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A Middle Tennessee suburban house at night with the porch light glowing, a raccoon with a ringed tail standing on the lawn looking toward the camera, deep blue night sky, realistic flash-lit photo.

Wildlife of Tennessee · Raccoons, Skunks and Opossums

Raccoon in Tennessee

Carries rabies and roundworm, and can rip open roofs to nest. Call 615-357-7797 any hour.

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A raccoon on the edge of a roof peering into an open attic vent at night, flash-lit, Tennessee suburban house.

At a Glance

About the Raccoon

Raccoons, opossums and skunks den under decks, in crawl spaces and in attics. They raid trash and pet food and leave droppings, odors and damage behind.

We Remove It

Risk: Carries rabies and roundworm, and can rip open roofs to nest.

Call 615-357-7797

Scientific nameProcyon lotor
Size23 to 38 inches
Where it shows upAttics, chimneys, crawl spaces, decks and trash bins
When it is activeNight, with mothers raising young from March to June

Signs You Have One

How to Tell

These are the clues that point to a raccoon.

  • Heavy thumping and dragging noises in the attic at night
  • Torn shingles, vents and chimney caps
  • Latrine piles of droppings in one spot, and overturned trash

Prevention

Keep Them Away

Simple steps that help for this kind of animal.

  • Use trash bins with locking lids
  • Feed pets indoors or remove bowls at night
  • Skirt decks and porches with buried mesh
  • Cap the chimney and screen vents

Similar Animals

More Raccoons, Skunks and Opossums

Free Tool

What Animal Is It? Identifier

Pick where it is, when you notice it and the signs you see, and get a ranked list of the likely Tennessee animals.

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Good to Know

Questions About Raccoon

Still have a question?

Call 615-357-7797

How do I know if I have a raccoon?

Common signs: heavy thumping and dragging noises in the attic at night; torn shingles, vents and chimney caps; latrine piles of droppings in one spot, and overturned trash.

Is a raccoon dangerous?

Carries rabies and roundworm, and can rip open roofs to nest. When in doubt, keep your distance and call us.

What does Music City Wildlife do about a raccoon?

We inspect to confirm the species, remove the animals humanely, close every way in and clean up. We check for young before any work. Call 615-357-7797 any hour.

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Describe what you see, hear or smell and we will get back to you quickly with a plan and a free estimate. For an animal in the house or any emergency, skip the form and call 615-357-7797 any hour.

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