Raccoon Removal

Raccoon Removal on Long Island — Nassau & Suffolk County

April 10, 2025·8 min read

Wildlife NY is Long Island’s raccoon removal specialist, serving homeowners across Nassau County and Suffolk County with licensed, humane raccoon trapping, exclusion, and attic restoration. If raccoons have gotten into your attic, chimney, or crawlspace, call us at (516) 447-4673 for a written estimate. We hold a current NYSDEC Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) license and operate throughout Long Island with same-day scheduling available.

Why Long Island Has So Many Raccoons

Long Island has one of the highest suburban raccoon population densities in the northeastern United States. Several factors drive this:

• Abundant food sources: Unsecured garbage cans, pet food left outdoors, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and bird feeders provide raccoons with a consistent, calorie-rich food supply year-round.
• Dense suburban housing stock: Long Island’s neighborhoods are packed with older homes (1950s–1980s construction) whose aging soffits, fascia boards, and roof returns create easy access points for raccoons seeking den sites.
• Mature tree canopy: Oak, maple, and other mature trees provide travel corridors directly to rooflines, as well as natural den cavities for raccoons that are not actively using structures.
• Mild winters: Compared to upstate New York, Long Island’s coastal climate keeps raccoons active and foraging through most of the winter, supporting higher year-round populations.

Nassau County Raccoon Removal

Nassau County is one of our most active service areas. We regularly handle raccoon removal calls in Great Neck, Massapequa, Hempstead, Levittown, Garden City, and Valley Stream, as well as throughout the Five Towns, the North Shore Gold Coast communities, and the South Shore barrier island towns.

Raccoon calls in Nassau County peak sharply between March and May, when pregnant females actively search for warm, enclosed attic spaces to give birth and raise their kits. A single female raccoon can produce a litter of 2–5 kits, all of which will be living in your attic by late spring if the entry point is not addressed promptly.

Nassau County homeowners should also be aware that raccoons frequently use chimneys as den sites — particularly uncapped masonry chimneys with large flue openings. A chimney cap is the most cost-effective prevention measure.

Suffolk County Raccoon Removal

Suffolk County’s larger lot sizes and more extensive woodland patches create different raccoon dynamics than Nassau County’s denser suburbs. We serve homeowners throughout Huntington, Smithtown, Islip, Babylon, Brookhaven, and Hauppauge.

The wooded preserves near Bethpage State Park, Caumsett State Historic Preserve, and the fire island barrier island system create wildlife movement corridors that channel raccoons into adjacent residential neighborhoods. Homes along these woodland edges tend to see higher raccoon pressure than those in fully developed commercial areas.

In western Suffolk County — particularly in Babylon and Islip towns — dense older housing similar to Nassau County creates attic-entry conditions we see frequently. Eastern Suffolk homeowners in Brookhaven and Riverhead face raccoon pressure from the Peconic Pine Barrens corridor.

Raccoon Season on Long Island

Raccoons do not hibernate and are active year-round on Long Island. However, wildlife removal calls follow a predictable seasonal pattern:

• March – May (peak): Breeding season drives females to seek attic den sites. This is when most Long Island homeowners first notice thumping, scratching, or vocalizing from the attic at dawn and dusk.
• June – August: Kits are present in the den. Trapping the mother during this period requires careful consideration of juvenile welfare.
• September – November: Raccoons forage heavily to build fat reserves. Activity remains high. Fall is an excellent time to perform exclusion work before the next breeding season.
• December – February: Raccoons reduce activity but do not fully hibernate. Attic intrusions still occur, particularly during cold snaps.

How Wildlife NY Removes Raccoons on Long Island

Our Long Island raccoon removal process follows a systematic approach:

1. Inspection: We inspect the full exterior of the structure to identify all entry points, assess raccoon activity signs, and determine whether juveniles are present.
2. Trapping: We set cage traps baited with species-appropriate attractants at or near active entry points. Traps are checked regularly in compliance with NYSDEC regulations.
3. Exclusion and sealing: Once raccoons have been removed, we permanently seal all entry points with galvanized steel, hardware cloth, or expanding foam — materials that raccoons cannot breach.
4. Attic assessment: We assess insulation damage, fecal contamination, and any structural damage. Attic restoration quotes are provided separately.
5. Follow-up: We schedule a follow-up visit to confirm no additional raccoon activity and address any issues.

Cost of Raccoon Removal on Long Island

Raccoon removal costs on Long Island vary significantly based on the scope of work:

Homeowners who address raccoon intrusions quickly — at first sign of scratching or entry — typically pay significantly less than those who wait months while damage accumulates. A raccoon family occupying an attic for a full breeding season can contaminate and compress several thousand square feet of insulation, requiring full replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions