist with this task. Another part of repairing raccoon attic damage is fixing any insulation that the pests may have torn apart to make nests for their young. Shredded wires are also commonplace in an attic infested by raccoons with the damage leading to potential electrical issues. The cost to fix any damage caused by a raccoon who takes over residence in your attic is around $1.50 to $3.50 per foot if you need attic insulation.

Raccoon Removal Services Cost

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, determining how much damage has been done and where, 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 $175 to $300 just for the traps and relocation; any repairs, decontamination, and prevention will typically cost more, with clean-up starting at $200 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.

Raccoon in the Attic Removal Cost

The last thing a homeowner needs is to find a raccoon or family of raccoons living in his or her attic. Get rid of raccoons in the attic promptly. The longer that the pest resides in your attic, the more structural damage it causes. Also, with the raccoons in the home, there’s the potential for disease transmission. To remove raccoons from the attic, contact a wildlife control specialist. Trying to trap the animal on your own could lead you to sustain a serious bite. The best way to get rid of raccoons in the attic will be determined by the wildlife control specialist, but live trapping and relocation is the standard recommendation at an estimated cost of $250. If babies are present, manual removal could be used along with live trapping and relocation at a cost of $550 to $650.

Raccoon attic cleanup cost is a strong consideration. Expect to pay around $300 or more for raccoon attic cleanup. Pest control companies may provide cleanup after a raccoon living in an attic or refer you to a professional cleaning service.

Raccoon in Chimney

One of the most frequent animals found living within a chimney are raccoons. Chimneys act as hollow trees for raccoons and provide a place for pregnant mothers to birth their young.

Unlike other types of raccoon removal methods, when they are inside the chimney, specialized traps are needed. Raccoon chimney traps mount directly over your flue ⁶ and trap the raccoon once it climbs out of the chimney in search of food. After the mother raccoon is trapped and removed from the chimney, manual removal of the young is needed. If the pest control technician can’t reach the raccoons in the nest by hand, a snare is used. Homeowners will be charged $300 to $500 for the chimney raccoon trap and removal and $650 for manual removal of the young. Also, if you’re concerned about any structural damage caused by the raccoons, book a chimney inspection appointment with a cost around $300.

Emergency Raccoon Removal

If you suspect a raccoon in your yard due to turf damage or overturned garbage cans, this usually doesn’t require an emergency call to a pest control specialist. However, if a raccoon is in your home, call immediately for an emergency appointment. Keep your distance from a raccoon and try to sequester the animal in a certain area of the home. If a raccoon feels threatened, he or she will bite.

Another reason for emergency raccoon removal is if you see a raccoon that appears unwell in your yard. The raccoon may be infected with rabies and could pass the disease onto other animals or humans through its saliva. Signs of a rabid raccoon include difficulty walking, foaming at the mouth, and making sounds of distress. Notify a wildlife control specialist immediately if you suspect a rabid raccoon is living on your premises. An emergency pest control appointment fee is upwards of $100 in addition to normal appointment costs.

Dead Raccoon Removal Cost

Never remove a dead raccoon without the help of a raccoon pest control specialist. According to the Centers for Disease Control, dead raccoons carry pathogens that could be passed onto humans and pets. Raccoons are associated with roundworm that could be transmitted through their feces as well as rabies, a disease that is most commonly reported in raccoons. Technicians typically charge around $275 for dead raccoon removal services. Remove a dead raccoon as soon as possible since the carcass could attract other pests to your home or yard. In addition, a dead raccoon leaves behind a smell that lingers in the home.

Are Raccoon Dangerous?

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.

Signs of a Raccoon in the House

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. When raccoons nest in chimneys, they can cause damage to several parts. These animals are aggressive and may remove fascia boards and shingles ⁵ to gain access to the chimney. The creature is also known for tearing off chimney covers.

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. If living in the attic, raccoons could leave behind torn pieces of insulation and wires. Since raccoons make nests in attics, the whining sound of their young could be another indicator of their presence.

All About Raccoons

Raccoons are a very intelligent species that can quickly become a nuisance pest to homeowners. They are nocturnal mammals, which makes them difficult to spot in the wild. Although raccoons have an average weight of 17 pounds, they can get as large as 25 pounds. The most distinguishable feature of raccoons are the clear black markings around their eyes and their ringed tails. Native throughout North America, raccoons make their dens in areas that offer food, water, and shelter. In urban and suburban areas, raccoons build nests in attics, sheds, and barns. During the early spring, raccoons give birth to between one and six babies.

Raccoon Extermination Cost vs Raccoon Removal Cost

Raccoon extermination involves the use of lethal methods to get rid of raccoons. Most wildlife professionals will not recommend poison as a way to exterminate raccoons. For one, poison is not considered humane since the raccoon slowly perishes after ingesting the toxic substances. Secondly, the raccoon will go into hiding as it feels ill and once it dies, you may have a difficult time locating the carcass. If raccoons are exterminated, a lethal trap is normally deployed since the animal is killed quickly and the body is held in place until removal. Raccoon extermination methods cost around $400 including trapping and carcass removal.

A raccoon removal cost is usually similar to raccoon extermination. However, the amount is slightly less since relocation is required instead of carcass disposal. Carcass disposal has a higher price point since the dead animal may not be in a highly accessible area. Wildlife control specialists set bait traps and remove the raccoon once it has been secured inside. The average cost for raccoon trapping and removal is about $250. The cost may increase if removal is unsuccessful and raccoons return to your yard.

How to Prevent Raccoons

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 including keeping trash covered securely with lids. Never leave any food or pet food around the exterior of your home, since this acts as a beacon to wildlife pests.

Professional assistance is often needed to fortify your home against raccoons. For instance, repairing any holes leading into your attic will have an average cost of $480 or more. Chimney cap installations can also help prevent raccoons from invading a home and start at $1,000 or more. Hire a landscaper to trim back any trees at least six to eight feet away from your home to stop raccoons from climbing onto a roof and getting into an attic. Animal proof vents are also available and can be professionally installed at a cost of $300 to $500 each.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Exclusion Barriers

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 ⁷, with more people paying around $100 to $200 to secure their homes.

Raccoon Cleanup Services

You may also want to consider having professional cleaning to deal with the bacteria and feces that are left behind for $500.

One Way Raccoon Door

Most professionals offer prevention services including the installation of a one way raccoon door, which allows raccoons to leave, but not re-enter the building. The cost for installing this door ranges from $300 to $400.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• DIY. 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 Repellent. 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.
• Insurance. 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.
• Relocation. Always make sure that any raccoons being relocated are taken at least 10 miles from your home to prevent them from re-entering.
• Sick Raccoons. Normally, only if you have sick raccoons professionals will euthanize them.

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

² Grubs: The larva of a beetle. While the adult beetle poses little threat to a lawn, the grubs can ruin a lawn by feeding on the roots of the grass

⁴ Soffits: Construction material, typically composed of vinyl or aluminum, used to enclose the underside of eaves and ceilings

⁵ Shingles: A smooth, uniform, flat piece of construction material, available in a wide variety of materials and laid in a series of overlapping rows, used to cover the outside of roofs or walls to protect against weather damage and leaks.

⁶ Flue: A duct or pipe through which exhaust gases from a fireplace, stove or boiler are released to the outdoors

⁷ Foot: A support for the foundation of a house that also helps prevent settling. It is typically made of concrete reinforced with rebar, but can also be made of masonry or brick. It is usually built under a heavier part of the house like a wall or column, to distribute the weight of the house over a larger area.