Will Raccoons Leave The Attic On Their Own?

Every raccoon infestation is different, but the answer is usually no. Are you planning to abandon your home in a few days for no apparent reason?

A mother raccoon enters an attic is because it’s a safe place to raise her young. If the attic continues to be a safe space, she may never leave. As the offspring grow to adult size, they will eventually adventure out of the attic.

Raccoons are creatures of habit. They’re known for returning to the same food source, and the same goes for their nest. A family of raccoons is unlikely to leave during the winter months due to weather conditions. If a homeowner chooses to wait for the critters to leave, they could be waiting months or even years.

Learn More: Raccoon Infestation Common Questions

Why Do Raccoons Prefer Attic Nests?

Raccoons prefer to build their homes in attics because attics are typically warm, dry, secure, and weather-protected. Female raccoons seek safe and enclosed areas to give birth and raise their pups. Human food sources, such as garbage bins and pet food, are also close to attics. Everything a raccoon needs to survive is within feet of an attic.

How Long Do Raccoons Live?

A raccoon’s average lifespan in the wild is about five years, but they can live for a decade or more with enough food and shelter. On the other hand, Raccoons are thought to die in half their first year due to disease, starvation, predators, or human intervention.

Raccoons mate in February and March. Females have a single litter of two to seven kits after a two-month gestation period. Babies have no vision, teeth, or fur patterns when they are born. Within a few weeks of birth, these characteristics emerge.

How To Evict Raccoons From The Attic?

Removing raccoons from the should be done carefully because baby raccoons are also in the attic more often than not. If a homeowner attempts to remove a family of raccoons on their own, the mother raccoon will bite or scratch to protect her babies. Raccoons also carry diseases that are spreadable to humans.

It is advised that raccoon removal is left to wildlife professionals because of the health risks involved. If you have raccoons in the attic, contact a wildlife removal company or call Animals Happen to evict the critters.