Finding raccoons in your attic or around your home can be stressful. These clever creatures are cute from a distance, but when they start living on your property, they can cause serious problems.
You might be wondering how much it costs to get rid of them. The truth is, the price can vary depending on several factors. In this article, we’ll break down the services involved in raccoon removal so you know what to expect.
Cost of Raccoon Removal
Raccoon removal services vary depending on the time of year and extent of damage. To provide transparency and accuracy, we offer complimentary onsite estimates. Our standard service includes humane raccoon removal and closure of one entry point. Additional entry points or required work may incur extra costs. Our detailed estimate will outline all necessary work and associated fees for your approval before we begin.
While it might be tempting to go for the cheapest option, remember that you often get what you pay for. Cheap services might just remove the raccoons without addressing how they got in, leading to repeat visits.
For example, at Gates Wildlife, we offer free on-site estimates, which is something many other companies don’t provide. Instead of giving you a broad estimate over the phone without seeing the property, we come to you and assess the situation firsthand. This helps us give you a more accurate idea of what it will cost to remove the raccoons and secure your home from future damage and invasions.
What Services Are Included in Our Base Raccoon Removal Cost?
| Service | Details | Included in Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Inspection | Free on-site estimate | Yes |
| Humane Raccoon Removal | Safe and humane removal of raccoons | Yes |
| Entry Point Closure | Sealing one entry point to prevent return | Yes |
| Additional Entry Closure | Sealing extra entry points (if necessary) | Additional Cost |
| Prevention Measures | Identifying future entry points | Yes |
| Damage Repairs | Repairing damage caused by raccoons | Additional Cost (if necessary) |
| Follow-up Inspection | Ensuring removal went according to plan | Yes |
When you pay for raccoon removal, you’re not just paying for someone to come and take the raccoons away. There are several services included in the cost that ensure your home is safe and raccoon-free.
- Humane Removal: the first step in the process is the humane removal of the raccoons. At Gates Wildlife, we prioritize the well-being of the animals. We use methods that safely and humanely remove raccoons from your home, ensuring the family stays together.
- Prevention: one of the most important parts of raccoon removal is preventing them from coming back. After removing the raccoons, we identify and patch up the entry points they used to get into your home. This is crucial because if the entry points aren’t properly sealed, you could end up with more raccoons in the future. Gates Wildlife Control uses screen to secure these openings, which is durable and effective at keeping raccoons out.
- Health Risks: raccoons can carry diseases that are harmful to humans, such as Baylisascaris (Raccoon Roundworm) in their feces and Leptospirosis. Part of the removal service includes addressing these health risks. We make sure all the necessary actions are taken when we are inside your home and that any potential contamination from raccoon droppings or urine is dealt with.
- Repairs: raccoons can cause significant damage to your home, especially if they’ve been living there for a while. They might tear up insulation, chew through wires, or damage the structure of your attic. The cost of raccoon removal can also include repairs to fix the damage caused by these animals. This helps restore your home to its original condition and prevent further issues.
Will Raccoons Leave on Their Own?
Raccoons are very resourceful and will stay as long as they have access to food and shelter. Even if they do leave, they might come back later, or other raccoons might move in. The best way to ensure they’re gone for good is to have them removed and to secure your home against future invasions.
Will Raccoons Come Back?
Raccoons are known to return to places where they’ve found shelter before, especially if they think they can find food or warmth. This makes it critical to not only remove the raccoons but also take steps to eliminate anything that might attract them back.
Ensure that trash bins are secure, pet food is kept indoors, and bird feeders are removed at night. It’s just as important to identify and seal any entry points, as raccoons can squeeze through surprisingly small openings.
For example, at Gates Wildlife, we don’t just remove the raccoons and leave. We take the extra step of making sure your home is properly secured so that raccoons don’t come back. By using durable materials like screen to patch up holes, we help protect your home from future invasions.
DIY Raccoon Removal: Why It’s Not Recommended
It might be tempting to try and remove raccoons from your home on your own, especially if you’re looking to save money. However, DIY raccoon removal can come with significant risks and challenges that can end up costing you more in the long run.
Safety Concerns
Raccoons are wild animals, and they can be unpredictable and aggressive, especially if they feel threatened or are protecting their young. Attempting to trap or remove a raccoon yourself can put you at risk of bites, scratches, or even disease. Raccoons can carry dangerous diseases like rabies and leptospirosis, which can be transmitted to humans. Without the proper equipment and knowledge, handling these animals can be hazardous to your health.
Incomplete Solution
One of the biggest issues with DIY raccoon removal is the likelihood of not fully addressing the problem. Raccoons are clever and persistent. If you manage to remove one raccoon but don’t find and seal all the entry points, other raccoons might move in shortly after. You may also overlook other signs of infestation, like hidden nests or damage that needs to be repaired. Without addressing the root causes, you’re likely to experience a repeat invasion.
Possible Increased Damage
Improper removal techniques can also cause more harm than good. For example, using the wrong type of equipment could injure the raccoons leading to a more difficult removal. Additionally, if you attempt to block an entry point without removing all the raccoons first, you could lock them inside your home, leading to more damage or even death as they try to find a way out.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
In many areas, there are laws and regulations governing the removal and relocation of wildlife. DIY methods might inadvertently violate these laws, leading to potential fines or legal trouble. Humane treatment of raccoons is important, both ethically and legally. Professional removal services, like Gates Wildlife, ensure that the animals are removed in a way that is both humane and compliant with local regulations.
Benefits of Hiring a Wildlife Professional
Hiring a professional for raccoon removal has several benefits. For one, it ensures the job is done safely and humanely. Dealing with raccoons can be dangerous, especially if they’re aggressive or carrying diseases. Professionals know how to handle these animals in a way that minimizes risk to both the raccoons and your family.
Another benefit is that professionals will address the root cause of the problem. Instead of just removing the raccoons and leaving, they’ll identify how the raccoons got into your home in the first place and take steps to prevent it from happening again. This can save you a lot of trouble in the long run and help you avoid the costs and stress of dealing with a repeat invasion.
Finally, professional raccoon removal services, like those offered by Gates Wildlife, include repairs and prevention work that help protect your home from future damage. This comprehensive approach ensures that once the raccoons are gone, they stay gone.
Final Thoughts
Raccoon removal might seem like a big expense, but when you consider what’s included in the cost, it’s a worthwhile investment. Not only do you get rid of the raccoons, but you also protect your home from future invasions and address any health risks or damage caused by these animals.
If you’re dealing with raccoons on your property, don’t hesitate to contact Gates Wildlife. With our humane removal methods, thorough prevention work, and free on-site estimates, we provide a service that’s worth every penny.
To learn more about our raccoon removal process, check out this video:
