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Raccoon Removal & Control

 

Professional Raccoon Removal in Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin

Raccoons can turn a small opening in your roofline, soffit, or chimney into access to your home. Once inside, they may establish a den, damage insulation and building materials, and leave behind waste and nesting material.

 

Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention provides professional raccoon removal and exclusion for homeowners dealing with raccoons in attics, chimneys, crawl spaces, and other areas of the home.

 

Have a raccoon in or around your home? Contact us to schedule an inspection.

 

Is a Raccoon Getting Into Your Home?

Raccoon activity can be easy to recognize once you know what to look for.

 

Common signs include:

  • Heavy scratching, walking, or thumping sounds in the attic

  • Raccoons seen on the roof or around the chimney

  • Damaged soffits, fascia, roof vents, or other roofline areas

  • An opening or damaged section of the exterior

  • Disturbed attic insulation or nesting material

  • Raccoon droppings or strong odors

  • Repeated nighttime activity around the home

 

If you are hearing heavy movement overhead, there may be more than one animal present, particularly when raccoons are raising young.

 

Raccoons in the Attic

Attics provide raccoons with a protected, dry location to establish a den.

 

A raccoon may enter through a damaged soffit, roof vent, chimney, or another weakness in the roofline. Once inside, it can disturb insulation, damage building materials, and contaminate the area with feces and urine.

 

If you suspect a raccoon is inside your attic, don't simply close the opening. There may still be an animal inside, and during the denning season there may also be dependent young.

 

A professional inspection can determine:

  • Where the raccoon is entering

  • Whether the entry point is currently active

  • Where the animal is accessing the structure

  • Whether young may be present

  • What damage has occurred

  • What steps are needed to resolve the problem

 

Learn more about raccoons: Visit our Raccoon Species Profile to learn about raccoon behavior, breeding, activity, entry points, and other useful information.

 

Common Raccoon Entry Points

Raccoons are strong climbers and can take advantage of weaknesses high on a home.

 

Soffits & Fascia

Loose or damaged soffit and fascia can provide direct access to attic areas.

 

Roof Vents

Damaged or improperly protected vents can become entry points.

 

Chimneys

Raccoons may investigate or enter open chimneys when looking for protected areas.

 

Roof Intersections

Areas where rooflines meet can develop gaps that may be difficult to notice from the ground.

 

Gable & Attic Vents

Damaged screens or vents can allow wildlife to enter the attic.

 

Damaged Roofing

Missing or damaged roofing materials can create access to areas beneath the roof.

 

Raccoons With Young

One of the most important considerations during raccoon removal is determining whether dependent young are present. A mother raccoon may enter an attic or other protected area because it provides a secure location for raising young.

Simply sealing an active opening without determining what is inside can separate a mother from her young and create additional problems. That's why we inspect the situation before determining the appropriate removal and exclusion approach.

 

Raccoon Damage

Raccoons can cause significant damage when they remain inside a structure.

 

Potential problems include:

  • Damaged insulation

  • Torn or displaced building materials

  • Damaged soffits and fascia

  • Roof and vent damage

  • Contaminated attic areas

  • Feces and urine accumulation

  • Damage caused by nesting activity

 

Addressing the problem early can help limit additional damage and make the removal and repair process more straightforward.

 

How We Handle Raccoon Problems

1. Inspect

We identify the likely entry point, look for evidence of current activity, inspect accessible areas, and determine whether young may be present.

 

2. Remove

We determine the appropriate wildlife-control method based on the situation, location, and activity present.

 

3. Exclude

Once the situation has been resolved, the entry point can be secured to prevent the raccoon from returning.

 

4. Repair & Sanitize

If the raccoon has damaged or contaminated the structure, additional repair, cleanup, or sanitation may be recommended.

 

5. Prevent

We identify other vulnerabilities that could allow wildlife to enter in the future and recommend appropriate preventative measures.

 

What Should You Do If You Hear a Raccoon?

If you suspect a raccoon is inside your home:

-Don't seal the opening immediately.

-Don't attempt to remove the animal yourself.

-Don't assume the animal will leave on its own.

-Instead, have the situation inspected so the entry point, activity, and possibility of young can be properly evaluated.

 

Early intervention can help limit damage and prevent the problem from becoming more difficult to resolve.

 

Raccoon Removal Service Areas

Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention provides raccoon removal and exclusion throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

 

We commonly service communities throughout:

McHenry County • Lake County • Northwest Cook County • Boone County • Kenosha County • Walworth County

For more information, visit our Service Areas page to see the communities we commonly serve.

 

If you don't see your town listed, contact us anyway. We service additional surrounding communities.

 

Have a Raccoon Problem?

Whether you're hearing an animal in the attic, finding evidence of raccoon activity, or have discovered an entry point into your home, the first step is determining exactly what's happening.

 

Contact Dennison Wildlife Control & Prevention to schedule a professional raccoon inspection.

Wildlife Removal • Exclusion • Damage Repair • Sanitation • Prevention

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