Raccoon Removal From Attics & Chimney's
Michigan Wildlife Solutions Raccoon Control
Raccoon Infestation
In Michigan we offer wild animal control services such as How to Get Rid of Raccoons: Raccoon Removal, raccoon control, and raccoon damage control; including attic decontamination and insulation removal.
Have you been hearing scratching sounds, loud banging, or walking around in the walls or attic of your home or business in Michigan? If so, you may have a raccoon problem!
Identifying if You Have a Raccoon Problem
Raccoons are probably the most recognized animal in Michigan wildlife. Black and brown, black around their eyes, and a ringed tail distinguish them from all other wildlife. Raccoons are great climbers and are found in dumpsters, sheds, garages, factories, chimneys, and house attics. They are primarily scavengers in the cities looking through dumpsters and garbage cans for food. They will also eat fish and other small wildlife. Raccoons look for areas in your attic or chimney to build their dens, oftentimes to have their young. You can identify entry points to the attic or chimney by large openings in the roof line, open canned vents, hanging soffits, or no chimney cap.
How to Identify Raccoon's
Raccoon's nocturnal animals are mostly active during the night. They will come out around dusk or right at dark to forage through dumpsters and garbage cans looking for food. During colder climates in Michigan, the raccoons will stay close to their den. However, raccoons do not hibernate and will come out during warmer winter nights. Raccoons often bread during January and February in preparation to have their young around the end of March or early April.
Common Reasons for Raccoon Removal and Control
Raccoons will enter your Michigan home or businesses in order to find an area to make their den. Raccoon nesting areas like hollowed-out treas are consistently being destroyed. It really not their fault they enter your home. Michigan Wildlife Solutions can remove raccoons from your Michigan home by trapping and handling them with thick gloves.
Raccoon Damage: Damage Control and Prevention
Just like any wildlife in your home or attic, they will cause damage. Whether that is chewing on wires, ripping up insulation, or feces and urine throughout the attic this can all be prevented and repaired. Trimming back trees at least 3 feet from the house will keep animals from getting onto your roof. Flashing around poles, chimney caps, and roof vent caps will all prevent raccoon entry. If you are unfortunate to have raccoons enter your MI home and damages occur, Michigan Wildlife Solutions can decontaminate your attic by removing the droppings and damaged insulation.
Nuisance Problems: raccoons are loud walking around in attics. They destroy insulation and defecate all over the attic. They carry many diseases like rabies, and distemper, and their feces carry eggs of roundworms which can hatch and become harmful to humans. Whenever there are raccoons in the attic it is always recommended to have it restored and cleaned.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons?
Once raccoons are in your home they do great damage. Raccoon's should be removed or controlled from your home by trapping in live traps. Once trapped from your home its recommended to relocate the raccoon at least 20-30 miles away within the County, MI to prevent the spread of diseases. Raccoon's can also be removed by handling with thick gloves or by a singe pole catch noose. Only recommended from experienced nuisance wildlife control operators. Our Most Recent Raccoon Removal job/story in Michigan We recently received a call about a raccoon living in the rafters of the Howell, MI Lowe's garden center located right on Grand River Ave. The trap above is the raccoon we removed with a catch noose. We set up our 28 foot ladder against the wall and grabbed the female raccoon from the rafters and put it in a live trap. Ironically enough we used a trap we bought from the Lowe's in Lansing, MI earlier that day.
Are you kept up during the night because of loud thumping? You probably have a raccoon or raccoon living in your attic. The most common problem we come across for raccoon problems is raccoons damaging the attic. You may hear scratching, scampering, or walking noises above you at night and sometimes even during the day. It's not always known for sure there is a raccoon living in the attic, but most of the noises explained are ultimately signs of raccoons. Most of the time we receive calls the first instinct someone on the other end has is raccoons. When there is a raccoon in your attic it will be the loudest of sounds compared to all other nuisance wildlife. Rodents, birds, bats, and other nocturnal wildlife sounds will be much different than that of a raccoon.
Raccoons are generally trapped overnight or removed onsite. Trapping raccoons consists of finding the entry point and strategically setting the traps. Once we locate the entry point we can guide the raccoons into the traps with baits and lures. Once the animals are trapped we will relocate them back into their natural environment. It's not always as simple as trapping the nuisance raccoons, sometimes they have litters of babies. Litters of raccoon pups or kittens are not always easy to locate. We once removed a whole litter of baby raccoons, but a day later got a call back from a customer saying the babies were still there. When we returned we found one of the baby raccoons down in a wall cavity. The only way to remove this little guy was to allow him to bite onto a glove and pull him up through the wall.
DO NOT poison raccoons or use antifreeze to get rid of them. In retrospect, this will work to kill the raccoon and get rid of them, but it will not solve your attic raccoon problem. dead raccoons in your attic or wall will cause a decaying animal that you may not be able to find. With dead animals come maggots which lead to flies. Not to mention it's very cruel to animals, because they die a very painful death. Not humane to say the least.
Signs of a Raccoon Living in Your Attic
Besides the annoyance of loud noises throughout the night, raccoons are often spotted entering the attic or clawing at the roof. Birds, bats, and other nuisance animals will often use pre-existing openings to enter your attic. Raccoons are much different and oftentimes destructive. When trees are cut down and other natural habitats are destroyed raccoons need somewhere to live. Raccoons will tear into your roof line, open up soffit vents, rip open canned vents, and force their way into the attic through gable vents. Contrary to most people's beliefs it doesn't take much of an opening for raccoons to enter your attic. If they can squeeze their tiny little head into a hole, then most likely their body will follow. Raccoons are very strong animals and can destroy many structures.
Raccoon's Are Destructive and Cause Damage
Once the raccoons have made their way into your attic the damage really begins. The worst thing about having raccoons in your attic is the destruction they cause. Raccoons will roll up or push aside insulation throughout your attic to make bedding that is comfortable for them and often their litter. During March and April, raccoons will have a litter of usually 3-6 pups. Raccoons also use your attic for a toilet. They know no better where and where not to go. Urine and raccoon feces will flood your attic making an awful odor throughout your home. Raccoon feces contain the egg of ringworm which can be harmful to humans. Attic restoration is very important after having raccoons or any critters for that matter in your attic. Keep in mind most homeowners insurance companies will help cover your restoration cost which can sometimes be very expensive.
What About Raccoons Living in a Chimney?
Raccoons get in chimney stacks also. Some of the exact same principles, as described below, apply to raccoons in chimneys. Nonetheless, odor deterrents are a lot more effective because of the concentrated location. DO NOT START A FIRE if you have raccoons in the chimney - you'd have to open the damper to let the smoke out, as well as they will certainly get in the fireplace as opposed to climbing up out. Even if they don't enter your house or fireplace, you will certainly bring pests alive as well as obtain a hideous odor that will certainly last a very long time. Numerous specialist wild animal elimination experts have special raccoons in chimney removal systems if odor deterrents do not function.
Importance of Raccoon Removal
Raccoons will keep breading and returning with more and more numbers if not taken care of as soon as possible. Damages can be controlled if taken care of right away, but if you allow generations of raccoons to return the damages will be greater over time. If you call us to have your raccoons trapped and relocated that is the first step towards getting rid of raccoons and keeping them out. As mentioned above attic restoration and decontamination is a must when dealing with raccoons. Not only do raccoons carry all sorts of diseases, but the scent of the urine and feces will also keep other raccoon families to come back. Unlike most wildlife raccoons are not fearful or territorial of other raccoons in the wild. They smell the sent and join the families.
Raccoon Prevention
Easier said than done, but there are things you can try to keep raccoons away. keeping your dog food out of reach and in a secure place is a good measure to keep them out of your attic and out of your garage. Keeping garbage in a secure trash can with a lid is a way to keep them from getting into your garbage. No food source typically means no raccoon problem. There are even raccoon repellents and eviction solutions to try. With this said there really is no permanent way to keep raccoons off your property and even out of the attic. The best solution is to recognize the problem as soon as possible to get it taken care of right away.
Our Most Recent Raccoon Removal Jobs and Stories
How Much Does it Cost to Get Rid of Raccons?
Raccoon trapping is the best method to get rid of them. Charging for raccoon trapping is much like trapping opossums, squirrels, or skunks. We typically charge a flat rate fee to remove the raccoon family from your home. This is usually between $350-$700. If there is a litter we will charge for the entire litter removed, not per baby removed. Per animal cost is an old way to charge for raccoon removal. So you know the price upfront, we will give you a flat rate fee. This is the method we usually use for raccoons. This cost is usually cheaper than a per-animal removal cost. At an added cost once the raccoons are trapped and removed we can also screen off decks, screen vents, cap chimneys, or fix canned vents to keep them from returning. In some instances with female raccoons and babies, we can place raccoon eviction fluid in their nesting area to evict them. Raccoons also do a lot of damage and you may need an attic restoration estimate. For a free detailed quote click on the free price quote button.
Disclaimer: At Michigan Wildlife Solutions, LLC we reserve the right to turn some trapping jobs down. During our exclusion seasons or other busy times, we reserve the right to not take on any animal trapping jobs. Like most companies these days we are short on staff. It takes a dedicated full-time animal trapper to remove many nuisance wildlife from homes and properties. Wildlife does not operate on a 9-5 schedule during the week. We have to have someone available 7 days a week in order to provide the best and most humane services possible We also must adhere to strict laws and guidelines provided by the DNR. Please reach out to us 7 days a week to see if we have an animal trapper in your area.
We service over 14 counties in Michigan for raccoon removal projects. See our service area to see if we are in your area. Looking for a professional wildlife control expert specializing in the raccoon removal process, but not sure who to hire? Click here for information on hiring a wildlife control expert.
If you have a raccoon problem and you live in Michigan we service you. Common areas we serve throughout our service area are: Bay City, Dewitt, Eagle, Elsie, Fowler, Maple Rapids, Ovid, St. Johns, Westphalia, Bellevue, Charlotte, Dimondale, Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Mulliken, Olivet, Potterville, Sunfield, Vermontville, Waverly, Burton, Clio, Davison, Fenton, Flint, Flushing, Goodrich, Grand Blanc, Linden, Montrose, Mount Morris, Otisville, Swartz Creek,Dansville, East Lansing, Lansing, Leslie, Mason, Okemos, Stockbridge, Webberville, Williamston, Jackson, Grass Lake, Almont, Attica, Clifford,Columbiaville, Dryden, Imlay City, Lapeer, Metamora, North Branch, Otter Lake, Argentine, Brighton, Fowlerville, Hartland, Howell, Pinckney, Whitmore Lake, Armada, Center Line, Chesterfield, Clinton, Eastpointe, Memphis, Mount Clemons, New Baltimore, New Haven, Romeo, Saint Claire Shores, Shelby, Sterling Heights, Utica, Warren, Midland, Carleton, Dundee, Estral Beach, Luna Pier, Maybee, Monroe, Petersburg, South Rockwood, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Franklin, Holly, Lake Orion, Madison Heights, Milford, Novi, Oak Park, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield, Troy, Walled lake, Wixom, West Bloomfield, Wolverine Lake, Birch Run, Chesaning, Frankenmuth, Merrill, Oakley, Saginaw, St. Charles, Zilwaukee, Bancroft, Byron, Corunna, Durand, Lainsburg, Lennon, Morrice, New Lothrop, Owosso, Perry, Vernon, Akron, Caro, Cass City, Fairgrove, Gagetown, Kingston, Millingston, Reese, Unionville, Vassar, Ann Arbor, Barton Hills, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Canton, Livonia, Northville, Plymouth, Wayne, Westland. For more areas we service visit our locations page.