Raccoons, Squirrels & Skunks: Your Pocono Wildlife Removal Guide

Your Pocono Wildlife Removal Guide

Living in the Pocono Mountains means living alongside wildlife. Black bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and eastern coyotes are the ones that make for good photos — but it's the smaller wildlife that tends to end up inside your home. Raccoons, gray squirrels, groundhogs, skunks, and bats cause the most calls we receive throughout Monroe, Pike, Wayne, and Carbon counties.

Here's everything you need to know about each species, how they get in, what damage they cause, and when to call a professional.

Raccoons

How they get in: Raccoons are stronger than most homeowners realize. They peel back flashing, tear through rotting fascia, and push through weakened soffits. Uncapped chimneys are their most common entry point — a female raccoon with a litter inside your chimney is one of the most difficult wildlife situations to resolve.

What damage they cause: Raccoons compress and contaminate attic insulation with urine and feces. Raccoon roundworm (*Baylisascaris procyonis*) is present in raccoon droppings and is a serious human health hazard — cleanup requires specialized protocols. A family of raccoons can render an attic's insulation worthless in a single season.

When to call: If you hear heavy thumping, chirping (baby raccoons), or "wrestling" sounds in your attic, walls, or chimney — call immediately. Early spring is peak denning season. The longer a raccoon family stays, the more contamination and structural damage accumulates.

Gray Squirrels

How they get in: Gray squirrels chew through wood, PVC, and soft metals to create entry points. They exploit any gap in soffit, fascia, or attic venting — and once they create an entry point, they widen it and return to it repeatedly. Gaps the size of a golf ball are large enough for a squirrel.

What damage they cause: Squirrels gnaw on wiring — a legitimate fire hazard. They store food in insulation and wall voids, which attracts insects. They contaminate attic insulation with urine and feces, though with less health risk than raccoon contamination.

When to call: If you hear rapid scurrying (faster than raccoon movement) in the attic, especially during morning and late afternoon activity peaks, you likely have squirrels. Check your roofline for chew damage on fascia and soffit edges. Squirrel infestations are best resolved with a combination of trapping and exclusion — exclusion alone without trapping leaves squirrels inside that can't exit.

Groundhogs (Woodchucks)

How they get in: Groundhogs don't usually enter homes, but they excavate large burrow systems under decks, porches, concrete stoops, and foundations — creating structural problems over time.

What damage they cause: Groundhog burrows can undermine deck footings, concrete slabs, and foundation walls. They're also a major attractant for red foxes and coyotes, which may create secondary problems. Gardens and landscaping suffer from both grazing and burrowing.

When to call: If you see a groundhog entering under a deck or porch, or notice large soil mounds alongside your foundation, call for removal and exclusion. We remove the groundhog and install underground wire mesh barriers to prevent burrowing return.

Skunks

How they get in: Skunks den under decks, porches, and storage sheds — typically not inside homes unless there's a foundation gap or crawl space entry. They're attracted to grub-rich lawns and outdoor food sources.

What damage they cause: The obvious issue is odor — skunk spray inside or under a structure creates a persistent smell that penetrates wood, insulation, and HVAC systems. Skunks also dig for grubs, creating lawn damage. They can carry rabies, though it's less common than people assume.

When to call: If you smell skunk regularly under your deck or structure, or see a skunk denning near your home, call before the problem escalates. We remove skunks without triggering a spray (using specialized equipment and techniques) and seal the entry points after removal.

Bats

How they get in: Bats exploit gaps as small as 3/8 inch — along ridge caps, chimney flashing, soffit gaps, and roof penetrations. A single bat can enter almost any attic.

Important legal consideration: Pennsylvania law prohibits bat exclusion from May 1 through August 14 to protect maternity colonies during the pup-raising season. Exclusion can only be performed from August 15 through April 30. If you discover bats during the restricted season, we can inspect, document, and schedule exclusion for the next available window.

What damage they cause: Guano accumulation causes structural damage to insulation and wood, produces ammonia odors, and can harbor histoplasmosis spores. Bats may also carry rabies — any bat found in a living space should be treated as a potential exposure risk, and the local health department should be notified.

When DIY Is Not Enough

For any wildlife situation inside your home — especially raccoons, bats, or large squirrel colonies — professional removal is strongly recommended. DIY attempts frequently result in:

- Animals trapped inside walls or ceilings (which creates a much worse problem)

- Incomplete exclusion that allows re-entry

- Missed entry points that invite new animals immediately

- Handling of animals that may carry rabies or other pathogens

L&L Pest Control has been handling wildlife removal throughout the Pocono Mountains since 1986. We follow all Pennsylvania Game Commission regulations and provide proper documentation for bat exclusions. Call (570) 992-3487 for a free assessment.