Raccoon Control Services in Gainesville, Florida

Locally Owned Since 2011. Over a Century of Wildlife Management Experience.

Gainesville’s tree canopy, natural areas, and year-round warm climate create consistent raccoon pressure on homes and businesses throughout Alachua County. Raccoons don’t go dormant in Florida’s climate, which means attic nesting, chimney entry, and nightly trash raids are problems that can develop in any season. At Alachua Pest Services, we’ve provided wildlife removal services to residential and commercial clients in the Gainesville area since 2011. Our team carries over a century of collective pest and wildlife management experience, and we know the wildlife activity patterns specific to this area.

Our raccoon control approach follows integrated pest management (IPM) principles: we inspect the property, identify current and potential entry points, remove the animals through humane trapping, and address the conditions that made entry possible in the first place. That means sealing structural gaps, not just relocating the immediate problem. We’re fully insured, locally owned, and available the same day you call. Free estimates are provided before any work begins.

Raccoon activity in Gainesville doesn’t wait, and neither do we. Call Alachua Pest Services at (386) 284-4642 to schedule a free estimate. Same-day service is available.

Signs of Raccoon Activity on Your Property

Raccoons are nocturnal, so their activity often goes unnoticed until damage has already accumulated. Knowing what to look for can help you act before a minor problem becomes a structural one.

Call Alachua Pest Services if you’ve noticed:

  • Tipped-over trash cans or scattered garbage. Raccoons are persistent foragers. Overturned bins or spilled contents overnight are among the most common early indicators.
  • Unusual noises at night. Scratching, thumping, or chattering sounds in attics, crawl spaces, or walls typically point to raccoons nesting inside the structure.
  • Tracks or paw prints. Their distinct five-fingered prints may appear in muddy areas, around the home’s perimeter, or near suspected entry points.
  • Damaged or torn shingles or siding. Raccoons often pry open roofing materials or siding to gain access, leaving visible damage at the entry point.
  • Feces or droppings in specific areas. Raccoons use consistent latrine sites. Concentrated droppings in one spot are a reliable sign of ongoing activity nearby.
  • Disturbed gardens or crops. Half-eaten fruits or uprooted plants suggest raccoons are treating your yard as a regular food source.

Raccoons nesting with young are particularly active from March through May in the Gainesville area, and mothers become more defensive during that period. If any of these signs are familiar, early assessment can help keep the situation from escalating. Contact Alachua Pest Services to schedule an inspection.

How Professional Raccoon Control Works

Raccoon removal in Florida is governed by Florida Administrative Code 68A-9.010, which sets specific legal requirements for how nuisance wildlife can be handled. Live-captured raccoons must be legally released or humanely euthanized within 24 hours of capture or trap inspection. Releasing a raccoon off the capture site requires a minimum of 40 contiguous acres within the same county and written landowner permission, meaning the common approach of simply moving a raccoon “down the road” is illegal under Florida law. All traps must also be inspected at least once every 24 hours. It’s also worth noting that Alachua County Animal Services handles domestic animals only and won’t respond to nuisance wildlife calls. Property owners dealing with raccoon activity need a licensed wildlife removal company, not animal control.

Our Raccoon Removal Process

Our process starts with a thorough property inspection to locate current entry points, assess damage, and identify conditions enabling raccoon access. We then deploy humane traps, conduct required daily inspections, and handle removal in compliance with state regulations. Once the animals are removed, we identify and seal structural entry points to help reduce the likelihood of re-entry. Raccoons defending young are capable of biting and scratching, and attempting removal without proper training and equipment isn’t advisable. Our team brings the experience and equipment to handle the job correctly.

Request a free raccoon control estimate from our Gainesville team today by calling (386) 284-4642!

Hear From Our Happy Customers

At Alachua Pest Services, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what people have to say about working with us.

    “More service for less money, that’s a win-win!”
    “He was polite and professional and took care of our pest issues”
    - Kristin S.
    “He greatly helped me overcome my doubts”
    “I’ve been extremely pleased with the genuine service attitude and desire to do a really good job”
    - Daru W.
    “Mr. Nixon with Alachua Pest Services and he came out same day.”
    “He was altogether informative, knowledgeable, and professional.”
    - Aaron S.
    “We could use more people like Wade!”
    “That alone tells me that you have a kind-hearted and caring employee working there.”
    - Michelle M.

Why Choose Alachua Pest Services?

Serving Alachua, FL Since 2011

  • Family Owned & Operated
  • Customer Care Focused
  • Honest & Transparent
  • Over 35 Years of Experience

Reducing Raccoon Attractants Around Your Property

Prevention works best before raccoons have established a routine on your property. Once an animal has identified a reliable food source or entry point, removal becomes the necessary first step. That said, reducing attractants around your home or business lowers the odds of initial activity and supports the work completed after a removal.

Under Florida Administrative Code 68A-4.001, intentionally placing food or garbage in a manner that attracts raccoons and creates a public nuisance is prohibited. Intentional feeding can result in fines up to $500 and creates habituation problems that make raccoons harder to manage over time.

Practical steps that reduce raccoon activity include:

  • Securing trash can lids. Use bins with locking lids or bungee cords to keep lids shut. Wash cans regularly to remove food odors that draw raccoons from a distance.
  • Storing bins indoors before collection day. Keeping garbage in a garage or shed until the morning of pickup removes one of the most reliable raccoon food sources.
  • Removing outdoor pet food at night. Pet food left outside overnight is a common attractant. Using pet door covers after dark adds another layer of deterrence.
  • Installing motion-activated lights or sprinklers. Sudden light or water discourages raccoons from returning to specific areas of the property.
  • Trimming tree branches near the roofline. Branches that overhang or contact the roof give raccoons a direct access route. Pruning them removes a common entry path.

These steps can reduce the likelihood of raccoon activity, but they don’t address animals already inside a structure. If entry has already occurred, professional inspection is the right next step.

Same-day service is available throughout Gainesville and Alachua County. Call (386) 284-4642 to get started.

Contact Alachua Pest Services Today! We Are Ready to Help

A member of our team will be in touch shortly to confirm your contact details or address questions you may have.

Health Risks Associated with Raccoons

Raccoons can carry and transmit diseases, which is one more reason to avoid direct contact and address activity on your property promptly. One of the primary concerns is rabies, a viral infection that can cause severe illness in humans and pets. Raccoons are one of the primary rabies vector species in North America, and the disease is transmitted through bites or scratches. Keeping pets vaccinated against rabies and avoiding direct contact with raccoons are important protective measures.

A second concern is raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), a parasite found in raccoon feces. Microscopic eggs can pose health risks if accidentally ingested. Because raccoons use consistent latrine sites, concentrated fecal matter in those areas presents an ongoing exposure risk until the area is thoroughly cleaned. Avoiding direct contact with droppings and cleaning affected areas promptly can reduce that risk.

Concerned about raccoon activity on your Gainesville property? Call Alachua Pest Services at (386) 284-4642 for same-day raccoon control services throughout Alachua County.

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