Is It Bad to Have Raccoons Around Your House?

Having raccoons around your house can lead to serious problems, including property damage, health risks, and potential infestations. While they might seem harmless at first, their presence often signals long-term issues if not addressed quickly.

The Hidden Dangers of Raccoons Near Your Home

While raccoons may appear harmless when wandering through your yard, the real issues begin when they start treating your home like theirs. From costly repairs to serious health concerns, the damage they cause often goes unnoticed until it becomes a major problem.

Let’s take a closer look at the biggest dangers raccoons pose when they stick around your property.

Property Damage

Raccoons are incredibly strong and persistent when trying to access shelter, which often leads them into attics, crawl spaces, chimneys, or under decks. In the process, they can rip up shingles, damage siding, tear vents off walls, or break through soffits to gain entry.

Once inside, the damage only gets worse. They’ll shred insulation to build nests, chew on electrical wires, and leave behind piles of feces and urine—all of which lead to expensive repairs and potential fire hazards.

Health and Safety Risks

Raccoons can carry several serious diseases that pose a direct threat to humans and pets. Rabies, leptospirosis, and raccoon roundworm are just a few of the risks they bring, especially if they’ve made their way indoors or are using your yard as a latrine.

Even if there’s no direct contact, exposure to their droppings, nesting materials, or contaminated surfaces can spread bacteria and parasites. This is especially concerning in attics, garages, or sheds where people may unknowingly come into contact with harmful pathogens.

Aggressive Behavior

While raccoons usually avoid confrontation, they can become aggressive if they feel trapped or if they’re defending their young. A cornered raccoon may bite, scratch, or charge if approached, creating a serious risk for children or pets who get too close.

This behavior is even more concerning if the raccoon is sick or infected, as diseases like rabies can lead to erratic, unusually bold actions. The longer raccoons stay close to your home, the more likely it is you’ll eventually cross paths—and not in a good way.

Signs That Raccoons Are Already Too Close

Raccoons are sneaky, but they leave behind clues when they start getting too comfortable around your home. If you’re hearing strange thumps, scratching, or movement in the attic or walls at night, it’s often a sign they’re nesting above your ceiling.

Other common indicators include knocked-over trash bins, torn window screens, garden damage, or greasy paw prints around doors and siding. You might also notice droppings near decks, sheds, or crawl space openings—all signs that raccoons are spending a lot more time on your property than they should.

Why Raccoons Choose Your House

Raccoons don’t randomly show up—they follow their noses to easy meals and sheltered hiding spots. If you leave out pet food, have overflowing trash cans, or grow fruits and vegetables in the yard, raccoons will quickly learn your home is a reliable food source.

Shelter is just as important. Loose attic vents, uncapped chimneys, broken soffits, or gaps under sheds and decks offer dark, quiet spots perfect for nesting. Once they find both food and shelter in one place, your home becomes an ideal base for raccoon activity.

What Happens If You Ignore the Problem

Ignoring raccoons around your home might seem easier than dealing with them, but the problem rarely goes away on its own. If they find a safe place to hide or a steady food supply, they’ll settle in—and potentially invite others.

Over time, what starts as a single raccoon sighting can turn into a full-blown infestation. They may tear into your attic, leave droppings in hidden corners, and create lasting damage that’s far more expensive and hazardous to clean up later.

When to Call a Professional

If you notice raccoons returning regularly, acting unusually bold, or suspect they’ve moved into your attic or crawl space, it’s time to call a wildlife control expert. Professionals are trained to remove raccoons safely, legally, and humanely without putting your family or pets at risk.

They also do more than just remove the animal. A licensed wildlife technician will inspect for damage, identify entry points, and seal off access to prevent future problems. The sooner you call, the easier—and cheaper—it is to protect your home.

Call AAAC Wildlife Removal Before It Gets Worse

If raccoons are getting too close for comfort, don’t wait for damage to pile up. AAAC Wildlife Removal offers fast, humane raccoon removal services backed by years of experience and local know-how.

Our experts will safely remove the animals, seal up entry points, and help you prevent future visits—so you can protect your home and your peace of mind. Call AAAC Wildlife Removal today and let us handle the problem before it turns into a full-blown infestation.

Conclusion

Having raccoons around your house isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it’s a serious risk to your property, health, and safety. From chewing through wires to spreading disease, the longer they stay, the worse the situation gets.

If you notice signs of raccoon activity, don’t wait. Take action early, secure your home, and reach out to a professional like AAAC Wildlife Removal to stop the problem before it becomes a costly nightmare.