Spring in Middle Tennessee is beautiful — the dogwoods are blooming, the weather is warming up, and families are getting back outside. But there’s another family that may have quietly moved in over the last few weeks: raccoons. And right now, in mid-April, they’re not alone.
April marks the heart of raccoon baby season in Nashville and across Middle Tennessee. Female raccoons — called sows — typically give birth between March and May, with litters of 2 to 5 kits. Those babies are helpless, blind, and completely dependent on their mother for the first several weeks of life. That means mama raccoon has been working hard all late winter to find the safest, warmest den site she could — and unfortunately, your attic, chimney, or crawl space may have looked like the perfect nursery.
Why Spring Is the Busiest Time for Raccoon Calls
We get more calls in the spring than any other time of year, and it’s not a coincidence. Here’s what’s happening right now across Middle Tennessee:
Mothers are nesting. A pregnant or nursing raccoon is highly motivated to find shelter. They’re strong, persistent, and surprisingly good at exploiting small gaps — a loose soffit panel, a damaged roof vent, or an uncapped chimney is all they need. Once inside, they create a den and give birth.
Homeowners start noticing. Warmer weather means people are opening windows, spending time in the yard, and paying attention to their homes again after winter. That’s when they hear thumping in the attic at dusk, find droppings on the deck, or notice torn insulation peeking out of a vent.
Juveniles start exploring. By late April and into May, kits become more mobile and vocal. If you’re hearing chirping or chattering sounds in your walls or attic — that’s often baby raccoons.
Signs You May Have Raccoons Right Now
- Loud thumping, scratching, or shuffling sounds from the attic, especially at night
- A musky or ammonia-like odor coming from the attic or crawl space
- Damaged or displaced roof vents, soffits, or fascia boards
- Knocked-over trash cans, torn bird feeders, or raided pet food left outside
- Visible droppings on your deck, porch, or near your roofline
- Tracks in mud or garden beds — raccoon prints look like small human handprints
If you’re checking any of those boxes, there’s a good chance you’re sharing your home with a raccoon family right now.
Why You Should NOT Try to Remove Them Yourself This Time of Year
This is important: if there are babies involved, DIY removal can create serious problems.
If you trap and remove the mother without locating the kits, the babies will die inside your home — creating an odor problem, a pest problem, and a much bigger mess. On top of that, a mother raccoon separated from her young can become aggressive, and raccoons are one of the primary rabies vectors in Tennessee.
Tennessee wildlife laws also govern how and when certain animals can be removed. Working with a licensed wildlife removal professional ensures the job is done humanely, legally, and completely.
What the Right Removal Looks Like
At Birdman Wildlife Removal, we handle raccoon situations the right way — especially during baby season. That means:
- Inspection — We identify all entry points and locate any nesting sites, including kits.
- Humane removal — Mother and babies are removed together whenever possible.
- Exclusion — We seal every entry point so raccoons (and other wildlife) can’t get back in.
- Cleanup — Raccoon latrines and contaminated insulation are a health hazard. We handle proper cleanup and decontamination.
We serve Nashville and all of Middle Tennessee, including Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Mount Juliet, Smyrna, and surrounding communities.
Don’t Wait — Spring Moves Fast
The longer a raccoon family stays in your attic, the more damage accumulates. Raccoons can destroy insulation, contaminate it with feces and urine (which carries roundworm and leptospirosis), and create structural damage as they expand their den space. What starts as a manageable situation in April can become a much more expensive problem by June.
Raccoons in Your Home? We’ll Handle It — Today.
Birdman is Nashville’s same-day wildlife removal expert, and right now is the most important time of year to act fast. Don’t let a raccoon family turn your attic into their nursery for the rest of the spring.
Here’s what you get when you call us:
- Same-day service available — we don’t make you wait
- Licensed & professional — we do this the right way, every time
- Baby-safe, humane removal — no animals left behind
- Full exclusion & cleanup — so they can’t come back
📞 Call or Text Now: (629) 777-5949
We serve Nashville and all of Middle Tennessee — Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Mount Juliet, Smyrna, and beyond. If you’ve got wildlife, we’ve got you covered.