Something in the Attic: Raccoons, Squirrels, and What to Do

Scratching in the attic in Ohio is almost always squirrels, raccoons, or mice. Time of day is the first clue. Squirrels are loud in the early morning and late afternoon. Raccoons move at night and sound heavier, often like something dragging. Mice are quiet, quick, and constant.

Squirrels chew through soffits, gable vents, and roof returns. Raccoons pull vents open, tear back shingles, or use nearby trees to reach a roof line. Both can damage insulation, chew wiring, and leave droppings that carry parasites.

Removal has to be done in a specific order. We identify entry points, set live traps, monitor them daily so no animal is left in a trap longer than a day, remove the animals, and then seal every entry point so nothing moves back in.

Trying to seal a house while animals are still inside almost always ends badly. Trapped raccoons tear through drywall, and a mother separated from her young in an attic causes far more damage than the original entry.