I can’t get up there myself. There is no stair that folds down. There is just a square opening in the hall ceiling, with a piece of painted plywood resting in the opening. To get up there, you need a full sized ladder, which I don’t have. I asked my very large, karate instructor neighbor to go up there and check it out, but he was afraid to do it! He helped me toss the bags of mothballs up there, but he would only move the plywood an inch or so to admit his hand before tossing the bag.
What a wimp. Rent a feral cat, put him up there, problem gone in a day. A friend did this in his business and solved the problem. They are nasty critters, spit in your face when approached. Just a thought but there are many other approaches.
Bowls of Ammonia can help too.
I’m sure it’s just Satan’s Dark Minions using your attic as a portal to enter the world to unleash untold damage and horror on innocent people.
No worries.
About the mothballs. Bad idea you can get major breathing problems from having them up there. Plus they don’t work.
Call an exterminator. If it is a racoon trapping and releasing it may very well be against the law. So that pretty much leaves the big trash can in the sky.
Don't you have a pest-control service to at least ensure you don't get termites, etc? If not, given your situation you should hire someone. I had a similar problem and it was mice. I was surprised that a small mouse could make so much noise.