Raccoons are nocturnal creatures known for their intelligence, dexterity, and ability to adapt to human environments. One of the most common places where raccoons are often found is in attics. These mischievous animals can cause significant damage if they gain access to your home, leading to costly repairs and health risks.

Understanding raccoon behavior in the attic is essential for homeowners, as it can help prevent potential damage and health hazards.

Raccoons are persistent creatures, and their presence in an attic is more than just a nuisance—it can result in dangerous situations.

In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 things raccoons do in the attic, and how you can recognize and address a raccoon infestation before it gets out of hand.

Read on to learn more about why raccoons are drawn to attics and how to effectively handle the situation.

What Do Raccoons Do In The Attic? Find 10 Best Things

1. Searching for Food and Shelter

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and will often make their way into attics in search of food. Attics can offer a hidden, quiet space for these creatures to find shelter, especially during the colder months. Raccoons are attracted to anything edible, from crumbs and garbage to pet food and bird seed. Once inside, they may also look for nesting materials such as insulation or fabric.

How to prevent this: Keep all food items sealed tightly, especially in areas near the attic or garage. Block any potential entry points, such as broken vents or gaps in the roof.

2. Building Nests in the Insulation

One of the most noticeable things raccoons do in attics is create nests. They use insulation, leaves, and other soft materials they find to create a warm, comfortable space to raise their young. The damage caused by their nesting habits can be extensive, as they often tear up insulation and can even destroy electrical wiring while building their nests.

How to prevent this: Regularly inspect your attic for signs of nesting. If you find any evidence of nesting, take immediate action to have the raccoons removed safely.

3. Scratching and Scraping Noises

At night, raccoons are most active and can be heard scratching and scraping in the attic. These noises are caused by their attempts to navigate through the rafters, search for food, or move around. The sound of these nocturnal activities can be alarming and might keep you up at night.

How to prevent this: Install raccoon-proofing measures such as mesh screens or chimney caps to prevent access to your attic in the first place.

4. Chewing Through Electrical Wires

Raccoons are known for their tendency to chew on various materials, and your attic’s electrical wiring is no exception. This behavior can lead to short circuits, fires, and other electrical hazards. Their natural instincts to gnaw on objects, including cables, is a serious concern for homeowners.

How to prevent this: Have a professional inspect your attic for damage to electrical wiring. It’s essential to repair any damage promptly to avoid potential fire hazards.

5. Making a Mess of Stored Items

Raccoons are curious animals and love to explore new spaces. They might rummage through stored boxes and containers in your attic, knocking things over in the process. This can cause significant damage to personal belongings and create a mess that is time-consuming and costly to clean up.

How to prevent this: Store your belongings in sealed containers and keep them off the attic floor. This will make it harder for raccoons to reach and rummage through your items.

6. Leaving Droppings and Urine

As with any wild animal, raccoons leave behind droppings and urine as they roam through the attic. This waste can carry harmful bacteria and parasites, posing a health risk to the household. It’s important to clean up the mess promptly and sanitize the area to prevent the spread of diseases like leptospirosis and roundworm.

How to prevent this: Always wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up raccoon droppings. If you suspect a serious contamination, hire a professional wildlife removal service to clean the area.

7. Creating Entry Points

Once a raccoon finds its way into your attic, it often doesn’t stop there. These clever creatures will widen existing holes or chew through weak spots in the roof, walls, or vents to create additional entry points. Over time, a small hole can lead to a larger infestation problem if not addressed quickly.

How to prevent this: Conduct regular inspections of your attic and roof to ensure there are no gaps or cracks. Use caulking or mesh wire to seal any potential entry points.

8. Damaging Ventilation Systems

Raccoons often explore attics with the intent of finding a warm and safe environment. In doing so, they may end up damaging ventilation systems, ductwork, and even vents themselves. Their persistent scratching can pull out or misplace vents, leading to poor air circulation, higher energy costs, and possible damage to HVAC systems.

How to prevent this: Install heavy-duty covers over vents and check for damage regularly. Have a professional inspect your HVAC system for any signs of damage.

9. Spreading Parasites

Raccoons are hosts to a variety of parasites, including fleas, ticks, and mites. When they invade your attic, they can bring these parasites with them, which can spread to other areas of your home. These parasites are not only uncomfortable but can also cause allergic reactions and transmit diseases to humans and pets.

How to prevent this: Keep your attic clean and free from debris. Ensure your home is sealed tightly, and consider using professional pest control services to deal with any infestations.

10. Breeding and Raising Young

Female raccoons often enter attics to give birth and raise their young. The attic provides a quiet, undisturbed location for them to have their babies. Unfortunately, this can be a major problem for homeowners, as baby raccoons are extremely vocal, and the mother can become aggressive when she feels threatened.

How to prevent this: If you suspect a raccoon has taken up residence in your attic, it’s crucial to address the problem quickly. Consult a wildlife removal expert to handle the situation and ensure that the raccoons are safely relocated.

What Do Raccoons Do In The Attic FAQs 

1. How can I tell if I have raccoons in my attic?

Look for signs such as scratching noises, visible droppings, damaged insulation, or an entry point where raccoons could have gotten in.

2. What should I do if I hear scratching in the attic at night?

If you hear scratching at night, it’s likely raccoons or other wildlife. Call a professional wildlife removal service to inspect your attic and safely remove the animals.

3. Are raccoons dangerous to humans?

Yes, raccoons can be dangerous due to the diseases they carry, such as rabies, and their tendency to damage property.

4. How do I keep raccoons out of my attic?

Seal any holes or gaps in your roof, chimney, vents, and eaves. Install raccoon-proofing measures such as mesh wire and use deterrents to discourage them from entering.

5. Can raccoons be trapped and relocated?

Yes, it’s legal in many areas to trap and relocate raccoons, but you should always consult a professional to ensure it’s done safely and humanely.

6. How do I clean up after raccoons in my attic?

Wear protective gear and use disinfectants to clean any droppings, urine, and other debris left behind by the raccoons.

7. Can raccoons cause damage to my house?

Yes, raccoons can cause significant damage to insulation, wiring, HVAC systems, and even structural elements of your home.

Conclusion

Raccoons in the attic are more than just a nuisance—they pose significant risks to your property and health. Understanding their behavior can help you take the right steps to prevent and address an infestation.

By sealing entry points, keeping food secure, and regularly inspecting your attic, you can protect your home from these clever intruders. If you do suspect a raccoon infestation, don’t wait.

Contact a professional wildlife removal service immediately to ensure safe and humane removal. Remember, preventing an infestation is always easier and less costly than dealing with the damage afterward.

Call to Action: If you suspect raccoons are living in your attic, don’t wait for the damage to escalate. Contact a wildlife control expert today to inspect your home and provide a safe solution to remove these troublesome creature