Ok people been hearing load thuds jumping rafter to rafter in attic. Did exterior inspection found cedar trees next to house for animal to climb. Found coon poop on roof found coon footprint on soffit next to downspout. Set two live traps by cedar trees. Two days nothing

So I look in attic All of the baffles for blown in insulation have been pulled down so I'm still think raccoon that is trying to get out. Put live trap in attic (baited with marshmallow and grape jelly). No catch. They still hear it every night. I'm thinking building a one way exclusion from a 36" trap connected to soffit (remove one section of aluminum soffit) going down to garage roof.

Any other thoughts would be great.

Note: I'm leaving town for three days so I want it out not captured at this point. Plan to leave exclusion until I return

There has to be a entrance somewhere!! You need
To find that first.

As Kasey stated, there either is an entrance or there isn't one. Do you have any trails in the attic or is it just that the baffles are down? Fallen baffles can be caused by multiple issues starting with bad installation. Also, don't rule out that the problem is ON the roof, not IN the attic. This is where you get back to the is there an entrance or not? We've had several cases where the "entrance" was hidden due to loose trim coil that would snap back in place once the coon passed through. When looking at it, it gave the appearance it was properly attached but when pushed on it was obvious that it wasn't.

If you can't find an entrance, I'd try using trail cameras in the attic and/or on the roof so you can see what is actually happening.

Thanks for advice. As far as baffles. I'm quite sure it is from animal each one is only pulled down from one rafter and are cupped. A looked for loose siding soffit. Found none. The camera may be good idea. Question still remains in my head why nothing entered traps though.

I thought it may have entered through shower vent pipes but could find holes. No trails throughout attic. Very frustrating

How big are your cage traps? Are they single or double doored? Are they pan or wire trigger?

How are you placing the bait? How is the trap faced for the approach?

Maybe pictures.

How old is the house? Ground entry, up a wall void? Down a chimney, through broken out bricks?
I had one earlier this year (and a few over the years), going into garage and climbing to soffet and entering attic.
Sometimes coons or skunk go into garage when door is open, then door is always closed locking them in.
If it's a sow w/pups, she may not leave them for two weeks or more. Keep looking for the entry.

The garage entry idea is where I was leaning as there is some insulation out of place there.

I've been think the exclusion may be bad if it goes out but has kits because it might tear its way back in. Going to set camera and see what's going on

Trap is one opening with pan. Bait on bottom and hanging in back of trap

Do NOT do exclusion until you catch the coons. Find the entrance or entrances. They shouldn't be hard to find as they will be as big as a grapefruit. Get you self a good double door wire trigger trap and positive set over the hole. No bait needed.

The entry exit is what's difficult here. Lookin at all the baffles down and based on what the customer is hearing. It sounds like every night it goes from baffle to baffle trying to get out. They say some times it last all night others just for awhile others for a few hours

Going again tonight. Will look a little more. Am setting. A camera to see what we have

Many accesses that aren't visible. That last piece of soffit on dormers is never attached good and will drop down looking normal after entry/exit. Large aluminum triangular attic vents at the gable ends flex enough for raccoon entry and will snap back looking normal. Attic roof vents are often accessed with no overly visible damage. It's unlikely that it's trying to get out, because by this time it would have torn the house down to get out if it felt trapped.

Sounds to me like you are chasing a ghost. I am a builder and have dealt with all kinds of kritters in attics and walls. If there is no sign of entry and no disturbed insulation just the loose baffles just maybe there is no coon. With vented soffit the baffles that are loose can blow and make noise. It is suprising how loud it can seem in the still of night. If you have a coon trapped in a space it WILL go through the drywall into the house in short order. Coon are not graceful enough to jump rafter to rafter without disturbing anything. Coon noise would be scratching not thuds, Also if a coon was in the attic for any length of time it would stink like a den tree does. they are not as clean as made out to be. Just my oppinion and like I say I have seen a lot of wierd stuff.

I've found mammals with babies to be trap shy. Maybe she was caught before... Had to use a coni.

What everybody said especially eaten by limestone....I wish I knew who he really is...anyway you have to find the entry and set it. You can't do an exclusion or a one way door during the birthing season for obvious reasons. Put the trail camera up but there has to be an entry. Get a friendly nwco to have a look. Look low some of those nice looking beams are made like hollow trees you go in from the bottom and you have a 2x2 tree to climb to the attic..same with built out windows usually a product called "drivet" the bottom of thos prefab chimneys is a highway to the attic.
Look again and put the camera up.

Ok went back tonight reviewed 97 photos on trail cam. Traps set will capture soon. Taking wagers on what the photos revealed!

Okay, I'm betting that the raccoon grabbed your camera and took a "selfie". It happens all the time.

Nope. Mice. 97 pics of mice. Then I touched the housing in the bath can. And the homeowner said that was the noise. Mystery solved

The funny thing is. I the photos this one mouse is so obese it's unreal

lets see pics of the mouse.

Will try. They are on computer. I know how to from I phone. Not sure with computer yet