Once you have evidence to suggest that raccoons are living under your porch, it is possible that you don’t have to do anything. They tend only to nest in the colder months as the babies become more independent during the summer, choosing to leave their nests and live on their own. Depending on the time of year, it may be best just to wait it out. However, if action is needed, disturbance methods may deter raccoons from returning to the nest, for example, if there is constant noise or light. It is also important to identify all of their possible entry points into the porch’s underside to understand how and where they are able to access it. The disturbance methods can be carried out at these points. Using a rag soaked in apple cider vinegar or ammonia (placed in a trash bag with holes poked into the sides) can also help to deter them through smell. It may take time for these methods to take full effect, but they can be incredibly effective. In order to test whether they have been successful, tape pieces of paper over all entry points and come back the next day to see whether they have been shredded or taken down. If all else fails, seeking professional help to physically remove the raccoons is the safest route to consider.