Wildlife Removal: Rockland County

Why Rockland County Has Elevated Wildlife Intrusion Problems

Rockland County is one of the most wooded counties in the New York metropolitan area. With Harriman State Park, Ramapo Mountain State Forest, Hook Mountain, and the Palisades all within or bordering the county, Rockland's suburban neighborhoods exist in a genuine wildlife corridor. Raccoons, squirrels, groundhogs, opossums, deer, and foxes regularly move through residential neighborhoods from Montebello to Haverstraw, from Suffern to Stony Point.

When these animals decide your home is a better option than the forest, you have a wildlife intrusion problem — and in Rockland County, that happens more often than most homeowners realize.

Raccoons: Rockland's Most Common Attic Intruder

Raccoons are intelligent, strong, and highly adaptable. In Rockland County, they're the most common wildlife pest species and the one we receive the most calls about. Raccoons typically enter homes in late winter and early spring when pregnant females seek secure denning sites for raising their young.

How Raccoons Enter Rockland County Homes

• Roof vents and soffits — raccoons tear away damaged fascia, rotting soffit boards, and lightweight vent covers with their powerful paws

• Chimney flues — uncapped chimneys provide an ideal dark, enclosed den. A raccoon in your chimney can cause significant damage and is extremely difficult to remove without professional help

• Roof edge damage — raccoons can exploit gaps where roof decking has separated or where flashing has lifted

• Attic access points — gable vents, ridge vents, and damaged dormers are common entry points in older Rockland homes

Signs of Raccoons in Your Attic

- Loud thumping, rolling sounds at night or in early morning

- Scratching and vocal sounds (raccoons are vocal animals — mothers with young are particularly noisy)

- Visible damage to exterior roofing, soffits, or vents

- Raccoon droppings (latrine sites) on your roof or near entry points

- Insulation disturbance and nesting materials in your attic

Raccoons in attics create serious problems: insulation contamination from urine and feces, structural damage, fire risk from disturbed wiring, and potential disease exposure (raccoon roundworm, leptospirosis, and rabies — though the latter is rare in Rockland County's current population).

Squirrels: The Year-Round Intruder

Gray squirrels are active year-round in Rockland County's forested neighborhoods and can enter homes through surprisingly small gaps — a hole the diameter of a baseball is all they need. Unlike raccoons, squirrels don't hibernate and can cause ongoing damage throughout the year.

Squirrels in wall voids and attics chew continuously on structural wood, insulation, and electrical wiring. Their nesting activity blocks insulation from performing properly, and their droppings accumulate in wall cavities and attic spaces. Flying squirrels — more nocturnal and less visible than gray squirrels — are common in Rockland's wooded neighborhoods and often go undetected for longer periods.

Groundhogs (Woodchucks): The Under-Structure Excavators

Groundhogs burrow extensively, and in Rockland County's mix of residential properties backing up to open land and forest edges, they frequently excavate under decks, sheds, air conditioning units, and even concrete stoops. Their tunnels can undermine structural footings and foundations over time, and their burrow networks can be extensive.

Groundhog activity is highest from late March through October in Rockland County. They enter hibernation in late fall and re-emerge in early spring, often returning to the same burrow systems year after year.

Humane Wildlife Removal Process

Our wildlife removal services follow New York State DEC guidelines and use humane methods:

1. Thorough property inspection — we identify the species, locate all entry points, assess the extent of damage, and check for young animals that may be denning inside

2. Live trapping — we use appropriately sized, properly baited live traps positioned at entry points and along wildlife travel paths

3. Exclusion work — after removal, we seal every entry point with appropriate materials (heavy-gauge hardware cloth, steel flashing, metal mesh) that the animal cannot defeat

4. Humane relocation — captured animals are relocated in accordance with New York State regulations

5. Cleanup and sanitization — we advise on or conduct decontamination of affected areas, particularly critical for raccoon latrines due to roundworm egg concentration

Important: New York State law governs the trapping and relocation of certain wildlife species. Our technicians are licensed by the DEC and follow all required protocols.

Call (845) 533-5288) for a wildlife assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to address a raccoon in my attic?

Act immediately. The longer a raccoon occupies your attic, the more damage accumulates. However, our technicians always check for young before initiating removal — if a mother raccoon has given birth, a different sequenced approach is used to avoid separating nursing young from their mother.

Can I relocate a groundhog myself in Rockland County?

New York State regulates the trapping and relocation of many wildlife species. Without proper permits, relocating certain animals is illegal. Contact us at (845) 533-5288) for a legally compliant and humane groundhog removal.

How do I keep squirrels out of my Rockland County home long-term?

The single most effective step is thorough exclusion — sealing every gap larger than half an inch using materials squirrels cannot chew through. Our exclusion work uses heavy-gauge hardware cloth and steel flashing rather than foam or light mesh, which squirrels will defeat. Trim tree branches that overhang or touch your roofline to eliminate the most common access route.