Mitten Wildlife

Michigan wildlife & pest directory — connecting homeowners with licensed local providers.

Raccoon Removal Help in Paw Paw, MI

Van Buren County Pop. 3,526 April through November
Before you call: Mitten Wildlife doesn't carry out removals itself. It's a directory, and tapping the button below puts you in touch with a licensed wildlife removal provider working in your area.
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Raccoons in Paw Paw

Paw Paw was incorporated in 1837 around a sawmill on the Paw Paw River, and the village's older housing stock — many homes built when grapes and wine first took root here — gives raccoons easy access to gable vents and chimney flues from April through November. Females usually pick a quiet attic for April-May kits, and the surrounding Van Buren County farmland keeps the population well-fed on corn and orchard windfall. Rabies is rarely the right worry: Michigan confirmed zero raccoon positives in 2023, and the county has no recent cases. The real hazards for 49079 homeowners are roundworm and chewed soffits. The directory connects Paw Paw and nearby Mattawan with licensed pros who trap adults, hand-retrieve kits, and decontaminate latrines.

Local context: Nearest state park: Van Buren State Park (21.8 mi). Nearest forest area: Allegan State Game Area (21.4 mi).

Rabies and disease risk

Across Michigan in 2023, 55 animals returned positive rabies results — bats (34) and skunks (19) led the count. No raccoons tested positive in MI in 2023. Year-to-date 2026 (as of 2026-05-29) stands at 15 positive animals statewide, the majority bats.

Van Buren County has not had reported rabies-positive animals in MI DHHS surveillance for 2023 or YTD 2026.

Raccoons are known carriers of leptospirosis, distemper, and roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), so their droppings should only be cleaned up while wearing protective equipment.

Source: Michigan DHHS Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases rabies surveillance maps.

Signs you have a raccoon problem

  • Trash cans flipped over and contents scattered
  • Damaged fascia, soffits, or roof vents that appear to have been forced open (raccoons can rip them)
  • Noisy scratching, thudding, and chittering in the attic, particularly during dawn or dusk hours
  • A potent ammonia smell from urine collecting in attic insulation over time
  • Large, tube-shaped droppings — often containing hair or seeds — found around the home

What to do right now

  1. Do not approach, corner, or try to capture a wild raccoon — they can carry rabies and roundworm.
  2. Shut attic and basement access points so the raccoon stays confined to one area until it can be removed.
  3. If kits (baby raccoons) are present, hold off on sealing entry points — separating them from the mother creates a worse situation and is restricted under Michigan law.
  4. Contact a licensed wildlife removal provider.

Michigan regulations

Per Michigan NREPA Part 427, Michigan DNR limits how raccoons may be trapped and relocated. Licensed wildlife pros perform removals within the state's framework, while DIY trapping risks violating state law.

Connect with a provider: (888) 217-4913

Calls are routed to participating licensed providers in your area.

Common questions — Raccoon in Paw Paw

How much does raccoon removal cost in Paw Paw?
Licensed wildlife removal pros in Paw Paw typically charge $300-$600 for the first attic visit, which usually covers inspection, trapping, and one return trip. Sealing entry points adds roughly $200-$500 depending on how many gable vents, chimney flues, and soffit gaps need chew-proof material. If you're calling between April and May, expect multiple visits over two to three weeks because kits have to be located and removed by hand. Damage repair to insulation and wiring is billed separately.
Should I call Van Buren County animal control about a raccoon in my attic?
Probably not. County and municipal animal control in Michigan handles stray pets, public-safety incidents, and animals in roadways. Van Buren County does not list a public wildlife hotline for raccoons living inside private homes, and Paw Paw village does not publish an animal control phone number either. For a raccoon den in your attic, chimney, or crawlspace, a licensed private wildlife removal company is the right call. Animal control becomes relevant only if there's a confirmed bite or rabies exposure question.
What happens if there are babies in the attic?
April-May is kit season, and Michigan's NREPA Part 427 prohibits separating a mother raccoon from her young. Trapping the female and leaving kits behind is both illegal and a guaranteed dead-animal odor problem two weeks later. Licensed pros locate the nest, hand-extract each kit, and use a reunion box on the exterior so the mother can relocate her litter to a backup den site. This is why kit-season jobs run longer than off-season removals.
Is a raccoon in my attic a rabies emergency?
Usually not a medical emergency. Michigan confirmed zero raccoon rabies positives in 2023, and Van Buren County has no recent cases on record. The state's rabies vector is bats, by a wide margin. The urgency with raccoons is structural: a female with kits will tear insulation, foul the same latrine area repeatedly, and chew framing while you wait. If anyone has been bitten or scratched, that is an emergency and you should contact MDHHS and your doctor immediately.
What cleanup and repair work is needed after the raccoon is gone?
Removal is the first step, not the last. A complete job in Paw Paw generally includes sealing every entry point with chew-proof metal or hardware cloth, decontaminating the latrine area where roundworm eggs persist, and treating or replacing soiled insulation. Some pros bundle all of this; others quote each piece separately. Before you schedule trapping, ask which of these are included in the base price and which are add-ons. That single question avoids most billing surprises.

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