Raccoon Removal — Pocono Mountains PA
Raccoons in your attic, crawlspace, or deck? Poconos Pest Control provides humane raccoon removal, damage repair, and permanent exclusion for homes, cabins, and vacation rentals across the Pocono Mountains. Licensed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Raccoons in the Pocono Mountains — A Major Property Threat
Raccoons are among the most intelligent and destructive wildlife species in the Pocono Mountains. These adaptable animals thrive in our region's mix of dense forest, lake communities, and residential developments. With powerful front paws that function almost like hands, raccoons can tear through roof shingles, rip soffit panels from fascia boards, pry open attic vents, and dismantle chimney caps to gain access to your home. Once inside, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage in a matter of days.
The Pocono Mountains' abundance of food sources — from natural foods like berries, crayfish, and frogs in our creek systems to garbage, pet food, and bird feeders around homes — supports a dense raccoon population. Our region's high percentage of seasonal and vacation properties makes the raccoon problem even worse. Unoccupied cabins and vacation homes provide ideal denning sites, and raccoons quickly learn which properties are vacant and vulnerable.
In planned communities like Hemlock Farms, Saw Creek Estates, and Penn Estates, raccoon issues are compounded by inconsistent garbage management among dozens or hundreds of property owners. When some residents secure their trash and others do not, raccoons are continually attracted to the community and inevitably find their way into structures.
Where Raccoons Den in Pocono Mountain Homes
Raccoons seek out dark, enclosed, elevated spaces that provide protection from predators and the elements. In the Pocono Mountains, the most common denning locations are:
Attics
The number one raccoon denning location in Pocono properties. Raccoons access attics through damaged soffit panels, rotted fascia boards, compromised roof vents, and gaps at roof-to-wall junctions. Once inside, they tear up insulation for nesting material, crush ductwork, soil large areas with urine and feces, and create significant water damage by opening holes in the roof structure. Female raccoons strongly prefer attics for their spring birthing dens — you will often hear heavy thumping and vocal sounds from babies, particularly at night.
Crawlspaces
Many Pocono Mountain homes, especially older cabins and properties on sloped lots, have accessible crawlspaces that raccoons exploit. They enter through damaged crawlspace doors, vent openings, and gaps in skirting. Raccoons denning in crawlspaces damage vapor barriers, tear apart insulation, and create health hazards with their waste. The moist, dark environment of a Pocono crawlspace is particularly attractive to raccoons during winter months.
Under Decks and Porches
The elevated decks and porches that are a hallmark of Pocono Mountain architecture provide perfect denning spaces when the underside is not enclosed. Raccoons burrow under deck stairs, create dens beneath elevated hot tub platforms, and establish latrine sites on deck boards. For vacation rental properties, raccoons living under the deck create a terrible guest experience with nighttime noise, damage to the deck structure, and unsanitary conditions.
Chimneys
Uncapped chimneys are an open invitation for raccoons. The interior of a chimney mimics a hollow tree — the natural denning site for raccoons in the wild. Raccoons can climb up and down the interior of masonry chimneys with ease and will establish dens on the smoke shelf above the damper. Chimney denning is especially common in summer cabins that go unused for months at a time.
Damage Raccoons Cause in Pocono Mountain Properties
The cost of raccoon damage in Pocono Mountain properties frequently ranges from two thousand to ten thousand dollars or more — and can be significantly higher when structural damage occurs or entire attic insulation systems need replacement. Understanding the types of damage raccoons cause underscores the importance of prompt professional removal.
Structural Damage
Raccoons tear holes in roofing, destroy soffit and fascia, damage attic framing, and compromise roof integrity. Water intrusion through raccoon-created openings causes secondary damage including mold growth and wood rot.
Insulation Destruction
Raccoons compress, tear apart, and contaminate attic insulation. Urine and feces saturation renders insulation useless and creates persistent odors that permeate the living space below. Full insulation replacement is frequently required.
Health Hazards
Raccoon feces can carry roundworm eggs that are dangerous to humans. Their urine can cause leptospirosis. Accumulated waste attracts secondary pests including flies and beetles. Raccoons are also one of the primary rabies vectors in Pennsylvania.
Garbage Issues in Pocono Communities
Raccoons in planned communities and HOA developments create ongoing garbage management challenges. They overturn trash cans, tear open bags, and scatter debris across roads and yards. For communities like Arrowhead Lake, Towamensing Trails, and Pocono Farms, a community-wide approach to raccoon management — including HOA pest control programs — is far more effective than individual homeowner efforts.
Raccoon Seasonal Behavior in the Poconos
Understanding raccoon behavior throughout the year helps property owners anticipate problems and time prevention efforts effectively:
🌸 Spring — Birthing Season (March – May)
Female raccoons give birth to litters of three to five kits in late March through April. They are extremely motivated to find secure denning sites — attics are their preferred choice. If you hear heavy activity in your attic during early spring, there is a high probability a female raccoon has established a birthing den. This is the peak season for raccoon removal calls across all four Pocono counties. Our technicians are specially trained to remove mothers and babies together humanely.
☀️ Summer — Growth and Exploration (June – August)
Juvenile raccoons begin exploring on their own, expanding the range of raccoon activity around your property. Raccoon families are often seen at dusk on decks, near hot tubs, and around outdoor dining areas at vacation rental properties. This is a critical period for vacation rental properties where guest encounters with raccoons can lead to complaints and negative reviews.
🍂 Fall — Pre-Winter Denning (September – November)
Raccoons feed heavily in fall to build fat reserves for winter and begin scouting for winter denning locations. Properties that were accessed during summer may see increased raccoon activity as animals prepare to settle in for the cold months. Fall is the ideal time for exclusion work to prevent winter denning — before raccoons commit to your attic as their winter shelter.
❄️ Winter — Denning Period (December – February)
Contrary to popular belief, raccoons do not truly hibernate. They enter a state of torpor during the coldest periods but remain active throughout winter, particularly during warmer spells. Raccoons denning in attics of seasonal Pocono cabins can cause enormous damage during winter months when no one is present to hear or detect their activity. This is why a fall exclusion assessment is so valuable for seasonal property owners.
Our Raccoon Removal and Exclusion Process
Effective raccoon removal requires more than just trapping. Our comprehensive process ensures the animals are removed safely, the damage is addressed, and your property is sealed against future intrusions.
Step 1 — Thorough Inspection
We inspect your entire property to identify all entry points, determine the number of raccoons present, check for babies (critical during spring), assess the extent of damage, and develop a removal strategy specific to your situation. Our inspectors know exactly where to look in Pocono Mountain construction styles — from A-frame soffits to log home chinking gaps.
Step 2 — Humane Trapping and Removal
We set humane live traps at entry points and along raccoon travel routes. Traps are checked daily in compliance with Pennsylvania regulations. When babies are present, we use specialized techniques to remove the entire family together. All trapping and handling follows Pennsylvania Game Commission guidelines and our licensed wildlife control protocols.
Step 3 — Cleanup and Sanitization
Once all raccoons are removed, we clean and sanitize the affected area. This includes removing contaminated insulation, treating surfaces with enzyme-based sanitizers to neutralize odors and pathogens, and assessing the need for insulation replacement. Proper cleanup is essential — raccoon latrine sites can remain biologically hazardous long after the animals are gone.
Step 4 — Professional Exclusion
We seal every entry point using heavy-duty materials that raccoons cannot penetrate — galvanized steel mesh, metal flashing, and reinforced screening. We also address potential future entry points and reinforce vulnerable areas of your roofline, soffit, and fascia. Our exclusion work comes with a warranty, giving you confidence that raccoons will not return to your Pocono Mountain property.