So my friendly neighborhood racoons decided to eat a hole in my soffit and take up residence in my attic. I saw two of them together up there tonight and a couple of nights ago my wife and I thought we heard babies, but I've been through the attic thoroughly and haven't spotted any. They do walk around on the top side of my soffit boards under the rafter ends. My roof is all hips and they can walk pretty much anywhere they want that way and I can't see anything but their backs. So there's a chance babies are hiding in there.

Over the last few days I've been keeping a radio going up there as much as my wife can stand, leaving the light on 24/7, firing a rat size 9mm flobert shotgun off sporadically and dumping the mag on my my full auto air soft gun into a tin vent to make a lot of noise.

That's not working, because they're still there. I don't want to close the hole up and trap something in there to die and stink up my house.

Tonight I spread LED Shop Lights through the attic which I will leave on 24/7. I also spread animal repellent through the areas they frequent and I'm going to keep the music going. Trying the psychological warfare approach to motivate them to leave.

Any other ideas short of getting a trap (These aren't small at all)? I don't really want to shoot or poison them, because the lady across the street feeds them like they're her pets and she's friends with my wife. Plus they might die in my attic where I can't find or get to them.

Was thinking about also spreading out some moth balls?

Maybe rigging a security system siren up to a loud piercing noise during the day when we're not there? I have a dog though, so don't want to drive her insane.

Thanks

Call a pro

Tl dr. Put a fox up there.

Why go through all that trouble when a trap would work better?

I caught a couple of raccoons with a Havahart trap and never had a problem with them again after I repaired the hole under the eave that they came through.

I had this problem last year, it was a mother and 3 little ones. What I finally tried, and luck or not, it worked, was i went into attic and set multiple Roach/Pest foggers off. Sat outside and watched the hole they entered thru, and when they came out, got up there and closed off the hole they had made. Cant guarantee it will work for you, but cheap and worth a try.

Another reason I'm leery of the trap or professional route, is I want the babies if there are any to leave with the mother. A pile of dead baby raccoons isn't going to smell much better than an adult.

smstork1007 said:

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I had this problem last year, it was a mother and 3 little ones. What I finally tried, and luck or not, it worked, was i went into attic and set multiple Roach/Pest foggers off. Sat outside and watched the hole they entered thru, and when they came out, got up there and closed off the hole they had made. Cant guarantee it will work for you, but cheap and worth a try.

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That's pretty clever. I'll file that for reference.

Earlier this year I had one (on a cold night) rip off some of my shingles and proceed to bore a hole right through the strand board roofing.

The next morning (a weekend, of course) I paid a guy to check the attic and then he set a trap outside. Didn't catch a damn thing, but I got clipped for $350.00!

I fixed the roof myself. The hardest part was matching the shingles.

If it happens again I'll try your foggers technique. Thanks.

Great, idea, only problem is my attic is a ***** to climb through and I'll need a gas mask or something for my escape. I might do this tomorrow.

Burnsey said:

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Tl dr. Put a fox up there.

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Foxes are for cats remediation.

Already have big foxes hanging out here, just not in the attic.

What you are doing typically works. I would recommend parchment paper over the hole. If it goes untorn for 24 hours, you can fix.

Soak some tennis balls in ammonia and toss them near where you think they are. And get the neighbor to quit feed eating.

If you do go the trapping route, keep in mind that coons are under the rabies quarantine so John Doe Citizen can not legally relocate. And I will not endorse relocation anyway. Catch them, kill them.

Just be careful, my pops got bit through a cage (trap) removing one from his attic

Rabies shots are no fun at all

You have to trap them. It is not difficult.
Tractor supply will have big enough live traps

FrioAg 00 said:

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Just be careful, my pops got bit through a cage (trap) removing one from his attic

Rabies shots are no fun at all

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I am kind of worried about this, even if they aren't trapped and I'm up there and get to close to babies. Coons are mean as hell and the only gun I have that I trust won't over penetrate the decking is a single shot that takes a screw driver and a pair of pliers to reload.

One time I had a big one break into my family restaurant and eat up a bunch of our seating. While I was there assessing the damage I saw his big ass walking on the patio. I grabbed a .357 out of my truck and sent him end over end flipping down the hill. Good times!

I do not want to tangle with one in my attic though, that would probably not be a battle that I win.

I hear snakes work.

Filed an insurance claim today for a customer who had raccoons tear up his soffits and attic.

Luckily I haven't seen anything torn up beyond the soffitt and insulation that's been pooped on. I went through it with a fine tooth comb this evening when I was spreading the animal repellent.

ETA: Don't need another claim, just had my roof replaced for hail damage in November and my truck is in a body shop right now for a totally unrelated hail storm.

That's basically what the professionals did in my case about 15 years ago. They found the entry hole and put a one way mesh attachment over the entrance. They left it over the hole at least a week and repaired the hole by removing the trim around it, applying a metal base and adding trim back. I haven't had a single issue since then....

If any babies were left behind I didn't know it.

I haven't had raccoons, but I did have squirrels. I tried the moth ball approach, with no results. What did end up working was soaking cotton balls with Fox Urine (purchased at Academy) and tossing them into areas of the attic that I knew the were inhabiting. They got a whiff and bolted like cockroaches on a sinking ship! I sealed up the hole, only to hear them up there again a few days later. They ate another entry hole in a different area, and were back at it. Another round of urine soaked cotton balls and they were gone. The cotton balls will obviously dry out, and don't leave a lingering odor. Might be worth a try.

Some years ago my mother in law had the same problem. Coons would climb up the fence and enter through soffit vents under the eaves where the wire mesh had rusted through. I made new covers on a 1X2 frame and started covering the bad vents. However, I was unable to finish in one day. That night we heard a wrestling match in the attic because I had covered the hole they were using. They finally found another exit and broke through there. I finished covering them the next day and there has never been a problem since then.

trap with sardines as bait. 15 minutes after dark and you are done. However, if you set it up outside, you may get a few cats.

aggieforester05 said:

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Already have big foxes hanging out here, just not in the attic.

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Hey, if that's your thing I understand... but most foxes are of the more svelte variety. Don't know how many would enjoy the attic either.

Single six

aggieforester05 said:

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Over the last few days I've been keeping a radio going up there as much as my wife can stand,

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I picture your furry friends doing this

Coons get on our porch all the time, Momma just knock'em off with a broom

HDeathstar said:

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trap with sardines as bait. 15 minutes after dark and you are done. However, if you set it up outside, you may get a few cats.

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Double win!

I don't really party like that. What kind of weird pron do you guys watch?

Definitely trying this tonight and if I see them exit, will close up the hole.

I like the fogger idea