Raccoon Removal in San Antonio, TX
The way to deal with a raccoon in a San Antonio attic or chimney is to get it, and any young, out through one exit and then closing the house up so it cannot return. Trapping and moving a raccoon is not a do-it-yourself option in Texas, because raccoons fall under the state rabies quarantine. Timing matters too: in late winter and spring, a noisy attic often means a mother with babies.
If you hear a raccoon overhead, call or text (210) 281-1064 or book an inspection.
Signs a raccoon is living in your attic or chimney #
Raccoons are big animals, 33 to 45 inches long and 7 to 20 pounds by Texas Parks and Wildlife figures, and they are active almost entirely at night. TPWD also warns that a raccoon in an attic can do serious damage. Watch and listen for:
- Heavy thumping or walking sounds overhead after dark
- Chirping or chattering from the chimney
- Torn or lifted shingles near the roofline
- Brown, greasy smudges around an opening
- Piles of droppings in one spot on the roof, deck or attic floor
The University of Nebraska's raccoon guide notes that an opening of just 4 to 6 inches lets a raccoon in.
Baby raccoons: why spring changes the plan #
Litter sizes vary by source: TPWD says up to four, while AgriLife reports three to five young born in February and March. For San Antonio homeowners, that means attic and chimney calls in late winter and spring often involve a nursing mother.
San Antonio Animal Care Services recommends against trapping wildlife from early spring until early fall, while young may still rely on their mother. ACS also points out that a raccoon family will not stay forever; it estimates a month or two at most. In a chimney, Nebraska's guide says the young usually leave with the mother after 6 to 8 weeks.
The worst move during baby season is sealing the entry while the young are still inside. That can leave them trapped in the attic or chimney.
Raccoon latrines and roundworm #
Raccoons tend to use the same spot as a toilet, and those latrines carry a real health concern. The CDC explains that raccoon roundworm eggs in the droppings become infective after 2 to 4 weeks, which is why latrines should be removed promptly rather than left to sit. Keep children and pets away from any latrine on a roof, deck or attic floor.
Raccoons are also on DSHS's list of high-risk rabies animals. Never corner or handle one.
Can you trap and move a raccoon in Texas? #
Not legally on your own. Texas rules work against the trap-and-release idea in several ways:
- The state rabies quarantine bans transporting live raccoons from, to or within Texas, with only narrow exemptions. For the public it is a Class C misdemeanor.
- Raccoons are fur-bearers, and releasing one away from where it was caught needs a TPWD authorization, consent from the landowner where it is let go, and monthly reporting.
- Any trap set for a raccoon has to be checked at least every 36 hours.
Pest Trappers does not promise to move raccoons anywhere; the technician explains what the rules allow for your situation.
Getting raccoons out and keeping them out #
Lasting raccoon control is mostly about the building:
- Remove the draw. Secure trash and bring pet food in at night, as ACS recommends.
- Find every entry. Check the roofline, soffits, vents, chimney and the gap under porches.
- Give one way out. Leave the main opening free and block the others.
- Confirm they're gone. Wait until the opening has been undisturbed for several days.
- Seal it properly. Cap chimneys, and put half-inch hardware cloth inside attic vents, a method from University of Missouri Extension.
Don't count on sprays, mothballs or homemade repellents. AgriLife reports that no repellent or toxicant carries a registration for use on raccoons.
How Pest Trappers handles raccoon problems #
A Pest Trappers technician inspects the roof, attic, chimney and foundation to find where the raccoon is getting in, whether young are present, and what damage has been done. The technician explains the options for your house and the season, including timing around baby season and the Texas Parks and Wildlife and DSHS rules that apply. Raccoons are listed in TDA's pest control category, and the work is done by Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549). Pricing is quoted after the inspection.
We help homeowners in San Antonio, Stone Oak and Helotes. For skunks and opossums, see wildlife removal, and for species details, the wildlife fact sheet.