What to Do When You Find Animal Droppings in or Around Your Home
Looking for the bigger picture? Start with our Home Preventive Maintenance. It lays out how to decide what matters most before you dive in.
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Looking for the bigger picture? Start with our Home Preventive Maintenance. It lays out how to decide what matters most before you dive in.
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Discovering unexpected animal droppings in your attic, garage, or even your yard can be unsettling. Your mind might jump to the worst-case scenario. But before you worry, take a steady breath. This is a common situation for homeowners, and it’s entirely manageable with a calm, step-by-step approach.
The key is to act safely, figure out if you have a one-time visitor or a resident, and take simple steps to secure your home. This guide will walk you through how to assess the situation, what you can safely handle yourself, and when it’s time to call in a professional.

Before you do any investigating, your first priority is to protect yourself, your family, and your pets. Animal droppings can carry bacteria and parasites, so it's important to handle them with care.
The first question to answer is where you found the droppings. Your response will be very different for a raccoon passing through your yard versus one that’s found a way into your attic.
Finding droppings inside your home suggests an animal may have found an entry point. Here’s how to figure out what’s going on.
Once you have your gloves on, take a closer look to gather clues.
The most important question is whether this is a recurring issue. If you clean the area and new droppings appear within a day or two, you likely have an animal living in your home.
If you suspect an animal is getting inside repeatedly, the next step is to find its doorway.
If you find a clear entry point (and are sure the animal is not currently inside), you can often seal it yourself.
To Seal an Entry Point:
To Clean Up Droppings Safely:
It’s time to call a pest control or wildlife removal professional if:
Droppings in your yard, on your deck, or near your garbage cans are common, especially if you live near woods or green spaces. The goal here is usually deterrence, not removal.
If the animal is not a direct threat, making your yard less welcoming is often the best solution.
Finding animal droppings can feel like an invasion of your space, but it’s a problem with clear solutions. By starting with safety, determining the location, and taking methodical steps, you can resolve the issue and secure your home against future visitors.
And when you’re not sure what to do next, Casa is here to help. Download the Casa app to get personalized home maintenance advice and connect with trusted, local professionals for the jobs you’d rather not handle yourself.