Signs of Raccoons in Your House
Heavy walking or thumping in the attic at night, torn soffits, roof vents or chimney caps, tipped garbage cans, and droppings piled in one spot.
How We Remove Raccoons
We handle raccoons in two ways. Nesting removal is for raccoons living inside the structure, in an attic, soffit, wall, chimney, or under a deck, porch or shed. We remove the animal and cover the entry hole with wire mesh, and the job carries a 6-month written guarantee.
Exterior trapping is a 10-day trapping program for raccoons that are only in the yard. There is no guarantee on the exterior program. Every job starts with a free written quote, and we serve Nassau and Suffolk County.
Before any hole is closed, we check that no young are left inside.
Baby Raccoons in the Attic
Female raccoons look for den sites in late winter. Litters of one to seven young are born in April and May. The young open their eyes at about three weeks, nurse for about six weeks, and follow their mother until September or early October.
That is why spring attic jobs take extra care. Sealing a hole with young still inside traps them in your house.
Raccoon Rabies on Long Island
Raccoon rabies reached New York in 1990 and is now widespread. A rabid raccoon may act aggressive, drool heavily or drag paralyzed hind legs.
On July 21, 2025, the Nassau County Department of Health declared rabies an imminent public health threat after 25 animals, mostly raccoons plus feral cats, tested positive since July 2024, years after rabies was eliminated in the county in 2016. The county asks residents not to feed or touch wild animals, to keep pets vaccinated and indoors at night, and to bring children and pets inside and let a wild animal leave on its own or hire a nuisance wildlife removal service. If you are bitten or scratched, get medical care right away and call the Nassau County Department of Health at 516-227-9663, or 516-742-6154 after hours.
Why Long Island Has So Many Raccoons
NYSDEC estimates rural areas hold 20 to 40 raccoons per square mile, while some developed areas such as Long Island can top 100 per square mile.
Read how we get raccoons out of a Long Island attic for the step by step, including what the DEC allows.
How to Keep Raccoons Away
- Do not leave pet food outside; feed pets only what they will eat at once.
- Keep garbage in a metal can in a garage or entryway, with the lid strapped or wired to the handles.
- Protect gardens with a two-wire electric fence, one wire about 4 inches and one about 8 inches off the ground, installed before vegetables ripen.
- Close openings raccoons use to reach attics and porches, using the temporary-cover and flour check first.
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Related reading
What customers say
So let’s start with this.I was out of town, and my daughter called me in a frenzy that she saw a roach. 10 years in that house never had roaches. Here I am out of state trying to figure out the fastest way to help my daughter. Saw the name BOBBY BUGS and the reviews and figured I would call them up.I called spoke to Anthony not only did he go above and beyond for us but the service was fantastic. William who showed up at the house was simply incredible and made my daughter feel at ease. Thank you for helping our little Italian Family out in such a pinch. Grazie Mille Adriana
Fast, friendly service. I called in the morning and Will came to my house that evening. Will was great. I would definitely use Bobby's Bugs again and recommend them.
Response was super quick to my inquiry and someone was able to be sent out out quickly. Will came and explained the process, walked me through and showed me what he had done, and reviewed the service order to make sure none of my requests were missed. It was a great experience overall and truck wasn't announcing itself to the neighborhood either which was a plus.
Reviewed October 2026
Frequently asked questions
What do I do with a dead raccoon in my yard?
Do not touch it with bare hands. The Nassau County Department of Health says to use a shovel and heavy rubber gloves, double bag the animal and put it in your outdoor trash. Report dead, sick or strange-acting animals to rabies@nassaucountyny.gov so the county can consider testing.
Can I just seal the hole myself?
Not until you are sure every raccoon is out. NYSDEC says to cover the opening temporarily while they forage at night, check for tracks with flour or twigs, and seal it for good only after that, listening for young first in spring.
Is it legal to kill a raccoon in New York?
NYSDEC says the law allows unlicensed homeowners and farmers to destroy raccoons that are damaging property, and recommends removing food and shelter first. Otherwise, hunting or trapping raccoons requires a license, and keeping one as a pet is illegal.
How much does raccoon removal cost on Long Island?
It depends on where the raccoon is living, how many openings there are, and whether young are present. We give a free written quote after we look.