Silver Bullet Pest ControlSquirrel Removal Totowa NJ & Raccoon Removal for Totowa Homes
Something running across the ceiling of a split-level at dawn, a raccoon under the deck, or a torn vent over the garage? Silver Bullet Pest Control removes squirrels and raccoons from Totowa homes with one-way doors — no trapping — then seals every opening and repairs the damage.
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Not sure what's up there? Record 20 seconds of the noise and text it to 973-510-2585.
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Who does squirrel removal in Totowa, NJ?
Silver Bullet Pest Control provides squirrel removal in Totowa, NJ by exclusion: we find every entry point, fit the main one with a one-way door so the squirrels leave on their own, then seal it and every other gap permanently and repair what they chewed. Raccoon removal in Totowa works the same way, and we also remove dead animals, cap chimneys, put mesh under decks and sheds, and do HEPA attic cleanup with insulation replacement where needed. We're in Garfield, about 8 miles east along Route 80, and estimates are free. NJ License 90568B. Call or text 973-510-2585.
Why Totowa sees so many squirrels and raccoons
Totowa is a small borough, but it sits in the middle of a lot of green. The Passaic River curves along much of its edge, with wooded banks running toward the Great Falls in Paterson. Garret Mountain Reservation is close by in Woodland Park, and there are wooded hillsides and backyards with mature trees across the residential parts of town. Squirrels and raccoons travel those tree lines and riverbanks into neighborhoods every night and morning.
Route 46 and Route 80 cut through Totowa, and the restaurants, shops and offices along them add one more thing raccoons love: dumpsters and garbage. A raccoon that feeds behind a strip mall at night still needs a dry place to sleep during the day, and a nearby attic, chimney or crawl space under a deck is ideal.
We serve Totowa from our base in Garfield — about 8 miles east, usually a 15 to 20 minute drive on Route 80 — and same-day visits are often available. We also cover nearby Wayne, Paterson, Woodland Park and Little Falls.
Squirrels and raccoons in Totowa, month by month
| Season | Squirrels | Raccoons | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late winter (Jan–Mar) | Mothers look for nest sites; first litters born | Mating season; males roam | New holes in soffits, scratching at dawn |
| Spring (Apr–Jun) | Young growing in the attic | Mothers den in attics and chimneys with young | Squeaking or chattering; don't seal holes yourself |
| Summer (Jul–Aug) | Second litters for many squirrels | Young raccoons start following their mother out | Activity at night under decks and porches |
| Fall (Sep–Dec) | Storing acorns, moving indoors for winter | Feeding heavily, looking for a winter den | Busiest time for new entries — trim branches, check vents |
Timing affects how we do the job. Read more about baby squirrel and raccoon season in NJ.
Signs you have a squirrel or raccoon problem
Noise at sunrise
Scurrying and rolling sounds early in the morning and late in the afternoon point to squirrels, which are active by day.
Thumping at night
Heavy, slow footsteps after dark are usually a raccoon. You may also hear growling or chattering.
A new hole or torn vent
Squirrels chew neat round holes. Raccoons rip vents, soffit panels and shingles open.
A smell that won't quit
An ammonia smell can mean droppings and urine in the attic. A sweet, rotten smell can mean a dead animal.
More detail: squirrels in the attic and raccoons in the attic.
Where they get into split-levels, ranches and capes
Much of Totowa's housing is single-family homes — ranches, capes, raised ranches and split-levels, many on sloped lots. Each style has its own weak spots:
- Split-levels: the joint where the lower roof meets the wall of the upper level. There's often a short gap behind the gutter or at the end of the soffit that squirrels find fast.
- Ranches and raised ranches: long runs of soffit and low roof edges, plus gable vents at each end. Low roofs are easy for raccoons to climb onto from a fence, a deck rail or a trash shed.
- Capes: dormers and the small attic spaces behind the knee walls. Animals in those spaces sound like they're inside the bedroom wall.
- Attached garages: the roof over the garage often ties into the house with gaps the homeowner never sees from the ground.
- Decks, porches and sheds: on sloped lots, the open space under a deck is a favorite raccoon den. We install buried mesh barriers to close it off.
Our page on how raccoons get into attics shows the most common raccoon entries.
Squirrel removal in Totowa, NJ: our step-by-step process
Inspect and plan
- Attic, roofline, soffits and vents
- Chimney and garage roof
- Check for babies first
We look at every side of the house and inside the attic, find the main entry and every weak spot, and decide on timing if there are young.
One-way door out
- Other gaps sealed first
- One-way door on the main hole
- Animals leave on their own
Squirrels and raccoons leave to feed as usual and can't get back in. Nothing is trapped, carried off or sealed inside.
Seal and repair
- Main hole closed for good
- Chewed wood repaired
- Insulation cleanup if needed
Once they're out, we close the last hole, repair the soffit, fascia or trim, and clean or replace attic insulation where it's soiled.
DIY fixes vs. professional exclusion
| What people try | What usually happens | What we do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Stuffing the hole with foam or rags | Chewed through in a day; a squirrel inside makes a new hole | Seal with chew-resistant materials after the animals are out |
| Mothballs, ammonia, radios, lights | Animals get used to them; fumes stay in your house | One-way door so they leave and can't return |
| Renting a trap | Catching the wrong animal, risky handling, and a new animal moves in | No trapping — exclusion and sealing |
| Closing the hole right away | Babies trapped inside; mother tears a new hole | Check for young and time the exclusion |
| Cutting back branches only | Good prevention, but the animals already inside stay | Exclusion first, then trim branches |
Want to know what does help? See squirrel and raccoon prevention tips.
Dead animal smell in the house
Sometimes a squirrel or raccoon dies in an attic, a wall or under a floor — after a DIY seal-up, from illness, or from age. The smell usually starts mild and gets much worse over a few days, and it can bring flies.
We do dead animal removal in Totowa homes. We find the source, remove the animal, clean the area and treat it for odor. If the animal got in through a gap that's still open, we can seal that too so another one doesn't follow.
Read more on our dead animal removal service page.
Raccoon removal in Totowa, NJ: what affects the cost
We give a free estimate once we've seen the house. The biggest factors for squirrel or raccoon removal are:
- The number of entry points — one hole versus several vents and gaps.
- Access — a ranch roof versus a tall split-level on a slope.
- Young in the attic or chimney, which can change timing and visits.
- Repairs — chewed soffit, fascia or trim, chimney caps, vent guards, or mesh under a deck.
- Cleanup — HEPA cleanup, odor control, and whether insulation needs replacing.
More: squirrel removal cost and raccoon removal cost.
More pages for Totowa and nearby
Free Squirrel & Raccoon Estimate in Totowa
Tell us what you hear, when you hear it, and where. A photo of the hole or a short video of the noise helps. We'll inspect and give you a free estimate with the plan.
Why Totowa homeowners call us
- Scratching over the ceiling at dawn
- A raccoon living under the deck or shed
- Torn roof or gable vent
- Noises behind a knee wall or in the garage ceiling
- A dead-animal smell that's getting worse
Request Service
🔒 Your info stays private · Hablamos español.
Squirrel & Raccoon Removal in Totowa: Questions
How much does squirrel removal cost in Totowa?
It depends on the number of entry points, roof access, and how much repair and cleanup the house needs, so we give a free estimate after inspecting. See squirrel removal cost for the main factors.
How long does squirrel or raccoon removal take?
Most homes need one visit to seal and install the one-way door, then a return visit once the animals are gone to close the main hole. The animals usually leave within a few days.
Do you trap and remove the animals?
No. We use one-way doors so squirrels and raccoons leave on their own, then we seal the house so they can't come back. We don't trap and haul animals away.
What if there are babies?
We check for young first and never block an occupied nest. The exclusion is timed so the babies can leave with their mother.
Can you get rid of a dead animal smell?
Yes. We find and remove dead animals from attics, walls and yards and treat the area for odor.
Does homeowners insurance cover raccoon damage?
Some policies cover sudden damage from animals and many don't, so ask your insurance company. Photos of the damage are useful, and we'll show you everything we find.
Do you fix the damage?
Yes. We repair chewed soffits, fascia and trim ourselves, add chimney caps and vent guards, and remove and replace soiled insulation where needed.
A raccoon is living under my deck. Can you help?
Yes. We get the raccoon out with exclusion, then install a buried mesh barrier around the deck so animals can't dig back under.
Why are there more raccoons near Route 46?
Raccoons feed on garbage and dumpsters at night, and businesses along the highway give them plenty. They then den in nearby attics, chimneys and decks.
How fast can you get to Totowa?
We're in Garfield, about 8 miles east, 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, and our NJ pesticide license is 90568B.
¿Ofrecen servicio de ardillas y mapaches en Totowa?
Sí. Sacamos ardillas y mapaches con puertas de una sola vía, sellamos todo y reparamos el daño. Llame o mande texto al 973-510-2585.
Squirrel & raccoon removal near Totowa
Based in Garfield, serving Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties.
Recent jobs near Totowa, 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.
Bee & wasp removal for a home on Clifton Ave in Clifton, NJ by Silver Bullet Pest Control.
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Our service area
Bergen County
973-510-2585- Allendale
- Bergenfield
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Passaic County
973-510-2585- Bloomingdale
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Essex County
973-510-2585- Belleville
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Hudson County
973-510-2585Union County
973-510-2585- Berkeley Heights
- Clark
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Morris County
973-510-2585- Boonton
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- Morristown
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Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B