Silver Bullet Pest ControlSquirrel Removal in Paterson, NJ — and Raccoon Removal
Squirrels in the attic of a two-family, a raccoon on the flat roof, or scratching above the top-floor apartment? Paterson's older wood-frame houses and close-packed roofs give wildlife plenty of ways in. Silver Bullet Pest Control gets squirrels and raccoons out with one-way doors, seals every entry point, cleans the attic and removes dead animals — for owners, landlords and tenants. Hablamos español.
4.9 stars on Google • NJ License 90568B • Licensed by NJ Fish & Wildlife for wildlife work • 15+ years • Based in Garfield • Hablamos español
Send a photo of the hole, the roof or the vent by text to 973-510-2585. En español también.
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Who handles squirrel removal in Paterson, NJ?
Silver Bullet Pest Control handles squirrel removal in Paterson, NJ with exclusion: we inspect the attic, roofline, soffits, vents and chimney, fit a one-way door on the main hole so the squirrels leave on their own, and seal every entry point so they can't return. We do the same for raccoons, plus damage repair, attic cleanup with HEPA and insulation replacement, and dead animal removal. Free estimates; NJ License 90568B. Call or text 973-510-2585 — hablamos español.
Why squirrels and raccoons do well in Paterson
People think of Paterson as a dense city, and it is — but it also has a lot of green. The Passaic River loops around much of the city, Eastside Park runs along the river, the Great Falls area has wooded banks, and Garret Mountain Reservation rises just to the west. Squirrels and raccoons live in all of those places and move into the streets next to them.
What makes the city different from the suburbs is the buildings. A lot of Paterson housing is older two- and three-family wood-frame homes, attached houses that share roofs, and mixed buildings with stores downstairs and apartments up top. Roofs are close together, so an animal that gets onto one can often reach the next. Trash cans and dumpsters along busy blocks are an easy meal for raccoons.
Paterson borders Elmwood Park and Fair Lawn across the river, plus Clifton, Totowa, Haledon, Prospect Park and Hawthorne. Our base in Garfield is close — usually 10 to 20 minutes depending on traffic and which part of the city you're in — and same-day visits are often available.
Where squirrels and raccoons get into Paterson buildings
The way in depends a lot on the type of building. Here is what we check first:
| Building | Common entry points | What usually moves in |
|---|---|---|
| Two- or three-family frame house | Soffit corners, gable vents, gaps where porch roofs meet the house | Gray squirrels; raccoons on the porch roof |
| Attached or row house | Shared roof edges, parapets, roof hatches, chimney flues | Raccoons on flat roofs; squirrels along the cornice |
| Store with apartments above | Rear roof, vent openings, old signs and cornices | Raccoons drawn by dumpsters behind the building |
| Single-family home near a park | Trees over the roof, attic vents, chimney | Squirrels from the trees; raccoons from the riverbank |
| Detached garage or shed | Loose doors, gaps under the slab, rotted roof edge | Raccoons denning; squirrels storing food |
Every building is different, so we look at the whole roofline, not just the hole someone noticed.
Signs of squirrels or raccoons in a Paterson home
Noise at sunrise
Fast running and scratching in the ceiling early in the morning and late afternoon points to gray squirrels.
Heavy steps at night
Slow, heavy walking or thumping after dark — sometimes with chirring babies — points to a raccoon.
A hole or torn vent
A round, chewed hole is a squirrel. A torn-open vent, soffit or roof edge is usually a raccoon.
A bad smell
An ammonia smell means droppings and urine. A sweet, rotten smell means something died inside and needs to come out.
Still not sure what it is? See attic noises: squirrels, rats or raccoons and squirrels in the attic.
Squirrel removal in Paterson, NJ: our step-by-step plan
Inspection
We go through the attic and around the roofline, soffits, vents and chimney. In multi-family buildings we look at every unit's ceiling area we can reach.
Find the nest
Before anything goes on the house, we check for a nest and young so no babies get sealed inside.
Seal the extra gaps
Every opening except the main hole is closed with chew-resistant material.
One-way door
A one-way door goes on the main hole. The squirrels leave to feed and can't get back in.
Seal and repair
Once the attic is quiet, the door comes off, the hole is sealed for good and the chewed wood is repaired.
More on one-way door squirrel exclusion and our full squirrel removal and repair service.
Raccoon removal in Paterson, NJ
City raccoons are bold. They walk the power lines, climb downspouts to flat roofs, and will tear a vent apart to get into a quiet attic or ceiling space. In spring, the animal in your roof is often a mother with kits.
We don't trap raccoons and drive them somewhere else. We find the den, check for kits, and use a one-way exit so the raccoon leaves on its own. Then we close the opening with heavy material a raccoon can't pull apart, and cap the chimney if that's how it got in.
- Flat roofs and parapets: we seal roof hatches, vent openings and gaps along the edge.
- Chimneys: we install chimney caps once the animal is out. See raccoon in the chimney.
- Under porches, stairs and sheds: we install buried mesh so they can't dig back in.
Raccoons can carry rabies and roundworm, so never corner one or clean up droppings by hand. Read more on raccoons in the attic, how raccoons get in and raccoon proofing.
For Paterson landlords and tenants
In a two- or three-family house, the animal is often over one unit while the way in is somewhere else on the roof. That's why it works best when the owner calls us and we can get to the attic and all sides of the building.
- Tenants: tell your landlord in writing what you're hearing and when. A photo of a hole or a stain on the ceiling helps. You can call or text us too, and we'll explain what we'd need to inspect.
- Landlords: let tenants know when we're coming and that we need attic or roof access. Fixing the entry points once is cheaper than repeat calls every season.
- Rules: who has to pay for wildlife problems can depend on the lease and local codes, and those rules can change. For questions, check with Paterson's code enforcement office or the NJ Department of Community Affairs.
We also handle mice and rats in Paterson buildings — see mice and rat control in Paterson.
Cleanup, repair and dead animal removal
Insulation removal and HEPA cleanup
- Droppings and nesting material
- Urine-soaked, matted insulation
- A smell that comes through the ceiling
We remove soiled insulation, do HEPA cleanup and odor control, and put new insulation back in so the attic works again.
Soffit, fascia and trim repair
- Chewed corners and holes
- Torn vents
- Loose or rotted trim
We repair chewed and torn roofline wood ourselves after the animals are out, so the hole is fixed, not just covered.
Dead animal removal
- A sweet, rotten smell
- Flies near a ceiling or wall
- A smell that gets worse on warm days
If an animal died in the attic, in a wall or in the yard, we find it, remove it and treat the odor.
What Paterson homeowners try first — and what happens
| What people try | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Stuffing the hole with rags or foam | Squirrels chew through foam fast; raccoons pull rags right out. |
| Sealing the hole while the animal is inside | It chews or tears a new hole, or dies inside and causes a smell. |
| Mothballs, ammonia or a radio in the attic | Animals get used to it; the fumes stay in your home. |
| Renting a trap | Relocating wildlife is regulated in NJ, and a new animal uses the same hole. |
| Leaving trash out by the curb overnight | Feeds raccoons and keeps them on your block. Use tight lids. |
See home remedies for squirrels and raccoons for what's worth trying and what isn't.
More Silver Bullet pages for Paterson
Get a Free Squirrel & Raccoon Estimate in Paterson
Tell us what you're hearing, when, and what kind of building it is. Photos of the roof or hole help. Free estimate, in English or Spanish.
Why Paterson calls us for wildlife
- Squirrels in the attic of a two-family
- A raccoon living on a flat roof or in the chimney
- Scratching over a top-floor apartment
- A dead-animal smell in a wall or ceiling
- A landlord who wants it fixed for good
Request Service
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Squirrel & Raccoon Removal Questions from Paterson
How much does squirrel or raccoon removal cost in Paterson?
It depends on the building, the number of entry points, whether there are babies and how much cleanup is needed, so we give a free estimate after we see it. Our squirrel removal cost page explains the main factors.
How long does the job take?
The sealing and one-way door usually go on in one visit. Most animals leave within a few days, and then we seal the last opening and do the repairs.
Do you trap the animals and take them away?
No. We use one-way doors so the animals leave on their own, then we seal every entry point. Relocating wildlife is regulated in New Jersey.
What about baby squirrels or raccoons?
We check for young before installing anything and never seal in a nest. The work is timed so the babies leave with their mother.
Can you remove a dead animal from my wall or ceiling?
Yes. We do dead animal removal from attics, walls and yards and treat the odor afterward.
Will insurance cover the damage?
It depends on the policy; many treat animal damage differently from storm damage. Call your agent first; photos of the damage help.
Do you fix the damage too?
Yes. We repair chewed soffits, fascia and trim, replace soiled insulation with HEPA cleanup, and install chimney caps and buried mesh under porches and sheds.
I rent my apartment. Can I call you?
Yes, call or text us and we'll explain what we'd need to inspect. Most jobs need the owner's OK because we work on the roof and attic.
Is it safe to clean raccoon droppings myself?
It's not a good idea. Raccoon latrines can carry roundworm eggs, so they should be cleaned with protective gear and HEPA equipment.
How close are you to Paterson?
We're based in Garfield, usually 10 to 20 minutes away, and same-day visits are often available.
Are you licensed?
Yes. We're licensed by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife for wildlife work, our NJ pesticide license is 90568B, and we have over 15 years of experience.
¿Sacan ardillas y mapaches en Paterson?
Sí. Los sacamos con puertas de una sola vía, sellamos las entradas y limpiamos el ático. Llame o mande texto al 973-510-2585.
Squirrel & raccoon removal near Paterson
From our base in Garfield we cover Paterson and the towns around it.
Recent jobs near Paterson, NJ
Real photos from our recent jobs. We show only the street and town, never the customer's exact address.
Squirrel & raccoon exclusion for a home on East Main Paterson in Paterson, NJ by Silver Bullet Pest Control.
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Rat & mouse control for a home on Mckinley St in Passaic, NJ by Silver Bullet Pest Control.
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Our service area
Bergen County
973-510-2585- Allendale
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Passaic County
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973-510-2585Union County
973-510-2585- Berkeley Heights
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Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B