Trap a Raccoon Coming or Going

Today we share pictures and descriptions of an efficient raccoon removal method.

This method works great when there is a raccoon or two getting into a house at a specific point on a home.

In this case, there was a water-weakened spot at the edge of some roof decking.

Raccoons found it, removed the shingles, and made the hole large enough that they could get in and out.

Once they were in that hole they were able to get into the attic, alerting the residents there was a problem.

Our job is to identify where they are getting in and set up traps to catch them quickly.

Here is the hole raccoons were using. 

Set Up A Double Door Trap

The best tool for catching raccoons moving in and out this hole is a double door trap.

A double door trap has a trigger of wire in the middle.  When a raccoon brushes by the wire blocking the middle of the trap both doors spring closed.

Here is a good look at the set-up for this hole.

You can see the double door trap with the doors up sitting on a piece of plywood.

The plywood protects the roof deck from an animal in the trap but it also 1) covers the smaller hole and 2) lets the trap be firmly attached to the roof so the trap stays put no matter what the weather or animals do.

On the left side of the board over the hole cut-out, there is an extra box-like structure of wire.  This is called a “nose cone”.

It has a top and three sides.  The trap gets slid into the missing side and there is no bottom as it sits directly on the plywood with the hole in it.

This nose-cone blocks off the hole from all directions except the trap side.  Any animal wishing to go in or out of the hole will have to go through the trap.

The camera that was used to take these pictures is also visible.  It helps us monitor the trap to know when the animals are there.

Raccoon Caught Exiting

When the trap was set there was a raccoon inside this structure.

Just after dark on the first night (about 5:30 PM) the raccoon came out.

As you see from the time-stamping, it doesn’t hurry out.  But, if it wants food and water it has only one way to get out: through the trap.

Catching One Going Inside

Removing the raccoon that was inside was the top priority.

But, before a temporary or permanent repair is made to that area, we usually see if there are any other animals that know about and use this hole.

We confirm this by letting the trap set-up stay in place for another few days.

This also assures us that there are no more animals inside the structure that just aren’t coming out right now.  When it is really cold (which it wasn’t) raccoons can hunker down for multiple days.

Waiting a couple of more days in this case showed there was another raccoon that was very inetersted in the hole and knew it wanted in.

He first checks out the camera, mills about, and then finally tries to get in.

All of this happens in the morning shortly after sunrise as the raccoon is looking for a place to spend the day.

As you can see, this trap set-up catches the raccoons going inside just as easily as those coming out.

Raccoon Removal & Repair | Akron, Canton, Kent

 After that raccoon was caught, there were no others.

We declared this house raccoon-free!  For now…

Obviously, if that hole on the roof edge is left there, raccoons or any other animal may move back in.

Therefore, a repair of the area is needed next.

Frontline Animal Removal can patch the roof deck and re-shingle that part of the roof.  It’s what makes us a full service removal and repair company.

Removing nuisance animals and performing preventative repairs is the name of the game.

If you are in the Akron, Canton, Kent Ohio area and need help with a raccoon problem, contact us today.