Raccoons in attic

A couple weeks ago we heard purring and animal sounds in our attic. We thought one of the stray cats in the area had gotten in the attic of our lake house and had kittens. I found the entry point and set up a security camera which shows a raccoon going in and out. We’ve also read that raccoons purr to their babies.

I bought raccoon eviction fluid and put some on a tennis ball that I tied to a string and tossed to within about 10 - 15 feet of where we heard the sounds. The next day in late afternoon our video camera showed the mother moving 3 raccoons out. The following day I drove up and blocked the entry point and moved the camera into the attic, so I could be sure that the raccoon was out. Unfortunately, the camera soon showed that the raccoon was trapped in the attic, so I lifted up the corner of the hardware cloth to allow the raccoon to leave. The raccoon just showed up on the camera again, but didn’t leave the attic. I’m wondering what to do now. It seems strange that she’d spend the entire day in the attic without the babies. Is it possible that she moved the babies back in? The sounds we were hearing seem to be gone. Maybe they are in a different area of the attic? I’m wondering if I should set up a one-way exit to prevent her re-entry. Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

Continue to do what you can to force them out while monitoring the situation. Once you're satisfied they're gone (even temporarily), close off the opening permanently. I wouldn't use a one way door unless you don't have young to deal with.

 

Buy or borrow a Hav a Hart live trap. Bait it and you'll probably catch the racoon the 1st night.

 

I installed a one-way exit. The raccoon has gone through it and I watched as it tried to get back in. After a couple minutes it ran off into the woods. I haven’t been hearing any raccoon kit sounds in the attic, so I’m hopeful there aren’t any up there.

 

What did you use as a one way exit door?