Wildlife in the Attic: How to Get Animals Out and Keep Them Out

Getting squirrels, raccoons, or bats out of an attic is all about doing the steps in the right order — seal the hole too soon and you trap an animal (or babies) inside, which is a far worse problem. Four steps do it right: find the entry, confirm it's empty, exclude humanely, then seal.

How do I find where an animal is getting in?

Find how the animal is getting in first. Inspect the roofline, soffits, vents, gaps under the eaves, and chimney for holes, chewed openings, and grease/rub marks. Animals are remarkably good at exploiting small gaps and weak soffits/fascia. You can't solve the problem until you know the entry point — there may be more than one.

Why confirm the attic is empty before sealing?

This is the critical step: confirm no animals are inside before sealing the entry. Seal a hole with an animal in there and it'll either die in your attic (odor, decay) or claw and chew a new way out, causing more damage. And in spring/summer, there are often babies that can't leave on their own. Never seal until you're sure it's clear.

What is a one-way exclusion door?

If animals are present, use a one-way exclusion device — a door or funnel mounted over the entry that lets the animal leave but not return. Once they exit to forage, they're locked out without being trapped or harmed. This is the humane, standard method. For animals with young, wait until the babies are mobile or have a pro relocate them.

How do I seal the entry for good?

Once you've confirmed everyone's out, seal the entry point permanently with sturdy, chew-proof materials — heavy-gauge hardware cloth, metal flashing, or solid repairs, not foam (which animals chew through). Also seal other potential entries you found. Permanent, durable sealing is what stops the next animal from moving in. Many homeowners hire a wildlife pro for safe removal plus sealing.

Track the exclusion

Logging the entry points you found and sealed prevents repeat invasions. Okoniq Property Hub keeps it with your home maintenance records in one private place.

Frequently asked questions

Should I remove attic wildlife myself?

Small, clearly-empty entry sealing, maybe. But raccoons, bats, and any animal with young — and rabies-vector species — are best handled by a licensed wildlife professional, who can also handle legal protections (bats are protected in many areas).

How do I keep animals out of the attic long-term?

Durable sealing of all entries, trimming branches away from the roof, capping the chimney, screening vents, and keeping the roofline in good repair. Remove what attracts and admits them.

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