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How Raccoons Get Into Attics (and How to Stop Them)
Raccoons don’t need an existing hole — they make one. They’re strong, have nimble hands and remember where food and shelter are. Here’s how they get in and how to stop them.
Quick answer: Most raccoons enter through uncapped chimneys, roof vents and soffits. Steel vent guards, a stainless chimney cap and reinforced soffits stop them.
Common raccoon entry points
- Chimneys without caps — a mother raccoon will den on the smoke shelf (raccoon in the chimney).
- Roof vents and exhaust hoods — pried open or torn off.
- Soffits — vinyl and aluminum soffits push in easily.
- Roof edges and corners with soft or rotted wood.
- Attached garages and dormers where a lower roof gives access to a higher one.
How they climb up
Downspouts, trees, trellises, fences and decks next to the house. Raccoons can climb most siding and corner trim, too.
How to stop them
- Install a stainless chimney cap on every flue
- Cover roof vents with heavy-gauge steel guards
- Reinforce soffits behind with galvanized mesh
- Trim trees back from the roof
- Secure garbage, compost and pet food — food is what brings them to the yard
If a raccoon is already inside, don’t seal it in. In spring, assume a mother with kits. See raccoon proofing.
Watch: Silver Bullet wildlife work
Want it handled? Silver Bullet removes squirrels and raccoons humanely and seals your home with steel. Call 973-510-2585 or request a free quote.
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Our wildlife services
- Squirrel Proofing in New Jersey
- Raccoon Proofing in New Jersey
- Animal Proofing & Wildlife Exclusion in New Jersey
- Chimney Animal Proofing & Chimney Caps in New Jersey
- Wildlife Damage Repair in New Jersey
- Animal entry point sealing
More tips & questions
- Squirrels in the Attic: 9 Signs and What to Do
- Noises in the Attic: Squirrels, Rats, Mice or Raccoons?
- Raccoon in the Chimney: What to Do (and What Not To)
- One-Way Doors: How Squirrel & Raccoon Exclusion Works
- Squirrel Damage to Soffits, Fascia, Vents and Wires
- Home Remedies for Squirrels and Raccoons: What Works and What Doesn't
- How Much Does Squirrel or Raccoon Proofing Cost in NJ?
- Baby Squirrel and Raccoon Season in New Jersey
- Raccoon Latrines and Attic Cleanup: The Health Risks
- 15 Tips to Keep Squirrels and Raccoons Out of Your House
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- Getting Rid of Mice in the Attic
- Rodent Exclusion
- Dryer Vent Mesh Cover
- All pest questions, answered: ants, bees, mice, rats, roaches & more
Common questions
Can raccoons rip through a roof?
They can tear open shingles, vents and weak or rotted wood. Solid, sound roof decking with steel-guarded vents holds up.
Why do raccoons go into attics?
For a warm, safe place to den — especially mothers looking for a place to raise kits in spring.
Do raccoons come back to the same house?
Yes. They remember good den sites. Sealing the opening with steel is what keeps them out.
Schedule today
Call 973-510-2585, text us or request a free quote online. Silver Bullet Pest Control is licensed and insured in New Jersey.