Wildlife Exclusion in Brentwood, CA

Raccoon peeking out from a gap under a low wooden backyard deck at dusk

How wildlife exclusion works

Find the opening and the den. Tracks, smudges, dug soil, torn vents and droppings show where the animal is getting in.
Check for young. In spring and early summer, babies may be inside. They need to come out with the mother.
Let it leave. A one-way exclusion door over the opening lets the animal out but not back in.
Seal and screen. Once it’s gone, the opening is closed. Under decks and sheds, a buried L-shaped wire barrier stops digging.
Clean up and repair. Damaged insulation, vents or ducting get fixed. See attic cleanup.

Which animal is it?

Raccoons

Raccoons tear into roof vents, soffits and attic gaps and den under decks and sheds. They're strong, so exclusion uses heavy-gauge materials rather than light screening.

Skunks

Skunks den under decks, porches, sheds and slab edges. The usual fix is a one-way door at the den opening and an L-shaped wire barrier buried along the edge so they can't dig back in.

Opossums

Opossums move into crawl spaces, under decks and into garages. They use existing gaps rather than digging, so sealing the openings is usually enough once they're out.

Tree squirrels

Squirrels chew into attics at roof edges and vents, often from overhanging branches. Trimming limbs back from the roof and screening the entry are standard.

Don’t trap it yourself

California regulates how wildlife may be trapped, moved and released, and the rules vary by species. A cornered raccoon or skunk can also be dangerous. Hire a contractor who follows California Department of Fish and Wildlife rules, and ask them to explain their method.

Dead animal smell?

A strong, persistent odor from a wall, crawl space or attic often means an animal has died inside. Contractors can locate and remove it, deodorize the area and seal the entry. Angi lists dead animal removal at about $150 to $250 depending on access.

What it costs

Angi’s 2026 wildlife data: raccoon $300–$450, skunk $300–$600, opossum $150–$350, squirrel $250–$450. Repairs are extra. See the cost guide.

Rodents too?

The same openings that let a squirrel or raccoon in often let rats in. If you hear smaller, faster scratching at night, ask the contractor to check for rodents at the same visit. See rat removal.

Common questions

How much does it cost to have someone remove a raccoon?

Angi's 2026 data puts raccoon removal at about $300 to $450, skunk removal at $300 to $600, opossum removal at $150 to $350 and squirrel removal at $250 to $450. Repairs such as insulation replacement or screening under a deck are extra.

Is it legal to trap raccoons or relocate a skunk in California?

California regulates how wildlife can be trapped, relocated or released, and the rules differ by species. Rather than trapping an animal yourself, hire a contractor who follows California Department of Fish and Wildlife rules, and ask them to explain the method they'll use.

What does wildlife removal do?

A wildlife job finds where the animal is getting in or denning, gets it out (often with a one-way exclusion door so it leaves on its own), then seals the opening so it can't return. Cleanup and repairs follow if needed.

When is the worst time to seal an opening?

In spring and early summer, a mother raccoon, skunk or squirrel may have young inside. Sealing before they're out can trap them. A good contractor checks for young before closing anything.