Night footsteps
The sound is heavier than a squirrel. It happens after dark, sometimes like someone walking a short path and stopping.
Raccoon removal in Fort Wayne, IN Heavy thumps in the ceiling at night? It is probably a raccoon.
Slow, heavy steps after dark, a vent pulled open, or a torn soffit by the gutter. Raccoons treat Fort Wayne attics like a spare room, and in spring the one upstairs is often a mother with babies.
How do you know it is a raccoon?
A door they made
Soffits, roof vents, and gable screens get pulled, bent, or torn. Raccoons have clever hands and very little patience.
A smell with a spot
They often use one corner as a bathroom. That pile is not just a mess. Ask before you sweep it.
Why your attic looked like a good idea
Raccoons want a dry, dark place to sleep. In spring they also want a place to raise babies. Your attic is quiet, and nobody walks through it. From their side of the ceiling, that is a pretty good apartment.
They do not need a wide-open hole. A loose corner of soffit is enough to start, and they will make it bigger on the way in. Homes near the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee see this a lot. So do houses with a tree that leans toward the roof.
Babies change the plan
In spring, often from about March into early summer, the raccoon upstairs may be a mother. The babies cannot leave on their own for a while. If the only door gets sealed too soon, the babies are stuck, and she will tear a new one.
We look for that before we close anything. A one-night guest and a family are different jobs. We will say which one you have before any work starts.
Leave the droppings alone
Raccoon droppings can carry roundworm eggs. Dry dust from that mess is the part you do not want in the air. Do not sweep it, do not vacuum it, and do not let kids play in that insulation.
If the spot is small, we will tell you. If it is a well-used corner, cleanup is part of the conversation, not an afterthought.
What should you do tonight?
- Stay out of the attic. A scared raccoon wants space, not a meeting.
- Keep pets inside, or at least away from the animal and from any hole it is using.
- Do not set a trap and drive it across town. You can split up a mother and her babies, and the hole stays open.
- Tell us when you hear it and which room is under the noise. You do not need a species name.
Common questions
Will it attack someone?
A raccoon would rather leave than fight. Corner it, or send the dog up to negotiate, and a bite becomes more likely. Bites need a doctor. Give it room and call us instead.
Can I just patch the hole?
Only after you know the attic is empty. A patch over a mother and her babies turns into a bigger hole by morning. We check first, then we close the opening with something sturdier than foam.
What about the droppings?
Raccoon droppings can carry roundworm eggs, and dry dust from that mess is the part you do not want in the air. Do not sweep or vacuum it. If the corner has been used a lot, cleanup is part of the job, not an afterthought.
The longer explanation, with sources, is in the guide Raccoons in the attic.
Ready to sleep through the night again?
Tell us what you're hearing and when. You don't have to know what it is.
Call for helpRequest a free inspection
We'll contact you about your request.