Raccoon and Squirrel Removal in Westchester County's Wooded Suburbs
Raccoons in attics, squirrels in chimneys, and groundhogs under decks are common wildlife conflicts in Westchester County. Learn how to resolve wildlife intrusions safely and permanently.
Wildlife Conflicts Are Increasing Across Westchester County
Westchester County sits at the intersection of a dense human residential landscape and a remarkably intact wildlife corridor stretching from the Bronx River Parkway greenway through the northern townships to the Pound Ridge Reservation and beyond. The result is a county where raccoons, squirrels, groundhogs, opossums, and skunks are not rural curiosities — they are year-round neighbors in towns like Chappaqua, Pleasantville, Rye, Harrison, and virtually every wooded residential community in the county.
When wildlife finds its way into your home — through a gap at the fascia-soffit junction, an uncapped chimney, a deteriorated vent screen, or a damaged crawl space vent — the consequences go beyond nuisance. Raccoons cause significant structural damage in the attic, soiling insulation with feces and urine that creates health hazards and requires costly remediation. Squirrels gnaw electrical wiring in wall voids and attics, creating fire risks. Groundhogs excavating beneath porches and decks can undermine foundations. Skunks establishing dens under structures create persistent odor problems that penetrate the living space.
If you have wildlife in or under your home, call Westchester County Pest Control at (914) 202-4197. Do not wait for the problem to resolve itself — it will not.
Raccoons in the Attic
Raccoons are the wildlife intrusion problem that causes the most significant property damage in Westchester. A female raccoon seeking a natal den site in late winter or early spring will test every potential entry point on your home's roofline. Once she gains access — typically through a damaged soffit vent, an open construction gap at the fascia-to-rafter junction, or a deteriorated area of flat-roof material — she will establish a birth den in the attic insulation.
A raccoon with a litter of four or five young will be in your attic for 8 to 12 weeks before the young are mobile enough to leave. During that time, the insulation will be compressed and soiled with accumulating feces. Raccoon feces can harbor Baylisascaris procyonis, a roundworm parasite with serious human health implications. The cleanup and insulation remediation costs following a confirmed raccoon den are substantial — often exceeding $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the extent of contamination.
Prevention and early intervention are far less expensive than remediation. Annual inspection of your roofline, prompt repair of any gaps or deteriorated vent screens, and chimney cap installation (Westchester homes with uncapped chimneys are frequently accessed by raccoons seeking den sites) eliminate most raccoon entry opportunities.
Squirrels in Chimneys, Walls, and Attics
Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are the most abundant wildlife pest in Westchester suburban neighborhoods. Their natural behavior of gnawing constantly to keep incisors worn, combined with their drive to seek sheltered nesting sites in fall and winter, makes them persistent structural intruders.
Common squirrel entry points in Westchester homes include:
• Gable vents with deteriorated or damaged screening. Gable vents on homes in wooded neighborhoods are tested constantly by squirrels.
• Roof-soffit intersections where original construction gaps were never sealed or where wood has deteriorated with age.
• Chimneys without chimney caps. Squirrels fall into uncapped chimneys frequently and become trapped, dying in the firebox or inside the flue.
• Tree branches overhanging the roof. A branch that extends within six feet of the roofline provides direct squirrel access. Trimming overhanging branches is one of the most effective wildlife prevention steps you can take.
Once inside your attic, squirrels gnaw on wood structural members, attic ventilation components, and critically — electrical wiring. Gnawed electrical wiring in attic spaces is a documented cause of house fires in the Northeast. If squirrels have been in your attic, a wiring inspection is appropriate after removal.
Groundhogs Under Decks and Foundations
Groundhogs (Marmota monax) are common throughout Westchester's residential neighborhoods, particularly in properties adjacent to open fields, meadow edges, and mowed drainage corridors. The suburb-to-farmland transition areas in towns like Somers, Yorktown, and Southeast regularly produce groundhog conflicts.
A groundhog excavating a burrow system under a deck or porch can remove substantial volumes of soil — burrowing systems often extend 25 to 30 feet with multiple chambers. When this excavation occurs under a concrete porch, stoop, or deck, the soil removal creates voids that can lead to settling, cracking, and structural failure. In some cases, groundhog burrows under foundation footings have caused localized settlement requiring structural repair.
Exclusion — installing a buried hardware cloth barrier that prevents burrowing access to the protected zone — combined with live trapping and relocation is the standard approach for groundhog conflicts. Trapping alone without exclusion typically results in a new animal occupying the vacated territory within a single season.
Professional Wildlife Removal and Exclusion
Westchester County Pest Control provides complete wildlife conflict resolution for homeowners throughout Westchester County. Our approach combines humane removal or exclusion with permanent structural repairs that prevent reentry. We do not simply remove the animal and leave the entry point open — that approach leads to repeat conflicts within weeks.
Our wildlife service includes entry-point identification, animal removal, structural exclusion repair, and guidance on property modifications that reduce your long-term wildlife conflict risk. Call (914) 202-4197 to schedule a wildlife inspection. We serve Chappaqua, Pleasantville, Harrison, Rye, Scarsdale, and all communities across Westchester County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove raccoons or squirrels myself?
New York State requires a nuisance wildlife control license for trapping and relocating certain species, including raccoons. Beyond the legal issue, DIY wildlife removal frequently fails to address the entry point, resulting in rapid return by the same or a different animal. Call (914) 202-4197 for professional removal that resolves the problem permanently.
When is the best time to seal animal entry points?
Entry points should be sealed only after confirming that no animals are currently inside the structure — sealing animals inside creates additional damage and animal welfare problems. Our technicians use one-way exclusion devices where appropriate to ensure animals can leave but cannot return before final sealing.