Raccoon Pest Control
Are you hearing scratching sounds around dusk and dawn? Seeing paw shaped tracks around the outside of the house where the land is softer? Rub marks and some scat too? It’s likely you have a new furry resident in the form of a raccoon or maybe even a couple raccoons. At SOS Wildlife Control we quickly, efficiently and humanely take care of your raccoon problem.
Why SOS Wildlife Control
Watch The Short Videos Below To Learn About Our Raccoon Removal Process
Raccoon Removal Overview
Property Inspection Of The Outside
Property Inspection Of The Inside
Capture Of The Raccoons
Animal Proofing Of Property
Family Of Raccoons Relocates
Our Raccoon Removal Process
After doing a situational analysis and discussing some of your concerns with the removal of the raccoons we begin our investigation on how the raccoon(s) have been entering your property. In many cases, their entry points will be either in the house, on the roof, underneath the house or under your deck/patio. We will also point out potential entry points that other raccoons may use in the future so we can address that immediately as well. We know that you would like to have the raccoon or raccoons nuisance removed as quickly as possible, but also in a way that is humane and ethical. We make sure that we discuss removal options with consideration to your preferences, your property and your time.
The usual process is called the “one-way door” method in which the raccoon’s entry/exit point is covered by the installation of a screen which allows the raccoon to leave the through the door but not re-enter. Eventually, for common reasons like gathering food from food sources outside of the property the raccoon will leave its dwelling as part of its regular routine. At that point the one way door is used and the raccoon is prevented from re-entering.
If the raccoon has babies, an alternative method is conducted for the safety of the animals. The one way method is not used as this would cause the babies to be separated from their mother leaving them abandoned. Instead the babies will be safely moved to an insulated box outside of their nesting area where they will remain until the mother comes and picks them up and relocates them to a new den.
While uncommon, if trapping is involved in the raccoon removal process, it is done so in a humane method where the raccoon is uninjured and are moved to a location at least 1 kilometer away, in accordance to Ontario law.
For future prevention our technicians can do a thorough inspection of possible entry points and weak spots in your home.. After finding some major entry points and others areas that have the potential to become entry points, we give you options that take these problems, your property and the safety of the animal into account. We then seal off these entry points with galvanized steel mesh to prevent any re-entry.
To avoid encountering these issues and more, call a professional wildlife and pest control technician at SOS Wildlife Control. For residential, commercial and industrial solutions, SOS Wildlife Control Inc. can be there to help you with the wildlife and pest removal problem.
We provide Raccoon Removal Service in Greater Toronto Area
What Our Clients Say
These guys are absolutely professional. Their service is fast, perfect and reasonable. I had them remove raccoons from the attic and the foyer roof plus proof all broken vents. I couldn’t be happier with their services.
– Farzad L.
Sherwin arrived as discussed. Investigated noises in the attic and a wasp problem. Offered advice and expertise. I would recommend SOS and use Sherwin in the future again. Hopefully not too soon!
– John Pavunkovic
What a great job, Sherwin and Jamie! No more scratching sounds from that pesky squirrel that was trapped in the vent beside the furnace.
– Marla Barin
If you’re suspicious of wildlife and pest activity on your property, you’re always welcome to call us at 289-301-5906 and consult, but to help identity some of the common signs of a raccoon, keep an eye out for the following:
Tracks
Raccoons, like most four legged animals, will leave paw-shaped tracks in places with light surfaces, or where the ground is softer. walking on their entire paws and putting their entire weight on it leaving imprints on the ground.
Scat / Droppings
Raccoon scat size vary but are ,on average ¾” in diameter and two to three inches long with blunt ends. Scat stations, a place where a raccoons go to leave their droppings, create potential hazards as scat and urine can seep through surfaces and leak into the house through crawl spaces. As a result, this can attract roundworms, a potential health hazard that should be taken very seriously and and should be taken care of by a professional.
Rub Marks
More often than not, raccoons leave marks or stains showing the their tracks as they pass through frequently used entry points or surfaces. It’s possible you may catch these tracks on walls and pipes that they use to get up to your roof or any higher surfaces like chimneys and crawl spaces.
What Can Raccoons Do To Your Property?
They can knock over trash cans, dig through your garbage, become nuisance animals, cause havoc in your attic, and become aggressive if provoked. In additional to this, raccoons can also chew electrical wiring in and outside of your home resulting in expensive damages, have their babies and potentially, if left unsolved for too long can make your home unlivable.
Risks of raccoons on your property:
- Droppings left on and around property
- Risks of being exposed to germs, rabies virus, or diseases
- Encounters with an aggressive raccoon
- Baby raccoons being raised on your property
- Raccoon roundworm infections
- Raccoons going through your garbage can and storage boxes for food source
- Raccoons chewing up your trash can, electrical wiring, vents
- Pets being aggravated of the presence of the raccoon nearby
- Damage to the structure of the building, attic, and/or your belongings
SOS Wildlife Control Raccoon Services
- Raccoon Removal
- Baby Raccoon Removal
- Raccoon Control
- Raccoon Trapping
- Sealed/screened entry points
- Raccoon Prevention
- Call 1.800.981.0330 for more information on our list of services
Do Raccoons Pose Any Potential Health Risks For Me?
Your health and safety should always be a priority when evaluating your living conditions. If you believe you might have raccoons on your property it’s extremely important that you are aware of the possible health risks this poses.
Raccoon roundworm
This is when raccoon droppings contain roundworm eggs inside them. The eggs are extremely light and in some cases can become airborne leading to the possibility of them being inhaled. Dogs and other pets that spend a lot of time outdoors are mostly at risk for raccoon roundworm as they’re often left in yards and grassy areas, difficult to recognize. In left untreated, raccoon roundworm can be dangerous, even fatal as it impairs the nervous system and eventually affects major organs.
Leptospirosis
A bacterial infection that raccoons spread through their urine and droppings. It can be contracted by humans and other animals. Coming into contact of raccoon urine or droppings while having an open wound can put you at risk of contracting leptospirosis. Some of the symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, head and muscle aches, high fever and abdominal pain.
Salmonella
Found in raccoon feces, salmonella is a disease spread by incidental ingestion by transferring bacteria from the hands to the mouth. The bacteria can stay alive in unfavorable conditions and become active again in warmer conditions. Even after removing the raccoons from the area, due to the droppings, the potential for contracting salmonella is still high and can cause high fevers, severe diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Rabies
One of the most serious raccoon related disease is rabies and can be fatal especially if left untreated. Its important to avoid sick looking raccoons on your own and to instead call for a professional. A sick or rabid raccoon can be identified by the following:
- Inability to walk straight
- Frothing at the mouth
- Are violent and aggressive
- Attacks inanimate objects
Because rabies is spread by the transmission of the saliva of an infected animal, if you or someone you know is bit, scratched or has been in contact of raccoon saliva, seek treatment right away. In many cases symptoms don’t manifest for about 2-4 weeks after contraction, so it may be difficult to identify at first and therefore should be consulted about by a professional as soon as possible.