Thumping in the attic at night. Scratching in the walls. A cap missing off the chimney and something living in the flue. November is peak season for Boston wildlife moving indoors — raccoons and squirrels are still looking for winter shelter, bats are already settled into attics for hibernation, and skunks are picking the porch or shed they'll den under for the winter. Boston's housing gives all of them plenty of choices: brownstones, triple-deckers, and colonials that have  stood for a century or more.

Harvey's Animal Evictions LLC is a licensed Massachusetts wildlife removal company based in Wilmington, with our shop in Medford. We humanely remove nuisance wildlife from Boston homes and businesses, and seal the entry points so the next animal doesn't move into the same spot.

Signs wildlife has moved in

• Thumping, walking, or chattering sounds in the attic or chimney — raccoons are heavy enough to sound almost human

• Scratching and scurrying at dawn and dusk, or rolling sounds like nuts being dropped — classic squirrels

• Droppings (guano) in the attic, staining on ceilings, or a bat found in the living space — a hibernating colony overhead

• A strong, unmistakable spray smell, or cone-shaped holes dug in the lawn — a skunk working the yard or denning under the porch

• Chewed holes at roof returns, soffits, or vents, and animals seen using the same roofline route day after day

• Torn insulation, gnawed wiring, and droppings in the attic — damage that grows the longer animals stay

Wildlife inside isn't just noise. Squirrels and raccoons chew — wiring included, which is a genuine fire risk. Raccoons tear up insulation and leave latrines in attics. Bat guano accumulates all winter while the colony hibernates overhead. And an animal that sets up in November is planning to stay until spring.

Where Boston wildlife gets in

Boston's neighborhoods are old, dense, and full of roofline gaps. Brownstones in the South End and Back Bay, triple-deckers in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Charlestown, colonials and capes in West Roxbury and Roslindale — different buildings, same weak spots:

• Roof returns and soffits — chewed or rotted open at the corner where roof meets wall

• Uncapped chimneys — a raccoon's favorite den, and a squirrel's highway into the house

• Gable and attic vents — louvered vents are easy to push or chew through

• Gaps where additions, dormers, and porches meet the original house — every roofline change leaves small openings

• Under porches, decks, and sheds — protected, quiet, and exactly where a skunk wants to spend the winter

• Utility lines and overhanging branches — the highway that gets climbers to the roof in the first place

From Charlestown to West Roxbury, the pattern is the same: if an animal can reach a weak spot, it will test it — and in November it only needs one to work.

How we get them out — and keep them out

Every job starts with an inspection, which you can book online through our website. We don't give estimates over the phone or online, because the plan depends on what we find: the species, the entry points, where they're denning, and how much sealing the building needs.

1. Inspection — We identify the animal, find every entry point, locate the denning area, and check the damage, then give you a clear plan and price before any work starts.

2. Humane removal — Animals are removed safely and humanely — traps, one-way exclusion devices that let them leave but not get back in, and bat exclusion planned for the right window, never sealing a hibernating colony in.

3. Exclusion and repairs — We seal entry points with durable, chew-proof materials: chimney caps, vent covers, soffit and roof-line repairs, and screening under porches and decks.

4. Cleanup — We can remove soiled insulation and nesting material and sanitize the space.

See our raccoon removal, squirrel removal, and bat removal services, and our wildlife exclusion and damage repair services.

Why Boston homeowners call Harvey's

• Licensed Massachusetts Problem Animal Control agents

• Wildlife only — no bugs, mice, or rats; nuisance wildlife is all we do

• Removal + exclusion together — the animals are out and the holes are sealed, so the space stays empty

• 24/7 emergency service — an animal loose in the living space doesn't wait for business hours

• Based in Wilmington with our shop in Medford — in Boston for jobs regularly

Boston wildlife questions

How much does wildlife removal cost in Boston?

It depends on the species, the entry points, how much damage there is, and how much exclusion work the building needs, so we never quote a price without looking. Every job starts with an inspection — book online through our website, and the inspection fee is confirmed at booking. After the inspection, you get a clear price before any work starts.

I found a bat in my house in November — what does that mean?

Usually that there's a colony hibernating in the attic or walls, and one bat took a wrong turn — it happens on milder nights when a bat stirs. Don't seal anything yet: the colony is in for the winter, and sealing them in makes the problem worse. Book an inspection and we'll confirm what's there and plan the exclusion for the right window.

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It's a triple-decker and I own one unit — who books the inspection?

Usually the building's owners together or the property manager, since exclusion work changes the roofline. We work with Boston landlords, condo associations, and property managers regularly — book the inspection online and we'll assess the whole building, not just one unit.

Do you handle everything in Boston?

We handle raccoons, squirrels, bats, skunks, woodchucks, beavers, muskrats, chipmunks, opossums, and birds, plus mole and vole lawn treatment. We do not handle dogs or cats, and we don't do bugs, mice, or rats — wildlife only. See the full list on our FAQ page.

Book your inspection

An animal denning in the attic, chimney, or walls gets more expensive — and riskier — the longer it stays. Book an inspection online, or call 1-800-692-0406 — emergency service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.