Raccoon Removal Services

Triangle Wildlife Removal & Pest Control handles raccoon removal using live trapping and humane methods. Raccoons are classified as a rabies vector species in North Carolina, which means they cannot be legally relocated to a different property. A trapped raccoon must be released on the property where it was caught or euthanized. This regulation, set by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, exists to prevent the spread of rabies through human-assisted transport. All raccoon work performed by Triangle Wildlife Removal is done under WCA Permit #DCA25000312, with traps checked every 24 hours as required by state law.

How the Process Works

Inspection. A technician inspects the exterior and interior of the structure to identify active entry points, the location of the den, and the extent of any damage. Raccoon entry is typically obvious – torn soffit panels, displaced fascia boards, ripped vent covers, or a missing chimney cap. The technician also checks for the presence of young. During maternity season (April through August), a female in the attic almost certainly has a litter, and the approach changes accordingly.

Removal. Cage-type live traps are the standard method. Traps are set at or near the entry points the raccoon is using. When a nursing female is present with dependent young, Triangle Wildlife Removal has the option to trap the mother and hand-remove the kits, or to allow the mother to raise the young and remove the entire family unit later rather than separating them. This approach aligns with the company’s stewardship philosophy and is one of the reasons Wildlife Welfare, Inc. – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation organization in Apex, NC – exclusively endorses Triangle Wildlife Removal as the only wildlife removal company they recommend.

Damage repair. Raccoons cause more structural damage than most other nuisance species because of their size and dexterity. Repair work after a raccoon intrusion commonly includes replacing torn or damaged soffit panels, fascia boards, roof vent covers, gable vent screening, shingle repair, and chimney cap installation. Triangle Wildlife Removal handles the repair work in-house rather than requiring the homeowner to hire a separate contractor.

Attic restoration. Raccoon latrines (communal defecation sites) in attics create serious contamination. Raccoon feces carry Baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, whose eggs can survive in the environment for years and are not destroyed by standard disinfectants. Restoration includes removal of all contaminated insulation, sanitization of affected surfaces, ectoparasite treatment, installation of new insulation, and odor neutralization.

Exclusion and animal proofing. After the raccoon is removed and repairs are made, the entire structure is evaluated for other vulnerable entry points. Raccoons that have entered a building once will attempt to return, and other raccoons may follow the same scent trails to the same access points. All identified vulnerabilities are sealed with materials strong enough to resist raccoon re-entry – raccoons can tear through lightweight screening and thin aluminum, so commercial-grade materials are required.

Breeding Season and Timing

Gestation lasts 63 to 65 days. A female that breeds in February will have her litter in April or May. Kits are weaned by 12 to 16 weeks and stay with the mother through their first fall and winter. The spring and early summer months produce the highest volume of raccoon removal calls because that is when females with litters are occupying attics, chimneys, and enclosed porch spaces.

Signs You Have a Raccoon Problem

Visible damage at the roofline. Torn soffit panels, pulled-back fascia boards, ripped shingles, or a dislodged vent cover. Raccoon damage is typically obvious from the ground because of the animal’s size and strength.

Heavy thumping in the attic. Raccoon footfalls are distinctly heavier and slower than squirrel or rat activity. It sounds like a person walking across the joists, not a small animal scurrying.

Vocal sounds. Chittering, growling, and the high-pitched crying of kits. Kit vocalizations are often mistaken for birds.

Large droppings in concentrated areas. Raccoon feces are roughly the size of a small dog’s droppings, dark, and tubular. They accumulate in one or two specific latrine sites rather than scattered broadly.

Tracks. Raccoon tracks are distinctive – the hind foot resembles a small human foot with five long toes. Tracks are most visible in mud, dust, or soft soil around the foundation and along the roofline.

Knocked-over garbage cans. Consistent overnight garbage raiding on the property indicates raccoon activity and is often a precursor to structural intrusion if denning opportunities exist nearby.

What to Know Before You Call

If you hear heavy movement in the attic during spring, there is a strong probability you are dealing with a female raccoon and her litter. Do not attempt to seal the entry point yourself. Closing off the entry while the animals are inside – especially a mother and her young – creates a more severe problem than the one you started with. Trapped raccoons will cause extensive damage trying to escape, and kits left behind without the mother will die inside the structure.

Because raccoons are a rabies vector species, do not attempt to handle or approach a raccoon. If a raccoon appears sick, disoriented, or unusually aggressive, contact your local animal control or the NCWRC Helpline rather than approaching the animal.

All raccoon removal, damage repair, and exclusion work performed by Triangle Wildlife Removal is backed by a limited lifetime warranty on sealed entry points.