Signs of Raccoons in Your Attic
Thumping overhead at night? Here's how Louisville homeowners can tell whether it's a raccoon — and what to do (and not do) next.
The Sounds: What Raccoons Sound Like in an Attic
Sound is usually the first clue — and the most reliable way to tell a raccoon from a squirrel or rat.
Heavy thumping and walking
Raccoons are large (10–30 lbs). If it sounds like a person walking above your ceiling, it's almost certainly a raccoon — squirrels and rats sound light and fast.
Noise at dusk and dawn
Raccoons are nocturnal. Activity that starts around sunset and again before sunrise fits raccoon behavior. Daytime scurrying points to squirrels.
Chittering, chirping, or crying
The classic sound of baby raccoons, most common March through August. If you hear this, a mother has denned in your attic with kits.
Growling or snarling
An adult raccoon defending its den. Never enter the attic to confront it.
The Visual Signs: What to Look For Outside and Inside
Confirmed the Signs? Don't Seal the Hole.
The single most expensive mistake homeowners make is sealing the entry point while animals are still inside. From spring through late summer, most attic raccoons in Louisville are mothers with babies — seal her out and she will tear through your roof to reach her kits, or the babies will die in your walls. Get a professional inspection first. Read more about our raccoon in attic removal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell raccoon noises apart from squirrels or rats?
Weight and timing. Raccoons sound heavy — distinct footsteps, thumps, and dragging — and are active at night. Squirrels are light, fast scampering during daylight (especially morning). Rats and mice make faint scratching and skittering in walls, mostly at night but much quieter.
What does raccoon poop look like?
Raccoon droppings are 2–3 inches long, tubular, dark, and often contain visible berry seeds or corn. Raccoons use communal latrines, so you'll find a pile in one spot rather than scattered pellets. Never handle it — latrines can carry infectious roundworm eggs.
I hear noises but can't find a hole. Is it still a raccoon?
Very possibly. Common entry points — plastic roof vents, soffit returns where rooflines meet, and chimney flues — are invisible from the ground. Our inspections cover the entire roof system and the attic interior to find every opening.
What should I do right now if I think a raccoon is in my attic?
Don't seal anything, don't use repellents or mothballs, and don't enter the attic. Sealing a mother out while babies remain inside causes severe damage and suffering. Call a licensed professional for an inspection — in Louisville, we offer free estimates at (502) 305-7505.
Want a Professional to Confirm It?
We inspect the entire roofline and attic, identify the animal, and give you a written plan and firm quote — free. Also see our raccoon removal cost guide and raccoon disease guide.