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Raccoon Removal in Lafayette
Raccoons tear their own way in, which is why they do more damage to a house than most animals that get inside one.
The coulee corridors deliver raccoons into subdivisions that appear entirely suburban. On slab-built houses they go up rather than under, and a torn soffit return above a garage is the standard Lafayette entry point.
Raccoons in Lafayette Parish: who does what
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries is explicit that it does not remove nuisance wildlife. It permits individuals to do it for a fee. A Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator permit is issued to a person rather than a company, every individual doing the work must hold one in their own name, and getting it requires a Louisiana trapping licence, a basic hunting licence, and 80 per cent on the department's exam. The permit also lists exactly which animals may be taken, raccoon, squirrel, opossum, skunk, armadillo, beaver and nutria among them.
The Lafayette Animal Shelter and Care Center lends traps for wildlife: residents sign a loan agreement on a weekday between 8 and 5, and an officer collects the trapped animal.
For identifying an animal or damage before anyone is paid to look, the LSU AgCenter, Lafayette Parish office is at 1010 Lafayette Street, Suite 325, Lafayette, LA 70501 (office page).
What Louisiana law says about raccoons
A licensed property owner, or a designee with written permission, may trap or shoot a raccoon proven to be causing damage, year-round in daylight, without a permit (LAC 76:V.125); the owner carries the burden of proof, and local firearm ordinances still apply. Louisiana has no closed season on raccoons. Permitted operators may not relocate one: raccoons must be euthanized within 12 hours of capture. All Louisiana rules →
Sources: Lafayette Consolidated Government, Animal Shelter FAQ; Louisiana Administrative Code Title 76 (wildlife and fisheries); Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Nuisance Wildlife Control and Removal. Checked October 2026.
Signs, and why they matter
- Heavy, deliberate footsteps overhead: raccoons are big enough to sound like a person walking
- Chittering, growling or the distinctive cry of kits, usually at dusk or just before dawn
- A torn soffit, lifted shingles, or a ripped roof or gable vent
- Rabies: raccoons are a primary rabies vector across the southeastern United States
- Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris) in the droppings, which is dangerous to people and pets
How removal works
A licensed operator finds every entry point, removes the animal, and critically any kits, which are usually hidden in a wall cavity or soffit and cannot leave on their own, then seals the openings with materials a raccoon cannot tear off. Sealing before the young are out is the most common and most expensive mistake.
Raccoon questions
How much does raccoon removal cost in Lafayette?
$300 – $600 for removal; far more if the attic needs restoring, depending on access and whether young are present. After a long stay in an attic the cleanup is often the bigger bill (attic restoration).
Is there a wrong time of year to deal with raccoons?
Spring is the worst time to trap and seal: females den in attics to give birth, and removing the mother while kits remain leaves them to die inside the structure.
Who handles raccoons in Lafayette Parish?
The Lafayette Animal Shelter and Care Center lends traps for wildlife: residents sign a loan agreement on a weekday between 8 and 5, and an officer collects the trapped animal.
Request a quote
We read every request and pass it to a licensed wildlife operator covering Lafayette where one is available. We are still building our list of operators here, so we cannot promise one is available or say how quickly they will respond.