How do I know if it is a squirrel or a raccoon in my attic?
Timing and sound are the best clues. Squirrels are mostly active in daylight, with quick scratching and running sounds. Raccoons are mostly active at night, with heavier thumping, dragging and chittering. Droppings, tracks and the size of the entry hole help a technician confirm the species.
A squirrel can get through a hole about the size of a tennis ball, and a raccoon needs more room but can widen weak boards with its hands. If the noise is at dusk or just before dawn, bats may be involved instead, which is a different job with its own timing rules. See our page on bat exclusion to compare.
Should I wait until spring is over to deal with an animal in the attic?
No. Waiting usually lets damage to insulation and wiring continue. Spring can mean young are present, so the technician checks first and adjusts the method. The goal is to resolve the situation without leaving young animals trapped, rather than to simply delay.
Raccoons and squirrels often have their young in attics and chimneys in spring, because those places are warm and dry. That is a reason to call a technician rather than to try to seal the hole yourself. Sealing a hole with an animal inside is likely to lead to damage as it tries to get out, and can leave young to die in the wall.
Why is foam or a patch not enough?
Squirrels and raccoons chew and pry. Spray foam, thin plastic, cardboard and soft wood trim are quickly torn out. Durable exclusion uses heavy metal mesh, flashing, vent covers designed for the purpose, and fasteners that cannot easily be pulled out.
Look at what is already on your roof. If a vent cover is bent at one corner, an animal has probably tested it already. The technician can show you where the repeated damage is and which materials are used to correct it.
What does exclusion cover that trapping does not?
Exclusion fixes the cause of the problem, which is the opening. Trapping removes one animal but leaves the entry available for the next. A complete job combines removal, repairing every gap, and advice on tree limbs, trash and other things that draw animals to the house.
That is also why exclusion typically involves working at height. Expect the technician to want a clear view of the roof edges, the chimney and the gable ends, and to explain what they find before work starts.
What do squirrels and raccoons damage inside a house?
They compress insulation to make nests, chew wiring and wooden framing, and leave droppings and urine that can stain ceilings and create odors. Damaged wiring is a fire concern, and a raccoon in a chimney or attic can tear ductwork. Early action limits the damage to be repaired afterward.
Squirrels gnaw constantly to keep their teeth worn down, and wires, plastic vent pipes and wood beams are all within their reach. A raccoon does damage differently: it pulls things apart. Both can enlarge an entry hole every time they come and go.
If you notice a new stain on a ceiling, a strong smell or a light flicker near the attic, tell the technician. A licensed electrician may be needed to check wiring, and the exclusion technician will tell you where the damage looks like it begins.
- Torn or compressed insulation and runs through it
- Chewed wiring or vent pipes
- Stained ceilings below the attic
- Damaged ducts and flex lines
- Droppings and nesting debris
