Raccoons in the Ceiling

10.25.2004 - This was a rare case of raccoon removal.  There were raccoons in the house, which is not uncommon, but they were in an uncommon place.  In almost every case that I've dealt with thus far, the raccoons are in the attic.  However, in this case, all the noise was heard in between floors, above the first story ceiling and below the second story floor.  There's not a whole lot of room in that space.  However, critters have a way of fitting in tight gaps.

I thought that the animals would be rats, or maybe squirrels, based on the location.  However the homeowners were hearing vocal chattering.  When I did my imitation of a baby raccoon, they said, "Yes!  That's what we hear!"  So I had to suspect raccoons.

I carefully listened and felt at the walls in the general area where the noises were heard.  I was having trouble detecting anything, and I thought I heard noises coming from several places.  I finally became confident enough to cut an opening in the ceiling.  I was careful, in case I was right on baby raccoons.  I used my inspection mirror and found three baby raccoons nearby my hole.  It was a tight gap, but I was able to pull out the babies, as seen in the above photograph.

But I still heard some scratching noises. After another long investigation, I realized that one of the babies had crawled and fallen down a nearby wall.  This is why I was confused about the noises coming from different directions.  I cut a hole at the base of the wall and removed a fourth baby.

I used the babies in the back of a trap to catch the mother raccoon.  She was going under the elevated home and she'd torn a hole in the floor and was crawling up an inner wall and nesting in the ceiling.  After I removed her, I crawled under the house and patched the hole shut.

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How to get rid of raccoon inside ceiling - Most of the time, the scratching and strange sounds you hear in the ceiling indicate a raccoon in the attic. Attics are the gateways into most other areas of the home. It's not difficult for a raccoon to make its way down the gaps of the walls and eventually into a ceiling. Most of the time, if a raccoon is this far into the home, it's because the critter is a female who has just found where she wants to have her litter. This is actually a good thing; remember where you hear the raccoon making noise. Once you have her trapped and removed from the home, you'll need to locate the babies immediately to ensure they don't starve to death. If you're really talented, or if you find a good wildlife removal company, the babies can sometimes be removed before the female is out and used in a cage trap to lure the mother in. If it is time to remove the young kits, remember that getting to them might not be possible from the attic. You may very well need to cut a hole in the drywall of your ceiling. This should be done with utmost care; you don't want to injure any of the young raccoons. Removal of babies is another reason why the help of a professional is needed for raccoon removal.

The raccoon (Procyon lotor), is a unique animal native to North America. It's not closely related to any other animals, with distant relatives such as bears and weasels. Coons are easy to recognize, with a black mask and ringed tail. Raccoons tend to weigh between 10-20 pounds as adults. They are mostly nocturnal, and are omnivores. Racoons average a lifespan of about 5 years in the wild, and have a litter of 3-6 young each spring. They are very strong, excellent climbers, very intelligent, and they are very skilled with their hands. Raccoons have learned to thrive in urban areas, and live in very high densities in cities, where they eat garbage and pet food. They commonly break into homes and attics, where they cause considerable damage, and they also destroy other property, and thus racoons are considered pest animals by many people. Raccoon control and removal, especially from inside homes, is best left to a professional.

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Depending on where you live in the world, it can be a common occurrence to deal with unwanted creatures on your property, with raccoons being prime suspects. It's a pretty unnerving thing do deal with when these little guys start running around your garden or outdoor assets like sheds for example. However, it can be twice as unsettling when these creatures find a way into your ceiling or crawlspace. It's a problem that will be alien to most people, so here is a quick guide on everything you need to know about this peculiar scenario.

Why is a raccoon in my ceiling?
The short answer is because of the warmth and shelter that space provides. Given the choice of a warm attic or the cold outdoors to sleep at night, we are sure you would choose the same. It can also be an ideal space for a raccoon to set up a nest and raise their young. If a mother has just had babies, this offers a safe space that a forest or other area just can't compete with.

Can I get it out myself?
It is possible to give the raccoon a polite nudge and send it on its way. What must be noted is that you shouldn't try and remove the raccoon by force, this requires professional knowledge and is not advised. Especially due to the tight, unlit areas that these creatures will settle in, making the job even harder for you to carry out successfully. However, there are some techniques you can try to make the raccoon reconsider staying.

One way to show the raccoon the door is through using noise. If you can place a speaker near the space, perhaps through a wall where it is safer, you can play animal noises. Be sure to play noises of predators such as coyotes, wolves, or dogs to make them reconsider their living arrangements. If this doesn't work you can also consider the use of natural repellents to drive the raccoon off. This includes repellents such as an ammonia solution or a solution that includes a mix of spices such as cayenne pepper. Raccoons really dislike these and it can sometimes lead to them vacating your premises. However, they will probably try to cover the smell before leaving so it is far from a foolproof method.

Call a professional
If all the home remedies didn't produce the desired results you were hoping for, then it may be time to call in a professional. These people are specially trained to get into these tight spaces safely, trap and remove these creatures, and ensure that there is no further damage to your property through sealing the entry point and making sure that there are no babies left by a mother raccoon.

Clearing house
While no one wants to have a live animal lurking in their ceiling space, it's reassuring to know that it isn't the end of the world. These animals only want a safe space to stay and if you can use home remedies to convince them that your home isn't a place for raccoons, then great. If a professional is required, there are plenty on hand to help you and they know what they are doing, meaning you'll have the house to yourself in no time. So follow this guide and you should have that raccoon out of your ceiling space in no time at all.