Rodents or Pests Under Your Mobile Home
Possums, skunks, raccoons, groundhogs — complete guide to identifying, removing, and preventing pests from living under your mobile home.
Hearing scratching, thumping, or strange noises under your mobile home? You probably have uninvited guests. The crawl space under mobile homes is prime real estate for wildlife — it's dry, protected from predators, and the perfect temperature year-round.
Mobile homes sit on blocks with skirting around the perimeter. When that skirting gets damaged — a panel comes loose, something tears a hole, or a piece blows off in a storm — animals find their way in. Once they're under there, they don't want to leave.
The good news: you can get rid of most animals yourself with the right approach. The key is identifying what you're dealing with first, then removing them safely, and finally sealing up the skirting so they can't get back in.
Critical Warning: Don't Seal Until Animals Are Out!
- Never seal skirting holes while animals are still underneath
- Trapped animals will die under your home
- Dead animal smell comes up through your floors and vents
- The smell can last weeks and is almost impossible to remove
- Remove ALL animals first, wait 3-5 days, THEN seal
Have mice or rats inside your home? That's a different problem — rodents in your walls, ducts, and kitchen. See our guide on mice in your mobile home for help with rodents inside your living spaces.
Quick Answer: How to Get Rid of Animals Under Your Mobile Home
- Identify the animal — Different pests require different approaches
- Set live traps — Bait with appropriate food near entry points
- Remove attractants — Pet food, bird feeders, fallen fruit
- Seal entry points — After animals are gone, not before
- Apply deterrents — Mothballs, peppermint oil, motion lights
Noises Under Your Mobile Home? Here's What It Is
Different animals make different sounds. Here's how to identify what's living under your mobile home based on the noises you hear:
- Heavy thumping or walking sounds — Raccoons, possums, or groundhogs
- Hissing or growling when you get close — Possum (they play dead but hiss when cornered)
- Digging or burrowing sounds — Groundhogs, skunks, or armadillos
- Scratching on wood or skirting — Raccoons trying to get in or out
- Crying or meowing — Feral cats (see our complete cat removal guide)
- Light scurrying (especially at night) — Could be mice — see our mice in mobile homes guide
Pro Tip: Watch at Dusk
Go outside at dusk with a flashlight and watch your skirting. Most wildlife is active at dawn and dusk — you'll often see them entering or exiting. This tells you exactly what you're dealing with and where they're getting in.
Skunks seek shelter under mobile homes, especially in spring and fall
Common Animals Under Mobile Homes
Raccoons
Danger level: HIGH
Tear apart ductwork and insulation, create large entry holes, leave heavy waste contamination. Can be aggressive when cornered, especially females with babies. Nocturnal — you'll hear heavy thumping at night. Look for large paw prints and torn skirting.
Possums (Opossums)
Danger level: LOW-MODERATE
Generally harmless but messy. They hiss when cornered but rarely bite. Create nests in insulation, leave droppings everywhere. Actually beneficial — they eat ticks and other pests. Easiest wildlife to trap and relocate.
Skunks
Danger level: MODERATE
Dig burrows that can undermine your foundation. The obvious problem: one spooked skunk can make your home unlivable for days. Most active at dawn and dusk. Never corner a skunk — they spray when threatened. Call a pro if unsure.
Groundhogs (Woodchucks)
Danger level: MODERATE
Dig extensive tunnel systems that cause foundation settling and structural damage. Hibernate in winter but very active spring through fall. Look for large dirt mounds near skirting. Can be difficult to trap — persistent and smart.
Have mice or rats? Those are usually INSIDE your home (walls, ducts, kitchen) not just under it. See our dedicated guide: Mice and Your Mobile Home
Step-by-Step: How to Remove Animals Under Your Mobile Home
Identify Entry Points
Walk around your entire mobile home and inspect the skirting. Look for holes, gaps, torn sections, or areas where animals have dug underneath. Check where utility lines (water, electric, gas) enter the home. Mark every opening you find with spray paint or tape.
Set Live Traps
Place large live traps near the entry points you found. Bait raccoon traps with marshmallows, cat food, or sweet corn. Bait possum traps with fruit, vegetables, or cat food. For groundhogs, use cantaloupe, lettuce, or apples. Check traps morning and evening.
Remove Food Sources
Bring pet food inside at night. Move bird feeders away from the home. Secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. Clean up fallen fruit from trees. Pick up any outdoor pet food bowls. Animals stay where food is easy — remove the food, they leave faster.
Wait Until ALL Animals Are Gone
This is the most important step. Don't seal entry points until you're 100% certain all animals are out. Watch for 3-5 days after your last catch. Go out at dusk and dawn to confirm nothing is coming or going. If you seal an animal inside, it will die and the smell will come up into your home for weeks.
Repair Your Skirting
Once animals are gone, fix your skirting immediately — or more animals will move in. Replace damaged panels, don't just patch them. Secure all panels with proper fasteners. Bury hardware cloth 6-12 inches underground along the bottom to prevent digging. Shop skirting materials on Amazon →
Apply Deterrents
After sealing, apply deterrents to prevent future problems. Scatter mothballs sparingly under the home. Spray peppermint oil around the perimeter. Install motion-activated lights. Reapply deterrents monthly, especially after rain.
When to Call a Professional
- You have skunks — risk of getting sprayed is high
- Aggressive raccoons, especially mothers with babies
- Animals won't leave after 2 weeks of trapping
- You find dead animals or strong odors
- Structural damage to foundation or supports
Best Products to Remove Animals Under Mobile Homes
These are the products that actually work for removing wildlife from under your mobile home:
Large Live Animal Traps
Humane capture for raccoons, possums, groundhogs, and skunks. Reusable. Relocate animals at least 5-10 miles away to prevent return.
Shop Traps on AmazonPeppermint Oil Deterrent
Natural wildlife deterrent. Spray around entry points and under home after animals are removed. Reapply every 2-4 weeks.
Shop Peppermint OilPest Control Foggers
Use under your mobile home to repel animals and kill insects. Follow directions carefully. Best used after animals are gone.
Shop FoggersUltrasonic Animal Repellers
Emit sounds that wildlife avoids. Solar-powered options work well outdoors. Use as part of a complete deterrent plan.
Shop Ultrasonic RepellersFor Sealing & Prevention
Foundation Sealing Kit
Hardware cloth, expanding foam, and steel wool for sealing entry points. Bury hardware cloth to prevent digging.
Shop Sealing MaterialsMotion Sensor Lights
Solar-powered lights that activate when animals approach. Nocturnal wildlife hates sudden bright light. Very effective deterrent.
Shop Motion Lights
Live traps are the most effective and humane way to remove larger pests
How to Get a Possum Out From Under Your Mobile Home
Possums are actually one of the easier animals to deal with. They're not aggressive (despite the hissing), they eat ticks and other pests, and they trap easily. Here's what works:
- Set a large live trap — Bait with cat food, overripe fruit, or vegetables
- Place near the entry point — Possums use the same path repeatedly
- Check twice daily — Morning and evening
- Relocate 5-10 miles away — Near woods or water if possible
- Seal the entry point — After you're sure all possums are gone
Possums are nomadic — if you remove their shelter and food source, they often leave on their own within a few days. Try removing attractants first before trapping.
Do Mothballs Work Under Mobile Homes?
Yes, mothballs can help deter wildlife, but use them carefully:
Mothball Tips
- Scatter sparingly under the home — a few per area, not piles
- The smell can come up into your living space if you use too many
- Mothballs are toxic — keep away from pets and children
- They work best as a deterrent AFTER you've removed the animals
- Replace every 3-6 months as they dissolve
- Most effective against smaller animals, less so against raccoons
Mothballs alone won't solve an animal problem. They're a deterrent, not a removal method. Use them after you've trapped and removed the animals, and after you've sealed entry points.
Using a Fogger Under Your Mobile Home
Pest control foggers can help repel wildlife and kill insects under your mobile home. Here's how to use them effectively:
- Wait until animals are gone — Foggers won't remove wildlife, only deter them temporarily
- Read the label — Follow all safety instructions
- Calculate coverage — Use enough foggers to treat the entire crawl space
- Remove pets and people — No one should be home during treatment
- Close crawl space vents — Temporarily, so fog stays concentrated
- Wait the full treatment time — Usually 2-4 hours
- Ventilate thoroughly — Open vents and air out before going back under
Shop pest control foggers on Amazon →
Note: Foggers are most effective for insects and as a general deterrent after wildlife removal. They won't drive out established animals — you need traps for that.
Groundhogs dig extensive burrows that can damage your foundation
When to Call a Professional
DIY removal works for most situations, but call a professional wildlife removal service if:
- You have skunks — The spray risk is too high for DIY
- Aggressive raccoons — Especially mothers protecting babies
- Animals won't leave after 2-3 weeks — Time to bring in experts
- Dead animal smell — Professionals can locate and remove it
- Structural damage — Foundation issues from burrowing
- Large groundhog tunnel system — May need professional exclusion
- You're not comfortable handling wildlife — That's okay, call a pro
Professional wildlife removal typically costs $150-$500 depending on the animal and situation. Many offer guarantees and will seal entry points as part of the service.
Fixing Your Skirting: The Key to Keeping Animals Out
Here's the truth: animals get under your mobile home because the skirting is damaged. Mobile homes sit on blocks with skirting panels around the perimeter. When a panel comes loose, gets a hole, or blows off — that's an open invitation to every critter in the neighborhood.
Fixing your skirting is the single most important thing you can do to prevent future animal problems.
Common Skirting Problems
- Loose or missing panels — Wind, lawn equipment, or age causes panels to come off
- Holes from animals — Raccoons and groundhogs tear through vinyl and aluminum
- Ground erosion — Soil washes away leaving gaps at the bottom
- Vent damage — Screens get torn out, creating entry points
- Corner gaps — Corners are weak points where panels don't meet tightly
Again: Do NOT Seal Until Animals Are Gone!
I can't stress this enough — sealing an animal inside is the worst thing you can do. The animal will die under your home. The smell will seep up through your floors and vents. It's horrible and can last for weeks. Trap and remove first. Wait 3-5 days to make sure no more animals are entering. THEN repair the skirting.
How to Fix Skirting Properly
- Inspect the entire perimeter — Walk around and mark every hole, gap, or loose panel
- Replace damaged panels — Don't patch, replace. Patches fail quickly.
- Secure all panels — Use proper fasteners, not just pressure fitting
- Bury hardware cloth — Along the bottom, 6-12 inches underground to prevent digging
- Replace vent screens — Use 1/4-inch hardware cloth that animals can't tear
- Check corners and joints — These weak points need extra attention
Mobile Home Skirting & Underpinning
Replacement skirting panels, corner pieces, vents, and fasteners. Fix damaged sections before animals return. This is the most important purchase you'll make.
Shop Skirting on AmazonCrawl Space Encapsulation
Heavy-duty vapor barrier and sealing materials for complete crawl space protection. The ultimate long-term solution for pest prevention.
Shop Encapsulation MaterialsFor a complete guide to skirting options, see our article: Mobile Home Underpinning and Skirting Guide
Preventing Future Pest Problems
Once you've removed the pests, keep them from coming back:
Long-Term Prevention
- Inspect skirting monthly — Fix any holes or gaps immediately
- Keep vegetation trimmed — Don't let bushes or grass touch your skirting
- Eliminate food sources — No pet food outside, secure garbage
- Maintain deterrents — Reapply peppermint oil monthly
- Consider encapsulation — Crawl space encapsulation is the most effective long-term solution
- Upgrade your skirting — Solid underpinning prevents most pest entry
Frequently Asked Questions
What's making noises under my mobile home?
Heavy thumping usually means raccoons, possums, or groundhogs. Digging sounds suggest groundhogs or skunks. Hissing is typically a possum. Go outside at dusk with a flashlight — most wildlife is active at dawn and dusk, so you'll often see what's coming and going.
How do I get a possum out from under my mobile home?
Set a large live trap baited with cat food, overripe fruit, or vegetables near the entry point. Check morning and evening. Once caught, relocate the possum at least 5-10 miles away. Possums are not aggressive — the hissing is a bluff.
Do mothballs keep animals away from mobile homes?
Mothballs can help deter wildlife but won't remove animals already living there. Use them sparingly after you've trapped and removed the animals. Too many mothballs will make your home smell. They're most effective against smaller animals.
Will a fogger get rid of animals under my mobile home?
Foggers won't remove established wildlife — you need traps for that. Foggers are useful for killing insects and as a general deterrent after animals are gone. Use them as part of a complete removal plan, not as a standalone solution.
How do I get rid of a skunk under my mobile home?
Skunks are tricky because of spray risk. If you're comfortable, set a live trap covered with a tarp (skunks won't spray in enclosed dark spaces). Move slowly and calmly when relocating. Many people prefer to call a professional for skunks — it's worth the $150-$300 to avoid getting sprayed.
How do I keep animals from getting under my mobile home?
Repair all skirting damage immediately. Bury hardware cloth 6-12 inches underground along the skirting to prevent digging. Install motion-activated lights. Remove food sources like pet food and bird feeders. Apply peppermint oil and mothballs as deterrents monthly.
What animals live under mobile homes?
Common animals include raccoons, possums, skunks, groundhogs, feral cats, and sometimes foxes or armadillos depending on your region. The crawl space provides shelter from weather and predators, making it attractive to wildlife year-round.
How much does professional wildlife removal cost?
Professional wildlife removal typically costs $150-$500 depending on the animal and complexity. Skunk removal is often on the higher end due to spray risk. Many services include sealing entry points as part of the job and offer guarantees.
Official Resources
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