The 2am thump test
Raccoons are nocturnal, and they're not quiet about it. The classic sign is heavy thumping, walking, or wrestling sounds in the attic or ceiling between dusk and dawn. Squirrels scamper during the day; rats scratch lightly at night. Raccoons sound like someone moving furniture — because at 15 to 25 pounds, that's roughly what they are.
What to look for outside
Walk around the house and look up. Raccoons need a hole about the size of a softball, and they leave evidence: torn or enlarged openings at the roofline, chewed fascia boards, bent attic vent covers, and dark rub marks around entry holes where their oily fur has polished the edges. Check the ground below for droppings — raccoon scat looks like small dog droppings and often appears in the same spot repeatedly (a latrine).
The smell gives them away
A raccoon den has a distinct musky, almost skunky odor that gets stronger in heat. If your attic access or upstairs hallway smells musky and you can't find a plumbing cause, wildlife is a strong suspect. Raccoon latrines also carry parasites that can be dangerous — don't handle droppings with bare hands, and keep kids and pets away from the area.
Spring means babies
In Central Florida, raccoon mothers den from late winter through spring. If you hear chittering, whining, or crying sounds in the attic during those months, there are likely kits up there. This changes everything about removal — the babies can't be trapped or sealed in. A humane pro checks for young first and times the work so the whole family leaves together.
What to do
Don't seal the hole yourself — you'll trap animals inside, and a trapped raccoon will tear through drywall to get out (or to reach her babies). Don't try to trap it yourself either; a cornered raccoon is strong, fast, and well-armed. Send us the form with what you're hearing and when. Our raccoon removal page covers the full process.