I have struggled with this problem for over a year now, between the raccoons and the mice, I do not know what to do...it sounds horrible every night and it is difficult to have guests over, how do I get rid of them?

I assume you have worked with an animal removal contractor, who has attempted to secure any form of entrance to your roof structure. A good cat might eliminate the mouse issue; not that the cat would catch them all, but mice tend to depart any premises where a cat is present.

To deal with the raccoons, have you tried to find the way they get to your roof, and take actions such as pruning tree branches that make it easy for them to do so? Or do they enter your house near the foundation and climb through the structure to get up there?

I have an inexpensive trap for the mice.
5 gallon pail, half filled with water and 1/2 cup honey. Leave in room where you have seen mice droppings.
Mice jump into the bucket and drown (makes disposal easier than a snap trap or posion when they die in the walls).

Paired up with a cat. No mice.

I agree with Richard. How are the raccoons getting into your home?

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_home_ext_other/article/0,,H...3736_1393969,00.html

I'll have to try that method for mice deb, we have some in the shop that have seemed to wise up to conventional traps. They can really jump into a 5 gallon bucket huh?

Hi Jay, I got the frugal tip from a friend who co-owns a rustic hunting camp. I tried it and caught 2 mice. So I set it up in the garage (where they are entering).

I suspect they smell the honey water, climb, fall in and drown swimming. I wish I saw them jump/climb in but I was happy to have an inexpensive way to thin the population. BTW: The kitty has no interest in a pail of water...thank you very much.

http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/mice.htm

I have ordered Havahart traps to catch/release squirrels who wanted to live in my attic. They bark at you and run when you release them.

Raccoons are large, those would scare me in a trap.

First of all, raccoons have amazing climbing ability. The best way to rid your property of raccoons is to trap them, and take them elsewhere. I use HaveaHeart traps, baited with sardines or apple shavings. You can also use HOT FOOT along the roof edges. This warms up the raccons foot, and they don't want to play anymore. Second, mice are stupid. They will go into strange things all the time. There are multiple mouse traps you can use, that will trap several mice at one time. If a mouse gets trap shy, use a better bait, cereal, peanut butter, meat, and even like in the comics, CHEESE. For any pest questions my website is always available at www.restinpeacebugs.com
and my friends here can also go to the golf outing page, and feel free to help me in the Make a wish fundraiser. Good Luck.

Get them raccoons before they learn to open your combination locks. I agree with His Bughood, get the knowledge of how they get into your house out of the local gene pool. And trim back the branches anyway.