Raccoons Trying to Get in the House:
What to Do

If you hear scratching in the ceiling, see torn insulation, or find trash spread across the yard, you are dealing with raccoons trying to get into the house through an opening they can exploit fast. These animals are strong, persistent, and smart enough to work weak roof edges, vents, soffits, and pet doors until they find a way in. The good news is that you can stop them by sealing the right gaps, removing attractants, and dealing with any nest site before more damage spreads.

How Raccoons Get Into a House

Entry points they use most

Raccoons get in where building materials are weak, loose, or easy to pry back. The most common access points are roof vents, damaged soffits, attic fan covers, chimneys, loose fascia, broken gable vents, and uncapped openings around plumbing or utility lines. They also use pet doors and garage gaps when food is nearby. If a raccoon can fit its head into a gap, it can work the rest of its body through it.

Why walls and attics are so vulnerable

Yes, raccoons can get in your walls. They enter the attic first, then move into wall voids through gaps around plumbing, wiring, or damaged drywall. Once inside, they use insulation for nesting and can shred ductwork, wiring, and vapor barriers. When a wall sounds thumpy at night or you hear movement above the ceiling, treat it as an active entry problem, not a noise nuisance.

Signs Raccoons Are Already Inside

The clearest signs are heavy footfalls at night, fast scrambling in the attic, ripped insulation, and strong urine odor. Outside, look for scattered garbage, torn roof shingles, bent metal vent covers, and muddy tracks on decks, fences, or trash can lids. If a mother raccoon is inside, you may also hear repeated chirping or chattering from a nest area.

Check at dusk with a flashlight from the ground. Look for an opening with fresh rub marks, scratched paint, or droppings below it. Do not open attic access or crawl into a space until you know whether animals are inside, because a cornered raccoon can defend itself aggressively.

How to Get Rid of Raccoons in the Walls

Remove the animal first, then seal the space

If you are asking how to get rid of raccoons in the walls, start by finding the active entry point and confirming whether the animal is inside the wall or just traveling through the attic. Set a bright work light near the suspected opening and watch for exit activity after dark. Do not block a hole until you know every animal has left, because sealing live raccoons into a wall creates a bigger mess and worse odor.

Do this in order

1. Stop feeding, trash access, and pet food access immediately.
2. Identify the main entry hole and any secondary openings.
3. Install a one-way exclusion device or have the animal removed by a licensed wildlife pro.
4. Wait for full exit activity, including juveniles if a den is present.
5. Seal all openings with heavy-gauge hardware cloth, metal flashing, or vent covers.
6. Replace soiled insulation and disinfect the area after removal.

If you hear babies, do not force the mother out by sealing the opening early. A den with young requires direct removal or a documented one-way setup that accounts for every animal inside.

How to Keep Raccoons Out of the House

Seal the structure with raccoon-proof materials

Use 16 gauge metal mesh or hardware cloth for openings, not plastic or thin aluminum screening. Secure vent covers with screws, not staples, and close gaps larger than 2 inches with metal flashing or mortar where appropriate. On roof edges, repair lifted shingles, loose fascia, and rotted soffit boards before the next season of activity. Any access point that can flex or peel back is not secure enough.

Make the house less attractive

Raccoons come close to homes for food first. Keep trash in lidded cans with tight fitting lids, move bins into a garage or shed at night, and clean grease off grills after use. Pick ripe fruit, remove fallen produce, and feed pets indoors. Motion lights help, but they work best when paired with exclusion and garbage control. A bright yard with open trash still invites repeat visits.

Trash, Yard, and Deck Protection

Trash is one of the fastest ways to draw raccoons to your property. Use animal-resistant bins with locking lids or bungee straps, and store cans where they cannot be tipped over. On collection night, place trash out as late as possible. If raccoons are tipping bins regularly, add a strap-down frame or move cans into a locked area.

In the yard, remove outdoor pet bowls, bird seed spills, and compost scraps. Cover compost with a rigid lid. Keep brush piles trimmed back, and close off decks and crawl spaces with secure lattice or vented skirting that screws into framing. These steps reduce cover and feeding spots, which cuts down the pressure on the house itself.

When to Call a Wildlife Removal Professional

Call a professional when you suspect babies, the entry point is high on the roof, the animal is inside a wall cavity, or the raccoon acts bold in daylight. A pro can inspect the structure, confirm all access points, remove the animal legally, and repair exclusion points so the problem does not return. If there is attic feces, heavy contamination, or chewed wiring, professional cleanup is the safer choice.

Do not use poison, glue traps, or improvised poisons. They create odor problems, leave dead animals in inaccessible voids, and put pets and people at risk. Direct exclusion and structural repair solve the problem cleanly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can raccoons get in your walls?

Yes. They enter through roof or attic access points and move into wall voids through gaps around plumbing, wiring, or damaged interior openings. If you hear scratching inside a wall at night, treat it as a serious entry or nesting issue.

How can raccoons get into your house?

They use weak points like attic vents, soffits, roof edges, chimneys, garage gaps, and pet doors. They need only a small opening to start, then widen it with claws and body weight. Trash, pet food, and shelter close to the house increase the chance they keep trying.

What is the fastest way to keep raccoons out of the house?

Remove food sources, secure trash, and seal every exterior opening with metal materials. If a raccoon is already inside, remove it first, then close the structure. Prevention only works when the animal is not trapped inside.