Raccoon Removal Cost in New York: 2025 Price Guide

Raccoon removal in New York typically costs $400–$1,500+ depending on several factors: how many entry points exist, where the raccoons have taken up residence (attic vs. chimney vs. under a deck), whether young are present, and the extent of any cleanup required. Wildlife NY serves Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester, Rockland, and New York City — all regions with distinct raccoon pressures.

Raccoon Removal Cost Breakdown

Every raccoon job is different, but the following table gives a realistic range for the most common line items in a raccoon removal estimate:

Why Raccoon Removal Has a Wide Price Range

The wide cost range for raccoon removal reflects the variety of situations technicians encounter. Key factors include:

• Entry location: A raccoon denning in a chimney flue is a very different job than one living in an attic or burrowing under a deck. Chimneys require specialized equipment and cap installation; attics may have multiple entry points spread across the entire roofline.
• Baby season complexity: From March through May, female raccoons give birth. Attic and chimney jobs discovered during this period require manual removal of kits before the entry point can be sealed — adding both time and cost.
• Attic cleanup: Raccoons are destructive in attics. Insulation contaminated with feces and urine often requires partial or full replacement. This is frequently the largest cost in a full-scope raccoon job.
• Home size and roofline complexity: Larger homes with complex rooflines have more potential entry points to identify and seal.
• Number of animals: A single raccoon is far simpler to exclude than an established family group.

Raccoon Attic Removal in New York: What to Expect

The standard raccoon attic removal process used by NYS DEC licensed wildlife control operators follows a predictable sequence designed to ensure all animals exit before permanent sealing:

1. Inspection: Technician identifies all active and potential entry points, assesses signs of activity (tracks, odor, noise location), and checks for the presence of young.
2. Exclusion device installation: A one-way door or exclusion funnel is installed at the primary entry point, allowing raccoons to exit but not re-enter. Secondary entry points are permanently sealed during this visit.
3. Monitoring period: The exclusion device remains in place for 5–10 days, allowing all animals adequate time to leave.
4. Final sealing: After confirming the animals have vacated, the exclusion device is removed and the primary entry point is permanently sealed.
5. Optional cleanup: Attic insulation remediation and deodorization can be performed after exclusion is confirmed complete.

New York State requires a NYS DEC Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) license for professional raccoon removal. Wildlife NY holds all required licenses.

Raccoon in the Chimney: Cost and Process

Chimney denning is one of the most common raccoon calls from March through May in the New York metro area. Female raccoons instinctively seek dark, enclosed, elevated spaces to give birth — and an uncapped masonry chimney flue is nearly identical to a hollow tree from the raccoon's perspective.

A chimney raccoon job typically involves: eviction fluid application (a scent-based deterrent that encourages the female to move her kits voluntarily), manual kit removal if eviction fails, and professional chimney cap installation to prevent recurrence. Total cost for a chimney raccoon job: $300–$600.

Do not light a fire to drive raccoons out of a chimney. Kits cannot move on their own and will die in the flue, creating a odor and pest problem that costs more to resolve than the original removal.

What Raccoon Removal Does NOT Include (Watch Out For)

Low-cost raccoon removal quotes are common — and frequently incomplete. Be cautious of estimates that:

• Include trap-and-relocate only, with no exclusion sealing. Without sealing the entry point, a new raccoon will occupy the vacated space within days.
• Do not account for secondary entry points. Sealing one hole while leaving others open is ineffective and leads to repeated callbacks.
• Quote a flat rate without inspecting first. Raccoon jobs require on-site assessment — a phone quote without an inspection is not a real estimate.

A complete raccoon removal job includes inspection, exclusion device, sealing of all active and potential entry points, and a follow-up confirmation visit. Wildlife NY's estimates include all of these components.

Frequently Asked Questions: Raccoon Removal Cost