Raccoons can cause significant property damage, tearing off shingles and gaining access to attics where they can lay their eggs. They also carry rabies and may bite or scratch you.

Preventative measures include securing trash cans and dumpsters, odor-blocking garbage bags and capping open chimneys. The best option is to contact a Toronto wildlife removal company that humanely traps raccoons and relocates them.

Preventing an Infestation

Raccoons may be cute, but they can cause much damage and are dangerous to humans. Prevent raccoons from entering your attic by removing anything they could use to climb up to the roof or into your home. This includes branches that might be used as a climbing tool and loose shingles.

The City of Toronto has invested millions in raccoon-proof trash bins, which have lids that can only be opened by garbage trucks and are designed to prevent raccoons from getting inside. You can also seal chimneys and caps during the summer and ensure all entry points to crawl spaces are shut.

It would help if you never tried to capture a raccoon on your own because it could be carrying parasites and diseases that are dangerous for you. If you see a raccoon in your yard, use a long-handled item such as a broom or shovel to drive it away without getting too close and endangering yourself.

Getting Rid of a Raccoon

If raccoons enter the home, they can cause serious damage by chewing through wires and tearing down shingles and soffits. They can contaminate food, water and even the air with their urine and feces. They are known to spread several diseases, making them a threat to both people and pets.

They are particularly attracted to warm and dark places like sheds, garages, attics and bird feeders. They can often gain entry through small openings such as vents, screens and soffits.

The best approach is to contact a wildlife removal service. A professional in raccoon removal Toronto will perform an inspection to ensure all raccoons are out before sealing off the entrance. Providing the mother hasn’t been separated from her kits (babies) during the baby season is especially important. This can be extremely stressful for the animal, and she may become more aggressive and destructive in her attempt to find her babies.

Trapping

Raccoons can cause damage to property by digging through and chewing up drywall, insulation, electrical wiring and more. They also contaminate indoor spaces with bacteria, pathogens and parasites through their feces and urine.

Before trapping a raccoon, check whether you’re legally allowed to do so in your area. Having the right trapping equipment, cleaning materials and safety gear is also important. It’s also better to call in a professional if you don’t have the skills or experience necessary for humane and effective removal.

A common trapping tip is a sweet-smelling bait, like sweet corn or fruit. Other options include carrots, apples, watermelon and (when in season) juicier fruits like mangoes and pineapples. Avoid meat-based bait, however, as this can attract non-target animals like cats into the trap. Also, ensure enough bait to keep a raccoon trapped for long periods. Otherwise, it will starve to death and become a nuisance when released.

Relocating

When raccoons invade your home or garage, they can cause significant damage tearing up shingles, ripping through soffits and destroying vents. They also threaten your health by spreading bacteria, pathogens and parasites in their feces and urine. Rather than trying to address the problem alone, consider hiring a professional Toronto raccoon removal and wildlife control company.

Many wildlife companies use improper traps and release programs that cause unnecessary animal stress. They may separate kits from their mothers and fail to exclude the entire population. They also often do shoddy exclusion work, sealing off one entry point and leaving others open for the raccoons to access your property.

It’s illegal in Ontario to relocate raccoons, and it’s highly recommended that you consult a professional Toronto raccoon removal service to solve your nuisance wildlife problems. Trapping is a last resort when excluder devices aren’t an option. It can be stressful and requires constant checking to ensure the animal doesn’t suffer.