Raccoons in Staten Island
Staten Island has some of the city's heaviest raccoon activity thanks to the Greenbelt, wetlands, and wooded residential lots. Raccoons den in attics, chimneys, garages, and under decks, and trash cans and pet food are frequent targets. The borough experienced a significant raccoon rabies outbreak in the past, so professional handling and pet vaccination remain especially important.
Because raccoons behave differently in a prewar walk-up than in a detached house or a storefront, local experience matters. The providers we connect you with work in Staten Island every day and tailor treatment to the building in front of them.
Raccoons have adapted remarkably well to life in New York City. They den in attics, chimneys, garages, and under decks, raid trash cans, and can do real damage to roofs, soffits, and insulation. Beyond property damage, raccoons are a primary rabies carrier in New York State, so they should never be handled or approached. NYC Pest Control Pros is a free referral service that connects residents with independent, licensed wildlife control professionals who safely and humanely remove raccoons and prevent them from returning.
Signs of Raccoons in Your Staten Island Home
- Loud thumping, walking, or chattering noises in the attic, walls, or chimney, especially at dusk, overnight, or early morning.
- Torn or displaced roof shingles, soffits, or fascia boards, or damaged roof vents and chimney caps.
- Tipped or ransacked trash cans and scattered garbage, often with lids pried open, near the side or back of the house.
- Large droppings similar to a small dog's, often concentrated in one spot, called a latrine, on roofs, in attics, or on decks.
- Muddy five-toed paw prints resembling small human hands on siding, gutters, decks, or near entry points.
How Raccoon Removal Works in Staten Island
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Inspection
A licensed wildlife pro inspects the attic, roofline, chimney, soffits, vents, and ground-level areas to find the entry point, den location, and any secondary openings. In spring and summer, they also check carefully for kits, since separating a mother from her young creates bigger problems.
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Humane Removal Plan
The pro explains the options allowed under New York wildlife regulations, such as one-way exclusion doors that let raccoons leave but not return, or live trapping where appropriate. If young are present, removal is timed or coordinated so the mother and kits are handled together.
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Removal & Exclusion
The raccoon is removed or excluded using humane methods and handled according to NYS DEC rules, which restrict relocation of rabies-vector species. Once the animal is confirmed out, entry points are sealed with heavy-gauge materials such as steel mesh, reinforced vent covers, and chimney caps.
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Cleanup & Sanitation
Raccoon latrines, soiled insulation, and nesting debris can harbor roundworm eggs and other pathogens. Pros use protective equipment to remove contaminated material and may recommend disinfection and insulation replacement. Homeowners should not attempt this cleanup without proper protection.
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Prevention & Follow-Up
The technician recommends steps to make your property less attractive, such as securing trash, removing food sources, and trimming overhanging branches. A follow-up check confirms no animals remain inside and that repairs are holding, since raccoons often test sealed areas repeatedly.
Seasonal Activity in Staten Island
Raccoons are active year-round in NYC, though they may hole up during the coldest stretches of winter. Late winter is mating season, and from roughly March through June females look for secure denning sites in attics and chimneys to give birth. Kits stay with their mothers through summer, and fall brings heavy foraging as raccoons fatten up, often increasing trash raids around homes.
Staten Island has a distinctly suburban pest calendar. Spring brings termite swarms, carpenter ants, and wildlife raising young in attics and under decks. Summer increases ant, cricket, earwig, and outdoor pest activity, along with moles tunneling in lawns. Fall is the busiest time for mice, squirrels, and raccoons trying to get indoors before winter, and millipedes often wander into basements after rain. Winter pushes rodents deeper into walls, attics, and crawl spaces.
Want the full guide? Read our citywide page on raccoon removal in NYC for species identification, health risks and detailed prevention tips.