How Much Does Raccoon Removal Cost?

Average Raccoon Removal Cost

Raccoon Removal Prices

To remove raccoons, you’ll need traps, and you can also opt for added barriers to prevent them from returning.

• Cages: For trapping, expect to spend $50 to $150 for a cage.

• Bait: To lure the raccoons into the live-trapping cages, you’ll need bait. You can use fruit or sugar-coated vegetables, which will cost a few dollars total, or you can buy manufactured raccoon bait for $10 to $20.

• Barriers: You can buy objects that deter climbing or protect your chimney and roof vents. These devices cost $10 for simple spikes or up to $200 for large animal barriers. Typically, barriers and installation will cost $10 to $20 per linear foot.

Raccoon Removal Cost by Type

The most common raccoon removal types are live cage-trapping and manual removal. While there are other types of deadly traps and poisons, these options are inhumane and should not be used.

• Cage Traps: This involves using bait to lure a raccoon into a cage, which will close and trap the animal once it has entered. Cages cost $50 to $150, and removal can cost up to $350 per raccoon.

• Manual Removal: Manual removal can cost $350 to $600 per raccoon. This is typically used to safely remove raccoon families and nests.

Raccoon Removal Cost Factors

From inspections to cleanup, there are several factors of the raccoon removal process to consider.

Inspection Costs

Inspections will cost about $100. A professional will need to assess the issue first to determine how many raccoons to remove, if there are nests, or any damage to repair afterward.

Raccoon Location

A raccoon hanging out around your yard can be easier to catch than one that has built a nest in your attic or beneath your porch.

• Yard: Professional removal of raccoons from your yard will cost about $200 to $300.

• Attic: Capturing a raccoon in an attic can be dangerous, even for professionals. The cost for this service ranges from $200 to $750, with the higher cost factoring in the removal of baby raccoons.

• Roof: Capturing a raccoon on a roof is particularly risky, and if you don’t remove them quickly, they can cause a lot of expensive roof damage. Professional removal of raccoons from your roof will cost $300 to $700.

• Chimney: Pregnant raccoons will seek out chimneys to build their nests and give birth. But once they make this their home, a professional will have to use special traps to lure and collect the mother from this narrow space, plus manual removal of the babies and nest. Expect to spend around $1,000, with $300 to $500 to remove the mother and another $600 to $700 to manually remove the babies.

Removal Frequency

For persistent pests, you might need to hire a local animal removal professional to assess your property regularly for signs of raccoons.

• One-time service: $350-$600

• Quarterly service: about $200 each quarter

• Monthly service: about $50 each month

Dead Raccoon Removal

Professional removal for dead raccoons costs around $250 per raccoon. Unfortunately, sometimes a raccoon can make your home its own and then die, which causes a host of issues. It could attract more pests, it could have diseases, and the smell will come into your home.

Nest Removal

Removing a nest has to be done manually by a professional, and this service will cost about $500 per nest.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

Cleaning and sanitizing costs are around $200 to $500. Because raccoons can carry pathogens and diseases, a professional will clean and sanitize the area after the raccoons are removed.

Damage Repair

Repairing damage from raccoons will cost about $100 to $1,000, depending on the repairs you need. Raccoons can cause damage to your yard, roof, and attic. You might need to have your drywall, insulation, HVAC system, or roof tiles fixed. Check with your home insurance, as it might cover repairs from raccoon-related damage.

Cost to Remove Raccoons Yourself

Raccoons can carry rabies, roundworm, and other parasites, so you’ll need to hire a local raccoon removal professional to take care of this issue. Plus, many states have laws around the trapping, relocating, and removal of raccoons, and you could face penalties for incorrectly handling this pest. Raccoons may attack you if you try to remove them yourself, which may result in injury. It’s never recommended to handle raccoon removal on your own.

DIY vs. Hire a Raccoon Removal Pro

You can buy a trap for $30 to $150, but you might spend a fortune in penalty fines for mishandling raccoons based on local laws. You might be eligible for free raccoon removal by professionals at your local Animal Control Department.

Hiring a local pest control professional will cost an average of $350 to $600, but the professional will be able to handle the problem quickly and help prevent the pests from returning to your home. A professional can also help with cleanup, sanitation, and repairs after the raccoons are removed.

FAQs

How do I know if I have raccoons?

Raccoons are nocturnal mammals, which means they are awake and active at night. Those aren’t ghosts rummaging around the attic that you hear; it’s probably a mother raccoon looking to nest. Noises in the walls or chimney are also a clue that you have raccoons in your home.

You might also notice raccoon feces around your property or damage to your walls or roof. If you have a family of raccoons, eventually at least one will die. The smell will come into your home.

Why do I need to remove raccoons?

Aside from hearing some scratching and crawling noises all through the night, raccoons can carry some particularly nasty zoonotic diseases. These diseases can pass from animal to human. They can also cause a lot of damage to your home, from tearing up drywall and insulation to ruining roof tiles.

How do raccoons get into my home?

Raccoons can enter your home through any small entry point. They might reach your roof and attic by climbing a nearby tree, or they can come in through a vent. Particularly determined raccoons can even tear a hole in your walls. They are hoping to find someplace warm, dry, and quiet to nest.

How can I deter raccoons from entering my home?

You can hire a professional for barrier installation, which will cost $10 to $20 per linear foot. These barriers can prevent raccoons from getting into your chimney, attic, porch, or other openings throughout your home.

To deter raccoons from entering your home, you can also try light or smell deterrents, although these have a low success rate. Raccoons do not like the smell of garlic, peppermint, hot peppers, or onions.