How Much Does It Cost To Get Rid Of Raccoons?

The cost of removing raccoons is important to those dealing with this unwanted pest, and it’s not the easiest bit of information to find. However, our experts have concluded that the average cost to get rid of raccoons is $400.

Here is a quick breakdown of raccoon removal costs nationwide:

National Average	Average Cost Range	Minimum Cost	Maximum Cost
$400	$200 – $600	$125	$1,500

If trying to exterminate raccoons on your own becomes too challenging, we recommend Orkin, Terminix, and Aptive. These exterminators have some of the best-trained professionals that are able to use traps, baits, and other chemically treated solutions that are often more effective than standard DIY methods.

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What Influences Cost?

The price of raccoon removal depends on several factors determined by the exterminator, and some of those aren’t so transparent. So, we’ll take you through the most common ones here.

Frequency of Service

Raccoon removal is typically a one-time service costing between $200 and $600. However, there are plan options that attempt to soften the blow of high prices.

Here are a few examples of what’s currently available.

Seasonal Contracts

Wild animals tend to be most active during the spring and summer months. For that reason, many wildlife removal companies offer seasonal service contracts.

You can generally choose between either a three-month or six-month plan, and you’ll be required to take service every month for the duration, depending on the plan you choose.

For example, suppose you want the six-month contract option, and it runs from April to September. In that case, you agree to have a technician at your home every month starting in April and ending at the end of September.

In exchange, the company provides the following:

• One scheduled service visit per month
• Guarantee of wildlife control for the duration of the contract
• Callbacks between scheduled visits if total control isn’t reached
• Other provisions you and the company agree to

The cost for seasonal contracts varies greatly between companies, and it also depends on the pests included.

But generally, you can expect costs of anywhere between $100 and $200 per month for this service. Keep in mind you still have to pay it, even if the company had everything under control months ago.

Bi-monthly Agreements

One of the most logical options for contracted wildlife control is the bi-monthly agreement. It has the technician at your home six times a year. But in this case, it’s every other month and includes year-round service.

The problem with this plan is being able to find it. That’s because it works well for exterminators for general pest control but not for wildlife services.

The customer has every advantage, having a reduced-cost option while still receiving a monthly guarantee. So, it becomes difficult for the company to stay profitable under these agreements.

Still, if you can find it, a bi-monthly contract is the way to go for most pest control services, including wildlife management.

So, expect to pay between $70 and $90 per month, which is a real bargain.

Quarterly Contracts

It’s best to think of a quarterly contract as an annual agreement because that’s what it is. So, in this scenario, you agree to receive four service calls from the technician per year.

The cost is typically around $100-$200 per visit, potentially saving you a lot of money during the entire year.

It covers basically the same thing as a seasonal contract with fewer required payments, and it lasts all year instead of only seasonally.

The primary difficulty with the quarterly contract is the time interval. In other words, three months go by before you receive service again.

Another added problem is the warranty. While most companies guarantee their animal removal services, most have difficulty living up to it within a quarterly framework.

That’s because the technician typically doesn’t get paid for callbacks. So, they are extremely reluctant to go back to your house for free to pick up a dead raccoon. In most cases, they won’t be allowed to do that, anyway.

You, as the customer, are now left frustrated that all the promises made by the company aren’t kept. The manager is left frustrated that you called and are causing the company to lose money.

So, for those reasons, it’s usually best to steer clear of quarterly agreements. That’s because there are typically a lot of hurt feelings wrapped up in them.

Severity of the Problem

It usually costs around $400 to remove one raccoon from your property. If another one is located in the same nesting area, you probably won’t be required to pay more.

However, if the technician has to hunt down several raccoons at different locations around your home, it will cost you at least $50 extra per live trap set.

Methods Used

The raccoon is a protected species in most states. So, the only manner of control allowed is through live trapping.

This method is also the costliest. Otherwise, the average price would be a lot less. So, the median cost to remove raccoons still stands at around $400 per visit.

But, mechanical exclusion measures can offset it by preventing them from destroying your property. In addition, scaring devices along with repellents can add value to the overall effort.

By utilizing preventive measures to reduce the damage caused by raccoons and wildlife, you save yourself a lot of money long-term as a homeowner.

Damage Repair Costs

The cost to repair raccoon damage varies greatly depending on its extent and the area measured by the linear foot. But you can generally expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $500 in most cases.

Many contracted raccoon removal services offer repair work after the animal is removed as well as decontamination management. This can also include dead animal removal along with cleanup of raccoon feces and urine.

Another area where many companies help is in attic cleanup and disinfecting services. This option involves removing urine trails and fecal material that’s accumulated after several weeks or months.

The cost is usually built into the primary offering, but you may find someone to do the job as a stand-alone service which would generally be priced from $100 to $300.

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Signs & Causes of Infestation

Adult raccoons are about two to three feet long and weigh around 20 pounds, on average, and they prefer to den in backyards, beneath porches, in attics, and chimneys.

Raccoons are omnivorous, meaning they’ll eat just about anything. But they prefer:

• Pet food
• Birdfeed
• Backyard fruits
• Nuts
• Vegetables from gardens

Signs of Damage

Mother raccoons often search for nesting sites within residential structures. They rip off siding, fascia boards, or roof vents in search of a warm place to rear their young.

Look for torn insulation and drywall in attic spaces. Also, you may notice damaged HVAC ductwork within these same areas.

Once they establish the space as their den, raccoons begin leaving feces and urine everywhere.

But the damage isn’t confined to attics. Sometimes, raccoons use crawl spaces as den sites. You can tell the damage they leave by the condition of the entrance door.

Raccoons also create destruction around garden areas. They are fond of sweet corn and will climb stalks to gain access to the kernels, and they also pick vegetables off their vines for easy consumption as well.

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Health Risks

You don’t usually hear about cases of diseases transmitted by raccoons, but they do exist. So, here are a few illnesses to be aware of during any raccoon removal operation.

Raccoon Roundworm

Roundworms are parasites found in raccoons and other wild animals. Although human cases of the disease are rare, they can be serious.

Most infections involve children unknowingly putting dirt or animal waste in their mouths. The disease can be prevented by disinfecting areas where wildlife comes into contact with backyard environments.

The symptoms of raccoon roundworm are:

• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Liver enlargement
• Loss of coordination
• Lack of attention to people and surroundings
• Loss of muscle control
• Blindness
• Coma

Treatment options for the disease are limited, and while drugs such as albendazole can help, there is currently no cure for it.

Rabies

Raccoons and other wild animals spread the rabies virus to other animals and humans through biting or scratching behaviors.

Dogs are the most likely to get the disease since they often contact raccoons and similar wildlife.

While it’s doubtful that you will become infected directly from a raccoon, those who come into contact with animals during trapping operations are at greater risk.

Here are the symptoms of rabies in humans:

• Fever
• Fear of water
• Confusion
• Excessive salivation
• Paralysis
• Coma

The rabies vaccine has a 100 percent effectiveness rate against the disease if given early enough after exposure. Even if it’s administered later, it still does a decent job of limiting its effects.

Fleas

Local wildlife often passes fleas to dogs, cats, and other pets while looking for suitable places to call their home. These animals include:

• Raccoons
• Squirrels
• Opossums
• Groundhogs
• Skunks

Keeping pets away from nuisance wildlife is a good first step to preventing flea infestations in your home. It will also lower the chances of them getting bit and contracting rabies.

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DIY vs. Hiring a Professional

Although you can save money by removing raccoons on your own, it’s not advised. That’s because trapping operations are difficult at best. There are several regulations within each state to consider before taking on such a complex endeavor.

First, you have to identify the problem. For example, are these raccoons, or is there another type of wildlife pest invading your area?

Next, you have to consider how you will remove the raccoons. Are you going to trap them or rely solely on sanitation and exclusion measures?

Hiring a Professional

These and other questions are easily answered by pest control professionals experienced in wildlife removal operations.

Here are our top three picks:

• Terminix manages your raccoon problem by first knowing where to look for obvious signs. Once that’s done, your technician deploys only the best, most humane traps for safely and humanely removing raccoons from your property.
• Orkin takes a holistic approach to nuisance wildlife control. It starts with sealing entry points to ensure they never come back to bother you.
• Aptive utilizes an eco-friendly approach to eliminating raccoons and other critters from your home or business.

When looking for a pest control company, start with family and friends. Who do they recommend as the top pest control provider in their neighborhood?

Also, the local Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce are vital resources you can go to for answers about businesses in your area, including pest exterminators.

Finally, it’s best only to seek out those pest control providers that are licensed, bonded, and insured in your state.

Find Pest Control Cost Estimates In Your State

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What is the Standard Raccoon Removal Process?

When determining how to get rid of raccoons, it’s vital to start with a thorough inspection. Once you know where they’re located, only then can you create a solid plan of action.

Following are the basic techniques the pros use to eliminate raccoons and other wildlife pests for their clients.

Trapping for Raccoons

Cage traps are the most valuable items to a wildlife specialist. For raccoons, be sure to purchase one that is at least 15 inches wide and 36 inches deep.

While this may seem too big, you need to have one that can accommodate the largest males.

Next, it’s important to select the correct bait. Fish-flavored cat food works the best, but it may also attract the neighbor’s pets, which is not a good thing.

It’s possible to have an appropriate raccoon attractant without getting the attention of dogs and cats. So, you may want to try baiting your trap with these items instead:

• Marshmallows
• Grapes
• Prunes
• Peanut butter
• Rotting watermelon

Now that you have the animal trapped, you’ll have to let it go somewhere on your property. That’s because most states have strict laws concerning wildlife removal.

Most local governments don’t want to take the chance of rabies and other diseases spreading rapidly throughout their communities.

The pros get around that by having connections to animal control authorities to either relocate the raccoons or euthanize them.

Exclusion Measures

The use of exclusion barriers is one of the most effective ways to deter unwanted wildlife pests from your home.

It’s best to use 1/2 inch wire screen mesh to seal entry holes where rodents and other animals get into the structure.

You can also utilize one-way doors that allow the animal to forage for food outdoors but won’t let it back inside.

In addition, employing attic vents and chimney caps to exclude raccoons from entering these tight spaces makes perfect sense.

Repellents

Several varieties of natural repellents are labeled for raccoons. They typically utilize essential oils and come in either spray or granular formulations.

Unfortunately, these products are best for rodents, and they have a limited capacity for helping with larger wildlife pests.

However, you may want to try scaring devices. You set them up in your yard, and they go off automatically when they sense a raccoon or other animal approaching.

Most of these are solar-powered and utilize ultrasound signals, lights, and sometimes audible noises to scare away most nuisance wildlife.

The downside is, they may become more annoying for you than for the animal.

Sanitation Measures

Open trash cans attract raccoons quicker than anything. So, it’s crucial to switch to metal containers with secure lids. Also, to keep them from turning over, it’s useful to have them on a rack and securely tied to a post.

Also, make sure all pet food containers are securely sealed. It’s a good idea to pick up pet food dishes in the yard every night, even if they’re empty; the slightest scent will attract raccoons.

It’s also important to remove all harborage areas that draw nuisance wildlife to your home. For example, keeping tall grass and weeds mowed can reduce vital points of cover for small animals.

In addition, cutting back tree branches from the roof will limit access to attic spaces.

Finally, removing trellises, shrubs, and wood piles near your home will go a long way to preventing their arrival.

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