7 Signs You Have Raccoons in the Attic (and What to Do Next)
Raccoons are the number one wildlife call we get from Indianapolis to Fort Wayne every spring and fall. They're strong, smart and persistent — and once a female picks your attic to raise kits, she'll tear through almost anything to get back in. Here's how to know it's raccoons and not squirrels or mice, and what a proper raccoon removal job looks like.
1. Heavy thumping at night
Squirrels scamper at dawn and dusk. Mice scratch lightly. Raccoons are big — 15 to 25 pounds — so you'll hear slow, heavy walking and thumps after dark, often right above bedrooms.
2. Torn soffits, fascia or roof vents
Raccoons rip open aluminum soffit panels, pull up shingles at roof returns and bend roof-vent covers. If you see a gaping hole rather than a small chewed one, think raccoon.
3. Droppings on the roof or deck
Raccoons use “latrines” — the same spot repeatedly. Piles of dark droppings on a flat roof, deck or under a tree are a strong sign. Never handle them; raccoon roundworm eggs can be dangerous.
4. Chittering or crying sounds
Baby raccoons make a chirping, crying noise that's often mistaken for birds. If you hear it in March through June, there is almost certainly a litter in the attic.
5. Muddy paw prints and smudges
Look for hand-shaped prints on downspouts, siding and the top of fences leading to the roofline.
6. Trash cans, bird feeders and pet food raided
A raccoon that's found food at your house will look for shelter there too.
7. Insulation pulled down or compressed
A quick look in the attic hatch will show matted insulation trails, torn ductwork and sometimes a nest.
Why DIY raccoon removal usually fails
Trapping the adult and sealing the hole in April leaves kits inside to die in the walls — which means a dead animal smell removal call two weeks later. Raccoons also carry rabies, roundworm and leptospirosis. Indiana has rules about handling nuisance wildlife, so professional removal is safer and simpler.
What professional raccoon removal includes
- Inspection of the attic and the entire roofline to find every entry point.
- Check for a litter; kits are removed by hand and reunited with the mother where possible.
- Humane trapping or one-way door at the main entry.
- Heavy-gauge repair of the entry, chimney cap and vent screening — the wildlife exclusion step that stops the next raccoon.
- Optional attic sanitizing and insulation replacement.
Hearing thumps tonight? We offer 24 hour raccoon removal across Indiana, including raccoon removal in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville and Carmel. Call (833) 659-0727.