Wildlife & birds
Raccoon removal in Salt Lake City, UT
Heavy thumping in the attic at night, a torn vent under the deck, trash cans knocked over every morning. Raccoons are strong, smart and persistent, and they need a careful plan.
Most active
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
Quick answer
Raccoon removal in Salt Lake City starts with finding where they're living and how they get in: attic gables and roof vents, crawlspace vents, and the space under decks and sheds. We remove them using traps or one-way doors as the situation allows, check for young in spring, then seal entries with heavy-gauge materials. Raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm, so contact and droppings are handled carefully.
At a glance
- Best for
- Raccoons in attics, crawlspaces, under decks and sheds
- Most active
- Night, spring through fall
- Key step
- Checking for young before sealing
- Follow-up
- Exclusion and damage assessment
Warning signs
Signs of raccoons
Sign 01
Heavy noise at night
Thumping or walking sounds in the attic or crawlspace after dark.
Sign 02
Torn vents and screens
Ripped crawlspace vents, roof vents or gable screens.
Sign 03
Latrines
Piles of droppings in one spot on roofs, decks or attics.
Sign 04
Raided trash and pet food
Trash cans knocked over and pet food dishes emptied.
Sign 05
A raccoon acting tame by day
Unusual behavior can be a sign of illness. Keep away and call.
Overview
Why raccoons need a professional
Raccoons are strong enough to tear through vents, shingles and screens, and they choose attics, crawlspaces and the space under decks and sheds to den, especially when raising young in spring.
Handling them is not a do-it-yourself job. Raccoons can carry rabies and raccoon roundworm, and a cornered raccoon will defend itself. Their latrines, piles of droppings in one spot, need careful cleanup.
We find the den and the entries, remove the raccoons with the right method for the spot, check for young before sealing, and close entries with heavy-gauge materials they can't tear through.
How the visit goes
How raccoon removal goes
Inspect
Find the den, entries and signs of young.
Remove
Traps or one-way doors, depending on the location and time of year.
Check for young
Make sure no kits are left behind before sealing.
Seal entries
Heavy-gauge mesh and flashing over vents, gables and deck skirting.
Clean up
Latrines and contaminated areas handled carefully.
What it covers
Raccoon problems we handle
Raccoons in attics and crawlspaces
Removal from attics and crawlspaces, then sealing vents and gables.
Under decks and sheds
Dens under decks, porches and sheds cleared and skirted off.
Garbage and pet food raids
Removing the draw: trash, pet food and easy access.
Salt Lake conditions
Raccoons, rabies and safety
Utah agriculture officials consider raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes high risk for carrying rabies, and they note that rabid wild animals may act unusually tame. Most rabies found in Utah is in bats, with 94 of 96 positive wild animals since 2016 being bats, but any raccoon acting strangely, especially out in daylight or approaching people, should be left alone and reported. That's one reason raccoon removal is handled by people with the right equipment.
Keep pets vaccinated and inside at night if raccoons are active in the yard.
Sources: deseret.com, wildlife.utah.gov
Timing
How long raccoon removal takes
- First visitInspection and traps or one-way doors placed.
- A few daysRaccoons are removed; young are checked for.
- SealingEntries closed once the den is empty.
- CleanupLatrines and damage handled afterward.
Your options
Raccoon removal options
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Raccoons under decks and in crawlspaces | Needs daily checks |
| One-way doors | Single entries with no young | Not for spring dens with kits |
| Heavy-gauge exclusion | Every job | Done after raccoons are out |
| Removing attractants | Trash and pet food raids | Changes on your side |
Do it yourself?
What you can do
What you can do today
- Keep trash in lidded, secured cans and take it out in the morning.
- Feed pets indoors.
- Trim branches that reach the roof.
- Keep pets vaccinated and inside at night.
What to leave alone
- Approaching or cornering a raccoon.
- Sealing a den while raccoons or kits are inside.
- Cleaning latrines without gloves and a mask.
- Leaving pet food or bird seed out overnight.
Before we arrive
Before we arrive
- Keep people and pets away from the raccoon.
- Note where you hear or see activity.
- Point out torn vents or damaged areas.
- Clear access to the attic or crawlspace entrance.
- Secure trash and bring in pet food.
- Unlock gates to the yard.
- Tell us if you've seen young raccoons.
- Tell us about any contact with pets or people.
Wildlife work is mostly exclusion hardware and trapping; product lines like these cover the rodents and insects that follow.
- Protecta
- Contrac
- Temprid
- Tempo
Cost
What raccoon removal costs
Priced by the location, access and how much sealing is needed.
Location
Attics and crawlspaces take more work than yard dens.
Young present
Spring dens with kits need extra care.
Trap checks
Daily checks until animals are caught.
Exclusion materials
Heavy-gauge mesh and flashing.
Cleanup
Latrine cleanup and damage repair are separate.
Strong, clever and persistent
Raccoons tear through weak vents and screens. Heavy-gauge exclusion is what keeps them out.
Call (801) 516-0135Raccoons den under decks and in crawlspaces.
FAQ
Raccoon removal questions from Salt Lake homeowners
Still unsure? (801) 516-0135 is answered around the clock.
They can carry rabies and roundworm, and they'll defend themselves if cornered. Keep away and let us handle them.
Raccoons are active at night and sound heavy; squirrels are active by day and sound lighter.
In spring we check for young before sealing so no kits are trapped inside.
Heavy-gauge mesh and flashing over vents, gables and deck skirting, plus removing food sources.
Raccoon latrines can carry roundworm eggs. It's best handled with protective gear.
Easy food. Lidded, secured cans and taking trash out in the morning help.
Keep away and call animal control or us. Unusual behavior can be a sign of illness.
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