They’re not just in the attic.
Raccoons are smart, opportunistic, and disturbingly creative when it comes to finding places to nest inside your home. And in cities like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, where urban development meets wooded terrain, raccoons thrive in the overlap.
At Talent Pest Control, we’ve seen raccoon nests in just about every corner of a house—not just the attic. And we don’t just evict them. We seal them out, clean up the mess, and restore your home to safety.
So where do raccoons build nests in a house? Let’s start with the most common—and dangerous—locations.
1. Attics: The 5-Star Raccoon Resort
If you’re hearing loud bumps or scratching overhead in your Williamsburg, Yorktown, or Virginia Beach home, you’re probably not imagining it.
Raccoons are drawn to attics because they’re:
- Warm
- Quiet
- Elevated (away from predators)
- Full of insulation to rip, tunnel through, and use as bedding
They usually enter through damaged soffits, vents, or chewed rooflines—especially during breeding season. Once inside, they create nests from insulation, shredded HVAC ducting, or even stored cardboard and clothing.
And they don’t come quietly. Expect:
- Nocturnal banging and movement
- Musky odors from feces and urine
- Damage to wiring, ductwork, and insulation
📍 Live in Norfolk or Portsmouth and think your attic might be compromised? Get a free inspection here →
2. Chimneys: The Vertical Nest Box
Chimneys—especially uncapped ones—are a prime location for raccoon dens. In fact, female raccoons will often choose a chimney to raise their young, treating it like a hollow tree.
They’re easy to climb, warm from interior heat, and often undisturbed. Raccoons will:
- Build nests on the chimney shelf
- Carry in leaves, insulation, and debris
- Leave behind droppings and parasites
If you’re in an older home in Suffolk or Chesapeake, and you haven’t capped your chimney, you may already have company.
3. Crawl Spaces & Basements: Out of Sight, Not Out of Danger
While most homeowners look up when they hear about raccoons, some of the worst infestations start down low.
Crawl spaces—especially in homes across Virginia Beach and Norfolk—offer:
- Shelter from weather
- Quiet denning zones
- Access to plumbing and electrical voids
Raccoons love to sneak under floorboards and nest near insulation or HVAC lines. These areas also make attic access easier—they climb up through walls or ducts.
If your crawl space isn’t sealed, and your vents are missing screens, it’s time to act fast.
4. Inside Wall Voids and Behind Fireplaces
Yes, raccoons can—and do—nest inside walls. We’ve seen them behind fireboxes, between drywall and siding, and even inside drop ceilings.
These types of nests are hard to detect until it’s too late. The signs?
- Odd smells with no visible source
- Scratching sounds that don’t stop
- Stained walls from hidden urine trails
If you suspect a wall nest in your Williamsburg, Yorktown, or Portsmouth home, don’t tear up drywall. Call Talent first. We’ll use inspection scopes and thermal imaging to locate them—without making it worse.
5. Garages, Decks, and Sheds
Detached structures and open storage areas are raccoon goldmines. They often nest:
- In insulation behind garage walls
- Underneath deck boards
- Inside unused storage bins
- Between ceiling beams in detached sheds
These are especially common in semi-rural homes around Suffolk and Chesapeake, where backyards border woods or water.
How Talent Pest Control Handles Raccoon Nests
We don’t just remove the raccoons—we remove the problem.
Our raccoon nest removal process includes:
- Full-home inspection (attic, crawlspace, roofline, chimney, basement)
- Humane removal of raccoons and kits
- Sanitation and decontamination
- Sealing of all current and potential entry points
- Repairs to insulation, wiring, soffits, and vents
📍 Ready to stop the infestation before it spreads? Contact Virginia’s most trusted wildlife removal team →
✅ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where do raccoons most often nest in Virginia homes?
The most common locations are attics, chimneys, and crawl spaces—especially in homes in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Suffolk with older roofing or vent systems.
How do I know if a raccoon is nesting inside my house?
Listen for noises at night, check for musky smells, and inspect the roofline or soffits for damage. You might also notice droppings, insulation trails, or scratch marks around entry points.
Can raccoons nest under my deck or in my garage?
Yes. Garages, sheds, and under-deck voids are frequent den sites, especially in rural or wooded neighborhoods.
Do I need to cap my chimney to keep raccoons out?
Absolutely. An uncapped chimney is one of the top 3 raccoon entry points. Talent offers chimney cap installation and exclusion repairs.
Does Talent Pest Control serve my area?
We proudly serve:
- Virginia Beach
- Norfolk
- Chesapeake
- Suffolk
- Portsmouth
- Williamsburg
- Yorktown
📍 See why homeowners trust us →
The Bottom Line: If You Can Hear Them, Smell Them, or See the Damage—Act Now
Raccoons don’t just pick attics. They’ll settle anywhere your home is vulnerable. And once they start nesting, they bring noise, destruction, disease, and costs that add up fast.
Talent Pest Control doesn’t just remove raccoons.
We shut the door permanently—and restore your peace of mind.
👉 Schedule your inspection now
And stop wondering where they’re hiding—before they decide to grow their family inside your walls.
