Silver Bullet Pest ControlSquirrels or Raccoons in the Attic: Call a Roofer or Pest Control First?
Straight answers from Silver Bullet Pest Control, a licensed exterminator based in Garfield, NJ, serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585. Hablamos español.
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Quick answer: animals out first, then seal and repair
Call a licensed wildlife or pest control company first. The animals have to be out of the attic before any hole is sealed, or they get trapped inside and chew a new way out, often into the house. Once the attic is confirmed empty, the entry can be sealed and the roof repaired. Silver Bullet Pest Control handles both parts: we get squirrels and raccoons out with one-way doors, then seal the entry and repair damaged fascia, soffits and vents. Call 973-510-2585.
Why the order matters
A hole in the soffit looks like a roof problem, so it's natural to call a roofer. But when there are noises in the attic, the hole is a door, and somebody lives behind it. Closing it first is the most common reason we get calls about a roofer sealed the squirrel in the attic, a raccoon sealed in the attic or an animal chewed through the ceiling.
Roofer vs. wildlife company: who does what
| Job | Roofer | Wildlife / pest control |
|---|---|---|
| Check if animals are inside | Usually not | Yes, first step |
| Check for babies | No | Yes |
| One-way doors | No | Yes |
| Seal entry points with chew-proof material | Sometimes | Yes |
| Repair fascia, soffits, vents at the entry | Yes | Yes (Silver Bullet) |
| Full roof replacement or large roof repairs | Yes | No |
| Attic insulation and droppings | No | Yes |
What we see on these jobs
The three situations behind most of these calls in North Jersey:
Squirrels in the Attic or Walls
- Running and scratching in the morning and evening
- Chewed fascia, soffits or vents
- Nesting material in the attic
We get squirrels out with one-way doors and seal the roofline so they can't chew back in. Exclusion, not relocation.
Raccoons in the Attic or Chimney
- Heavy thumping at night
- Torn vents, shingles or soffits
- Droppings and a strong smell
Raccoons tear their way in and do real damage. We remove them from the house and close the opening with heavy-duty materials.
Chipmunks, Skunks & Other Wildlife
- Burrows along walkways and foundations
- Animals under porches and sheds
- Digging in the yard and garden
Ground animals cause foundation and yard problems. We find where they live and block access so they move on.
Questions to ask before anyone seals a hole
- Did anyone confirm the attic is empty?
- Is it baby season? (Spring and late summer for squirrels, spring for raccoons.)
- Are there other openings besides the one I found?
- What material will be used? Squirrels chew through wood, vinyl and foam.
- Who comes back if I hear noises after it's sealed?
When you do need a roofer too
If the roof itself is worn out, or there's leak damage beyond the animal entry, a roofer is the right call for that work, after the animals are out. We can tell you what we see during the inspection. For small entry repairs around the roofline, see wildlife damage repair.
If the hole was already sealed
If you're reading this because a hole was already sealed and you still hear noises, don't seal anything else. See roofer sealed the squirrel in the attic for what to do now.
Simple ways to prevent it
Trim branches
Keep tree limbs about 6 to 8 feet from the roof so squirrels can't jump on.
Lock the trash
Use cans with tight lids and bungee cords. Raccoons learn trash night fast.
Cap the chimney
A sturdy chimney cap keeps out raccoons, squirrels and birds.
Check the roofline
Look for chewed soffit corners, loose vents and gaps at roof returns each spring and fall.
How Silver Bullet handles it
Call or text a photo
Tell us what you're seeing and where. A photo often lets us identify the pest right away. We answer 24/7 for emergencies.
Inspection
A licensed tech finds the source: where the pest lives, how it gets in and what draws it.
Treatment or removal
We use the right method for the pest, placed where it works and kept away from kids and pets.
Seal and prevent
We close entry points and tell you what to change so the problem doesn't come back.
Related services
Get Help From a Licensed Exterminator
Call or text 973-510-2585 for the fastest answer, or tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you quickly.
Calls we get every week
- Scratching or thumping in the attic
- A squirrel or raccoon inside the house
- A raccoon in the chimney
- Chewed soffits, vents or gutters
- Animals under a porch, deck or shed
Request Service
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call a roofer or pest control for squirrels in the attic?
Pest control or a wildlife company first, so the animals are out before anything is sealed. Then the entry can be repaired.
Can a roofer remove squirrels?
Most roofers aren't set up for wildlife exclusion. They fix the roof; getting animals out safely is a separate job.
Do you repair the roof after removing squirrels?
We seal entry points and repair damaged fascia, soffits, roof returns and vents. Large roof jobs are for a roofer.
What happens if the hole is sealed with the squirrel inside?
It usually chews a new way out, sometimes into the house, or dies inside and causes a bad smell.
How do you know the attic is empty?
We use one-way doors and check that no animals are coming and going before the final seal.
What time of year is riskiest to seal a hole?
Spring and late summer, when squirrels have young; spring for raccoons.
Do you relocate squirrels and raccoons?
No. We use exclusion: they leave through one-way doors, then the entry is sealed.
Will sealing my house trap animals inside?
Not when it's done right. We use one-way doors and check for babies first so nothing is sealed in.
Can squirrels damage my roof?
Yes. They chew fascia, soffits, shingle edges and vents to get in.
How do I get started?
Call or text photos of the hole and roofline to 973-510-2585.
Serving North Jersey
Based in Garfield, we serve these towns and the rest of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Our service area
Bergen County
973-510-2585- Allendale
- Bergenfield
- Bogota
- Carlstadt
- Cliffside Park
- Closter
- Cresskill
- Demarest
- Dumont
- East Rutherford
- Edgewater
- Elmwood Park
- Emerson
- Englewood
- Englewood Cliffs
- Fair Lawn
- Fairview
- Fort Lee
- Franklin Lakes
- Garfield
- Glen Rock
- Hackensack
- Harrington Park
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Haworth
- Hillsdale
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Leonia
- Little Ferry
- Lodi
- Lyndhurst
- Mahwah
- Maywood
- Midland Park
- Montvale
- Moonachie
- New Milford
- North Arlington
- Northvale
- Norwood
- Oakland
- Old Tappan
- Oradell
- Palisades Park
- Paramus
- Park Ridge
- Ramsey
- Ridgefield
- Ridgefield Park
- Ridgewood
- River Edge
- River Vale
- Rochelle Park
- Rutherford
- Saddle Brook
- Saddle River
- South Hackensack
- Teaneck
- Tenafly
- Teterboro
- Upper Saddle River
- Waldwick
- Wallington
- Washington Township
- Westwood
- Woodcliff Lake
- Wood-Ridge
- Wyckoff
Passaic County
973-510-2585- Bloomingdale
- Clifton
- Haledon
- Hawthorne
- Little Falls
- North Haledon
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Pompton Lakes
- Prospect Park
- Ringwood
- Totowa
- Wanaque
- Wayne
- West Milford
- Woodland Park
Essex County
973-510-2585- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- East Orange
- Essex Fells
- Fairfield
- Glen Ridge
- Irvington
- Livingston
- Maplewood
- Millburn
- Montclair
- Newark
- North Caldwell
- Nutley
- Orange
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- South Orange
- Verona
- West Caldwell
- West Orange
Hudson County
973-510-2585Union County
973-510-2585- Berkeley Heights
- Clark
- Cranford
- Elizabeth
- Fanwood
- Garwood
- Hillside
- Kenilworth
- Linden
- Mountainside
- New Providence
- Plainfield
- Rahway
- Roselle
- Roselle Park
- Scotch Plains
- Springfield
- Summit
- Union
- Westfield
Morris County
973-510-2585- Boonton
- Butler
- Cedar Knolls
- Chatham
- Denville
- Dover
- East Hanover
- Florham Park
- Hanover
- Kinnelon
- Lincoln Park
- Madison
- Mendham
- Montville
- Morris Plains
- Morristown
- Mountain Lakes
- Parsippany
- Pequannock
- Randolph
- Riverdale
- Rockaway
- Roxbury
- Whippany
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B