Raccoons in Your Attic vs Basement: What to Do

A raccoon in your attic is not the same as a raccoon in your basement. Where the animal is denning determines how difficult removal will be, how much damage it causes, and what kind of exclusion work you need afterward.

What an Attic Raccoon Means

If a raccoon is in your attic, you almost certainly have a mother with her babies. Attics are the perfect denning site: warm, dark, sheltered, and safe from predators. Raccoon mating season runs from late winter, and females give birth in March through May. Your attic is their preferred nursery.

Attic infestations mean serious damage. Raccoons tear out insulation to build nests, they chew through wiring creating fire hazards, and they soil insulation with urine and feces. The longer they stay, the worse the damage.

What a Basement Raccoon Means

A raccoon in your basement is usually different. Basements are typically transitory spaces, not primary denning sites. The animal likely entered through a window well, a cracked foundation vent, or an exposed basement window. It may be using the basement as a temporary shelter before moving elsewhere.

Basement raccoons are often solitary males or females without young. They are easier to remove because they have not established a permanent den. Window well covers and simple exclusion measures prevent re-entry.

Removal Approaches differ

Attic removal: Multiple visits required. The mother must be allowed to move her babies out naturally. One-way doors are installed over entry points. After the raccoons leave, nest material must be removed, insulation inspected, and electrical wiring checked by a licensed electrician. Full roof exclusion prevents return.

Basement removal: One to two visits typically. Install one-way doors over window wells or foundation vents. Seal any gaps larger than 3 inches. Exclusion is simpler because there are fewer entry points to manage.

Cost Difference

Attic raccoon removal runs $400 to $800 in the GTA because of the multiple visits and restoration involved. Basement removal typically costs $250 to $400 because the job is simpler.

If you have a raccoon in your attic, Get free quotes from licensed raccoon removal operators who understand the difference between attic and basement situations.

Not sure what you have? Get free quotes from licensed wildlife operators who can assess your situation and recommend the right approach.