Professional raccoon removal in the US typically costs about $300 to $700 for a straightforward trapping job, and $500 to $1,500 or more when raccoons are living in an attic, chimney or crawl space, especially with babies. Sealing the entry points (exclusion) and repairing damage often adds $300 to $2,000, and full attic cleanup and insulation replacement after a long infestation can run several thousand dollars more. Your total depends on where the animals are, how many there are, whether young are present, how much damage they’ve done, and local wildlife rules. Below is a breakdown of each service, the factors that move the price, and how to compare quotes from raccoon removal companies.
In this guide
Key Takeaways
- Simple yard or under-deck trapping: commonly $300–$700 total.
- Attic, wall or chimney removal: commonly $500–$1,500+, more with a mother and kits.
- Exclusion and repairs: $300–$2,000+ depending on the number and type of entry points.
- Cleanup and decontamination: from a few hundred dollars for a latrine to several thousand for full attic insulation replacement.
- Relocating trapped wildlife is restricted or illegal without a permit in many states, which is one reason pros are worth hiring.
Raccoon Removal Cost Breakdown
Wildlife companies price raccoon jobs in different ways. Some charge a flat package covering inspection, trapping and exclusion; others charge an inspection fee, a trap setup fee, a per-animal fee and separate repair costs. The table below shows typical US ranges for each component. Prices vary considerably by region, so use them to judge whether a quote is in the normal range rather than as fixed rates.
| Service | Typical range | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection | $0–$300 | Finding entry points, signs, animal count; often credited toward the job |
| Trap setup and monitoring | $150–$500 | Placing live traps, daily checks over several days |
| Per-animal removal | $75–$250 each | Removing each captured raccoon |
| One-way door installation | $150–$400 | Lets raccoons exit but not return |
| Baby raccoon (kit) removal | $200–$600 added | Hand removal of kits, often reuniting with mother |
| Chimney removal | $300–$800 | Removing animals from a flue or smoke shelf |
| Chimney cap | $150–$500 installed | Secure, code-compliant cap or spark arrester |
| Exclusion and entry repairs | $300–$2,000+ | Sealing roof vents, soffits, fascia, gable vents, crawl spaces |
| Latrine cleanup | $200–$600 | Removing feces and contaminated material, sanitizing |
| Attic decontamination and insulation | $1,000–$5,000+ | Removing soiled insulation, sanitizing, reinsulating |
Typical Project Totals
- Raccoon raiding trash or living under a deck or shed: about $300–$700 for trapping, plus $200–$800 if you want the area screened off with buried mesh.
- Single raccoon in an attic: about $500–$1,200 including a one-way door or trapping and sealing the main entry.
- Mother with kits in an attic: about $800–$1,800, since young must be found and removed by hand.
- Long-term infestation with damage: $2,000–$7,000+ once roof repairs, insulation removal and decontamination are included.
Signs You Have Raccoons (Not Squirrels or Rats)
Correct identification affects both the method and the price, so it’s worth knowing what to look for before calling. Raccoon signs include:
- Heavy thumping or walking sounds in the attic, mostly at dusk, overnight and just before dawn. Squirrels are lighter and active in daytime; rats make quick scurrying sounds.
- Large openings: torn roof vents, pulled-back shingles or fascia, or damaged soffits several inches across, often at roof corners.
- Tracks: hand-like prints with five long toes, roughly 2–3 inches long.
- Latrines: piles of dark, tubular droppings in one spot, on roofs, decks, attic insulation or at the base of trees.
- Chirping or whimpering in spring, which usually means kits.
- Yard damage: overturned trash cans, pulled-down sweet corn and turf rolled back in strips as raccoons hunt grubs.
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How Professionals Remove Raccoons
Understanding the methods helps you read a quote. Most jobs use one or more of these approaches:
- Live trapping: cage traps baited and set near the entry or travel route, checked at least daily. Often used for yard animals or when an entry can’t be fitted with a door.
- One-way exclusion doors: mounted over the main entry so raccoons leave to feed and can’t get back in. Usually avoided in spring unless kits have been located, to prevent orphaning.
- Hand removal: technicians enter the attic or wall to retrieve kits, sometimes using a camera to locate them.
- Eviction aids: some operators use light, noise or odor in the attic to encourage a mother to move her young before sealing.
A complete job ends with sealing every opening with heavy-gauge steel mesh or sheet metal, then confirming no animals remain. If a quote doesn’t mention exclusion, ask why.
What Affects Raccoon Removal Cost
Location of the Raccoons
Raccoons in the open yard, under a porch or in a shed are the cheapest to deal with. Attics, wall voids and chimneys cost more because access is harder, ladders and roof work are involved, and the risk of damage and orphaned young is higher. University of California IPM notes that for raccoons nesting in a chimney, professional removal is often the only effective option.
Baby Raccoons
Raccoons usually give birth in spring, generally April or May, with litters averaging around four. A female living in your attic in spring very likely has young. Trapping only the mother leaves kits to starve and die in your walls, creating odor problems and a second removal job. Ethical companies locate and remove the kits by hand, often placing them in a warming box outside so the mother can move them, then seal the entry once the family is gone. This takes more labor and sometimes several visits.
Number of Animals and Entry Points
Per-animal pricing adds up with a family, and every entry point needs to be sealed. Raccoons are strong: UC IPM describes females ripping off shingles, fascia boards and rooftop ventilators to reach attics. A house with several damaged vents and soffit gaps costs far more to exclude than one torn vent cover.
Damage and Contamination
Raccoons tear up attic insulation, chew wiring and ductwork, and use latrine sites that contaminate insulation and drywall. Raccoon feces can carry roundworm eggs that are dangerous to people, particularly young children, if ingested or inhaled. Raccoons can also carry rabies. Professional cleanup with protective equipment, removal of soiled material and sanitizing is the safe approach, and it’s the part of the bill that can grow largest after a long infestation.
Region, Season and Urgency
Labor rates differ widely between rural and metro areas. Spring baby season is busiest for wildlife companies. Emergency, after-hours or weekend calls, such as a raccoon inside the living space, usually carry a surcharge.
Local Wildlife Laws
Raccoon rules vary by state and sometimes by county. In California, for example, UC IPM notes that relocating raccoons is prohibited without written permission from the state wildlife department. Many states restrict where trapped raccoons can be released or require that they be euthanized humanely, and some require licenses for trapping on another person’s property. Licensed operators handle this compliance, which affects how they price disposal.
DIY Raccoon Control: What You Can Do Yourself
You can prevent a lot of raccoon problems without paying anyone, and some homeowners handle yard-only problems themselves where state law allows. Practical steps:
- Remove food: secure trash cans with locking lids or straps, bring pet food in at night, clean up fallen fruit and spilled bird seed, and use enclosed compost bins.
- Screen under decks and sheds: UC IPM recommends 1/4- or 1/3-inch galvanized hardware mesh, buried at least 6 inches deep and extended 12 inches outward underground.
- Cap the chimney with a secure, code-compliant cap after confirming no animals are inside.
- Trim tree limbs back several feet from the roofline to cut off easy roof access.
- Protect gardens: a single electrified wire about 8 inches above ground and 8 inches out from a fence can make a garden fence raccoon-resistant, per UC IPM.
Attic and chimney removals, anything involving young, and any raccoon acting sick (staggering, unusually tame or aggressive in daylight) are jobs for licensed professionals. Never handle a raccoon or kits with bare hands, and keep pets vaccinated against rabies and distemper.
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Raccoon Removal vs Other Wildlife
Raccoon jobs tend to cost more than squirrel or opossum removal because raccoons are larger, stronger, cause more structural damage and carry significant disease concerns, but less than complex bat exclusions. Our general guide to wildlife removal costs compares species. If rodents are drawing predators to your property, see how to keep rats out of your yard.
How to Compare Raccoon Removal Quotes
- Confirm the company is licensed for nuisance wildlife control in your state and carries liability insurance.
- Ask whether the price is a package or itemized, and what triggers extra charges, such as additional animals or return visits.
- Ask how they handle babies and what happens to trapped animals.
- Get exclusion work described in writing: which openings, what materials (heavy-gauge steel mesh, not plastic or foam alone).
- Ask about a warranty on exclusion work; reputable companies often guarantee sealed entry points for a period.
- Check whether cleanup and insulation are included or quoted separately.
- Ask whether your homeowner’s insurance might cover damage repairs; policies vary.
Low trapping-only quotes can be misleading if they skip exclusion, because another raccoon will move into an open attic. The value is in sealing the house. For broader advice on managing animals around your home and garden, visit our pest control guide.
Source: University of California Statewide IPM Program, Raccoons: Home and Landscape (damage signs, exclusion specifications, relocation rules, disease risks and breeding season).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get rid of raccoons in the attic?
Typically about $500–$1,500, more if a mother and kits are present or if the job includes significant exclusion repairs, insulation removal and decontamination.
Does homeowners insurance cover raccoon removal?
Removal itself is usually not covered, but some policies cover sudden damage caused by wildlife. Coverage varies widely, so check your policy and ask your agent before work starts.
Can I trap and relocate a raccoon myself?
It depends on your state. Many states restrict or ban relocating wildlife without a permit, and some require a license to trap. Check with your state wildlife agency first.
How long does raccoon removal take?
Trapping often takes a few days to a week of monitoring. One-way doors work over several nights. Exclusion repairs usually take a day, and cleanup can add another day or more.
Are raccoon droppings dangerous?
Yes. Raccoon feces can carry roundworm eggs that are harmful to people, especially young children. Don’t clean latrines without protective equipment; professional cleanup is recommended.
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