Raccoon removal in Lakeland, FL
Raccoon removal in Lakeland usually means a mother raccoon in a soffit or attic, raising kits a few feet above your ceiling. We get the whole family out humanely and rebuild the spot she tore open.
- Entry points sealed after removal
- Kits stay with their mother
- FWC rules on every job
Raccoon in your Lakeland attic?
Tell us what you are hearing or seeing. We will get back to you, set up a visit and give you a straight answer on what it takes.
- Firm quote before any work starts
- Call, text or email, your pick
- Licensed and insured in Florida
Quick answer. Critter Guys handles raccoon removal in Lakeland, FL, from attics and soffits to crawl spaces, sheds and chimneys. We find the entry, remove the raccoon and any kits humanely with live traps or one-way doors under FWC rules, then seal the opening and clean up the latrine. Call or text (321) 203-6963 to schedule a visit.
Spring raccoon removal is mostly about the kits
From late winter into spring, the raccoon in a Lakeland attic is very often a female who picked it as a nursery. She wants a dry, quiet spot above a warm ceiling, close to the water and food she uses every night. Pull her out and leave the kits behind, and you end up with crying young in the insulation and a mother ripping at your roof to get back in.
So we plan around the family. When kits are present we either remove them by hand and use them to draw the mother into a trap, or we set a one-way door so she can leave and move them herself. Either way, mother and young end up together.
- Chirping or whimpering from one spot overhead
- A torn soffit corner or a lifted roof vent
- An adult leaving at dusk and back before dawn
- Insulation flattened into a nest
Lakes, preserves and raccoon traffic in Lakeland
Raccoons thrive anywhere they can find water, cover and food, and Lakeland gives them all three. The shorelines around Lake Parker, Lake Hollingsworth and Lake Gibson are hunting grounds at night. To the southeast, Circle B Bar Reserve and the Lake Hancock floodplain hold marsh, hardwood swamp and oak hammock, and the reclaimed phosphate lakes at Tenoroc on the northeast side add more of the same.
Homes along those edges tend to get the most raccoon calls, but raccoons also follow drainage ditches and retention ponds between subdivisions. A neighborhood doesn’t need a lake view to sit on a raccoon route. This page covers raccoons specifically; for everything else we handle in town, see our Lakeland wildlife removal page.
Lakeland at a glance
- Polk County lake country
- Circle B Bar Reserve to the southeast
- Tenoroc reclaimed lakes to the northeast
- Retention ponds between subdivisions
Out in the field
Clues that point to a raccoon, not a rat
Plenty of animals make noise in a Lakeland attic. These signs narrow it down.
Heavy footsteps after dark
A raccoon weighs enough that you hear real walking, not scurrying, usually after sunset and again in the hours before dawn.
A latrine on the roof or deck
Raccoons use the same bathroom spot over and over. Piles on a flat roof, pool deck or attic platform are a strong sign.
Soffit torn rather than chewed
They pull panels down and pry gaps open with their hands, so the damage looks ripped, with bent metal or splintered wood.
Trash cans and grills knocked around
Overturned cans and a licked-clean grease tray mean one is working your yard and may be checking the roof too.
Smudged prints on stucco or a downspout
Handprint-shaped marks climbing a wall, gutter or pool cage post show you the route up.
How we handle raccoon removal in Lakeland
Here’s what a raccoon job looks like from the first visit to the last.
Inspect and plan
We find the entry, check for kits, and look for latrines or damage in the attic. You get a plan and a quote before any work starts.
Remove humanely
Live traps or a one-way door, depending on the setup and whether young are inside. We follow FWC rules for trapping and relocation and check traps on schedule.
Rebuild the entry
The torn soffit, vent or roof gap gets rebuilt with heavy material a raccoon can’t pull apart. Other weak spots get closed too, through our Lakeland exclusion service.
Clear the latrine
Raccoon droppings can carry roundworm eggs, so we bag the soiled material and sanitize. Bigger messes are handled by our attic cleanup service in Lakeland.
Lakeland customers on our raccoon work
4.9
141 reviews on Google
★★★★★
We had a raccoon who preferred to use our pool and back yard as a personal toilet. After trying the usual internet suggestions we called Kevin the Critter Guy. The first night the trap was set the raccoon was caught. The bad news? It was so big that the trap was forced open in 15″. Over the next several weeks we added traps, tried different baits and different locations to no avail. Kevin never gave up and ultimately used red fox urine. It hasn’t been back since. When a service goes as planned it’s an easy job. The true test? What is the response when it’s not easy. Kevin never backed off and ultimately the raccoon is gone. Highly recommended.
Paul MurgoGoogle review
★★★★★
CritterGuys are the best! From my first positive interaction with Annie to my continued excellent service through Mike, CritterGuys have been superb! So far, they have quickly and professionally removed two raccoons and have set more traps in case more may follow. CritterGuys have been prompt, courteous, and professional. I will recommend them and call again if needed! Thank you, CritterGuys!
Michelle FabrizioGoogle review
★★★★★
These guys are absolute professionals 10 out of 10 service. We would definitely recommend.
Joanna ErricoGoogle review
Read every review on Google or see more Critter Guys reviews
Raccoon in the attic or raccoon under the house
Where the raccoon is living changes the job. Lakeland has both kinds of houses: block homes with closed attics and older frame homes up on piers.
| In the attic or soffit | Under the house or shed |
|---|---|
| Gets in at the roof line | Squeezes past skirting or a crawl space vent |
| Mother with kits is common in spring | Often a lone adult passing through |
| Insulation and duct damage | Torn vapor barrier, soiled soil |
| Sealed with roof-level repairs | Sealed with buried barrier and vent screen |
Leave a cornered raccoon alone
A raccoon that feels trapped will stand its ground, and raccoons are among the animals most often found with rabies in Florida. Keep kids and pets inside, don’t block the hole while it’s in there, and let us take it from there. The same methods our Orlando raccoon removal team uses apply here.
More ways we help Lakeland homes
Raccoon removal in towns near Lakeland
Questions about raccoon removal in Lakeland
Have a question that isn’t here? Call or text (321) 203-6963 and we’ll help.
How much does raccoon removal cost in Lakeland?
There’s no flat price, because the cost depends on how many raccoons are inside, whether there are kits, how they got in and how much needs repair. We quote once we’ve seen the attic and roof line. Catching it early usually means a smaller repair bill.
Can I trap a raccoon in my Lakeland yard myself?
You can buy a cage trap, but trapping and relocating wildlife in Florida falls under FWC rules, and store-bought traps catch a lot of neighborhood cats. A trap also does nothing about the hole in the roof or kits left in the attic. We handle the removal legally and close the entry.
Are raccoon droppings in my attic a health risk?
They can be. Raccoon latrines can carry raccoon roundworm, and the eggs hold up for a long time in dry droppings and insulation, so don’t sweep or vacuum them yourself. We remove the material, sanitize, and treat the area so other raccoons don’t reuse the spot.
How long does it take to get a raccoon family out?
It depends on the setup. A single adult can sometimes be out quickly, while a mother with kits takes more planning so the family stays together. We give you a realistic timeline at the inspection.
Why do raccoons keep coming back to my Lakeland home?
Usually something is still drawing them: an open entry point, the scent of an old den, pet food on the lanai or loose trash. Homes near lakes and preserves see more passing raccoons, so sealing and cleanup matter more there. Once the openings are fixed and the scent is treated, the house stops looking like a den site.
Do you get raccoons out of chimneys?
Yes. Some older Lakeland homes have chimneys, and an uncapped flue makes a cozy den for a mother raccoon. We remove the family humanely, then cap or screen the top so it doesn’t happen again.
Get the raccoon out and the roof closed
Call or text (321) 203-6963 to set up an inspection anywhere in Lakeland. We also cover nearby towns like Plant City.