Reviewed by William "Willy" Vizcarrondo, NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator (C1825832). Updated September 23, 2026.
Gray squirrels and raccoons are the two animals behind almost every "something is in my attic" call on Long Island. Squirrels chew their way in under eaves and through vents; raccoons pull soffits and vent covers off. Both are looking for a warm, dry place to raise young, and both have to be removed and sealed out, not just chased off.
| Size | Gray squirrel about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds; raccoon about 15 pounds on average |
|---|---|
| Color | Squirrel gray with a white belly and bushy tail; raccoon gray-brown with a black mask and ringed tail |
| Look-alikes | Flying squirrels (nocturnal, small, glide), opossums (white face, bare tail), roof rats |
| Where you'll find it | Attics, soffits, chimneys, garages, sheds, under decks, wall voids |
| Active on Long Island | Year round; move indoors in fall and again in late winter for nesting |
| Danger level | Chewed wiring and fire risk, insulation damage, raccoon rabies and roundworm |
Squirrels breed in mid-December to early January and again in June, and raccoons give birth in April and May, so late winter and spring are when both are desperate for a den.
The clock tells you which animal. Scampering and scratching in the attic at dawn and dusk is squirrels, which are active in daylight. Heavy thumping and movement at night is a raccoon. Flying squirrels are the exception: small, nocturnal, and often in groups.
Outside, squirrels leave chewed holes about 2 inches across at the roofline, fascia, and gable vents; raccoons leave torn soffits, bent vent covers, and muddy paw prints on the siding.
Squirrels chew siding and eaves to get in, then chew walls, insulation, and the insulation around electrical wires, which is a fire hazard (Penn State). A female has one to eight pups per litter, twice a year.
Raccoons den in attics and chimneys, have litters of one to seven in April and May, and stay with the young until fall. Raccoon rabies has been widespread in New York since 1990 (NYSDEC), and raccoon droppings carry roundworm, so an attic they've used is a cleanup job, not just a removal.
Sealing the hole is the part homeowners can do, but only after the animals are out, and that's where it goes wrong. NYSDEC's guidance is never to permanently seal an entrance without confirming every animal is out of the den; sealing a mother out leaves the young to die in the wall. New York also requires a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator for trapping and removing problem raccoons (NYSDEC).
Prevention is the DIY part: trim limbs 6 to 8 feet back from the roof, secure garbage in metal cans, bring pet food in, and cover vents with heavy 1/2 inch wire mesh (Penn State, NYSDEC).
We find every entry point, remove the animals, confirm no young are left behind, and seal the openings with wire mesh so they can't be reused. Nesting removal carries a 6-month written guarantee.
More on wildlife removal on Long Island.
Related answers
By when you hear them. Squirrels are active in daylight, especially early morning and dusk, with light scampering. Raccoons are nocturnal and sound heavy. Small nighttime scurrying in groups is flying squirrels.
Fall, when they look for winter shelter, and again in late winter and June, when females need a nest for their litters. Squirrels breed in mid-December to early January and again in June.
Not until you're sure everything is out. Sealing an animal inside means it chews a new hole, and sealing a mother out in spring leaves young to die in the attic. Removal first, then sealing.
Yes. Raccoon rabies is widespread in New York, and raccoon droppings carry roundworm. Don't handle the animal, and treat the attic as contaminated until it's cleaned.
Think you have squirrels or raccoons? Call (516) 509-6001 for a free written quote.