Your SC home may already have baby raccoons living in it. Here are the ways to tell
Spring is in full swing, bringing life back to South Carolina. But with the welcomed return of blossoming flowers and warmer weather can come uninvited guests to folks’ homes.
Plenty of critters try to take over South Carolina homes every spring, be it insects or animals. One particularly persistent creature is the raccoon.
Mostly known for digging through garbage cans and spreading rabies, mischievous raccoons are also big fans of using attics as places to have their offspring.
The last thing you’d want is to accidentally run into a mother raccoon with its children while you’re casually spring cleaning.
However, there are signs to indicate if you have any furry baby critters living in your attic. Here’s what to know.
Raccoon breeding
Among the most common and easily recognized mammals in South Carolina, raccoons have invaded most habitats, including agricultural fields and urban areas, because of their omnivorous nature, according to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
Raccoons are monogamous and breed mostly between January and February. After about two months, the females will give birth in April or May to a litter of two to four pups. The females will then wean their young at 16 weeks and continue to care for them for approximately nine months, the Department of Natural Resources states.
Signs raccoons are in your SC attic
Here are some of the top signs that there are baby raccoons living in your attic, according to Professional Wildlife Removal and Wildlife Company LLC.
Vocal sounds
Raccoons have a very diverse mix of vocal sounds used to communicate with each other and other animals. Younger raccoons, though, tend to make quieter, high-pitched noises that sound like crying and mewing or something more akin to a whine.
Other sounds
Raccoons can get pretty hefty — up to 20 pounds — so any adults moving around are bound to make noise. They can get into all sorts of places besides the attic as they look for food for their young, from the roof to wall cavities and chimneys. Expect to hear thuds, bangs, scuffles, and dragging sounds.
Feces and waste
Raccoons tend to relieve themselves in areas away from where they nest or eat. Raccoon feces can look much like those from cats and dogs, so if you find some in odd places, don’t be so quick to blame your pets.
Out-of-place soffit panels
Soffits are the number one entry point into homes for raccoons. Vinyl panels can be easily pushed aside, especially if they’re poorly installed.
Scratch marks on woodwork
Scratches on 4x4 posts and other woodwork could be a sign of raccoon activity. Woodwork is often used to gain access to upper portions of homes.
Footprints in dust
Small, hand-shaped footprints on the top of air conditioning ductwork are good signs of raccoon intrusion. They will often use ductwork to move from one part of an attic to another.
Insulation trails
Raccoons will follow regular paths through attic insulation once they gain access. Noticeable compression of the insulation will be evident.
Bedding/nesting
A solid sign is seeing bedding and nesting material. However, finding such materials can be difficult for an average homeowner without keen knowledge of raccoon behavior.
Visual sightings
You’ll likely never see the raccoons because they’re trying hard not to be found. The mother will do her best to hide her pups in a dark, warm, and safe spot. But if there is plenty of food to be found around your home, there is a chance you may spot the adult raccoon.
How to keep raccoons away
Here are tips on how to keep raccoons away from your home.
- Cover and secure your trash cans so raccoons can’t get inside them for food.
- Remove any other food sources outside, like cat or dog food and compost piles.
- Treat your lawn to remove grubs.
- Block access to hiding places like under a deck or entrances to the attic and crawl space.
- Use motion-activated lights to deter raccoons from hiding in dark spaces.
This story was originally published April 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
