Professional Raccoon Removal Services
A raccoon doesn't just visit your attic or crawlspace.
It moves in.
And once it does, you don't just have a wildlife problem. You have a mess that most homeowners aren't prepared for.
Raccoons are strong. They're smart. And they're large enough to do real structural damage on the way in.
But that's not the worst part.
The waste they leave behind is a genuine health hazard. We're talking about a contaminated attic or crawlspace that needs professional cleanup before your family is safe in there again.
And if the entry point doesn't get sealed properly?
The next raccoon finds it. Or the next litter does.
We handle all three pieces. Trapping and removal. Cleanup and sanitation. And every entry point sealed and warrantied. Because getting the raccoon out is only the beginning.
Ready to get rid of the problem? Free inspection — same-day response across Knoxville & East Tennessee.
Signs You Have a Raccoon Problem
- Loud Thumping or Rolling Sounds in the Attic: Raccoons are large animals (adults typically weigh 15 to 30 lbs) and they move heavily overhead. The sounds are distinctly different from the lighter scurrying of squirrels or rats: slow, deliberate thumping, rolling, and occasional vocalizations, most often at night.
- Torn or Damaged Roof Vents, Soffits, or Fascia: Raccoons are strong enough to pry open ridge vents, tear through rotted soffit boards, and pull back flashing to create or enlarge entry points. Visible damage at the roofline, especially near corners, vents, and dormers, is a clear sign.
- Strong Ammonia Odor from the Attic or Crawl Space: Raccoons establish latrine sites and return to them repeatedly, creating significant accumulations of urine and feces. A strong, persistent ammonia smell coming from above or below the living space is a serious indicator of an established nest.
- Disturbed Trash Cans and Garden Damage: Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and will consistently raid unsecured garbage, compost bins, pet food bowls, and vegetable gardens. Overturned cans and scattered trash, particularly at night, are often the first sign a raccoon has found your property.
- Tracks Near the Foundation or Roofline: Raccoon tracks are distinctive: five-toed, hand-like prints around 2 to 3 inches wide. Look for them in soft soil near downspouts, fence lines, and tree bases adjacent to the roofline, which raccoons routinely use as access routes.
Our Raccoon Removal Process
Raccoon removal done right is a multi-step process. Simply trapping an animal and driving away leaves behind contaminated insulation, an open entry point, and the near certainty of a repeat problem. Our process is built to resolve all of it.
- Free Inspection: We conduct a thorough inspection of your attic, roofline, and property to locate the nest, identify all entry points, assess the extent of contamination and damage, and check for the presence of young, which significantly affects the removal approach, especially in spring.
- Humane Trapping & Removal: We set and monitor traps at the active entry point and on travel routes used by the animal. If young are present, we handle them appropriately to ensure the female is also removed. All animals are relocated in compliance with TWRA regulations.
- Attic Cleanup & Sanitation: We remove soiled insulation from latrine sites, apply an enzyme-based disinfectant to neutralize bacteria and eliminate the odor and pheromone traces that attract future raccoons, and advise on any insulation replacement needed.
- Full Exclusion & Entry Sealing: We seal every entry point using heavy-gauge hardware cloth, commercial-grade sealants, and metal flashing, materials that raccoons cannot pull through, chew through, or pry apart. We also identify and address secondary vulnerabilities before they become the next entry point.
- Prevention Warranty: Our exclusion work is backed by a warranty so you can have lasting peace of mind.
Dangers of Raccoons on your property
Here's something most homeowners don't realize until it's too late.
Raccoon waste isn't just unpleasant. It carries a parasite called raccoon roundworm whose eggs become airborne when disturbed. You don't have to touch anything. Just being up there is enough.
The urine is its own problem. It saturates insulation and works its way through drywall. The staining is the easy part to see. The structural damage underneath is the part that costs you.
And the damage they do while they're in there. Attic, crawlspace, it doesn't matter. It adds up fast. Ductwork. Wiring. Vapor barriers. Structural wood. They're not guests. They're working.
A female will come back to the same den every spring. One litter. Four to six kits. Same entry point, if it's still open.
Most of the time, it is.
Why Choose Wills Wildlife Control?
- Full-Service, Not Just Trapping: We handle the animal, the waste, and the entry point, not just one of the three. That's the only approach that actually solves the problem long-term.
- Licensed & Insured: Fully certified by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), so every removal is legal, documented, and done right.
- Local Experts, Not a Franchise: We're Knoxville-based with over 30 years of combined experience. We know local wildlife behavior, local construction styles common in East Tennessee homes, and local regulations.
- Fast Response: Most jobs are scheduled same-day or next-day, because a raccoon in the attic doesn't get better with time.
- 5-Star Rated: Over 90+ verified Google reviews with a perfect 5.0 score from homeowners across East Tennessee.