Silver Bullet Pest ControlSquirrel and Raccoon Baby Season: When Not to Seal the Attic
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: check for young before sealing anything
In New Jersey, squirrels usually have young in late winter to spring and again in late summer, and raccoons usually have young in spring. During those months, sealing an attic opening without checking for young is the riskiest thing you can do: the young are trapped, the mother tears or chews back in, and if the young die inside, the house smells for weeks. Silver Bullet Pest Control checks for young before sealing anything. Call 973-510-2585.
Typical timing in New Jersey
| Animal | When young are usually in the attic | What you may notice |
|---|---|---|
| Gray squirrel | Late winter to spring, and again in late summer | Light scratching, chirping, a squirrel going in and out often |
| Raccoon | Spring into early summer | Chirping or crying, heavy movement at night |
| Bats | Early to mid-summer | Squeaking at dusk; exclusion waits until young can fly |
Timing varies year to year. An inspection is the only way to know for sure.
What goes wrong when young are sealed in
- The mother chews or tears a new hole, often bigger than the first
- A raccoon mother can tear off shingles, vents or soffit in one night
- Young that die inside cause a strong smell (see smell after the hole was sealed)
- The new repair has to be torn out and redone
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.
How we handle baby season
We check the attic for nests and young before any opening is closed. When young are present, they come out with the mother, either by waiting until they're old enough to leave through a one-way door or by removing them by hand so the mother can move them. Only then is the entry sealed. This is exclusion, not relocation.
Signs there are young in the attic
- Faint chirping, squeaking or crying from one spot in the attic or a wall
- An adult going in and out of the same hole many times a day
- Nesting material, leaves or shredded insulation pulled into a pile
- In raccoons, heavy movement at night plus small high-pitched sounds
If you notice any of these, don't let anyone close the opening yet.
Why it matters for roof work
Spring is also when many people schedule roof and gutter work. If you hear anything in the attic, have it checked before the roofer seals the roofline. See roofer or pest control first.
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
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Frequently Asked Questions
When do squirrels have babies in NJ?
Usually in late winter to spring and again in late summer.
When do raccoons have babies in NJ?
Usually in spring, and the young stay in the den for weeks.
Can I seal the hole if there are babies in the attic?
No. The mother will chew or tear back in, and the young can die inside.
How do I know if there are babies in my attic?
Chirping or crying sounds and a mother going in and out often. An inspection confirms it.
What do you do with baby squirrels or raccoons?
We make sure they leave with the mother before sealing, so the family moves on together.
Is it safe to do roof work in spring?
Yes, as long as the attic is checked for animals before openings are sealed.
Do you relocate wildlife?
No. We use exclusion so animals leave on their own, then seal the entry.
Can animals in the attic damage wiring?
Yes. Squirrels and rodents chew wires, which is a fire risk.
Are squirrels and raccoons dangerous to have in the attic?
They chew wiring, tear insulation and leave droppings and urine. Raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm, so their droppings need careful cleanup.
How do I book an inspection?
Call or text 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