Raccoon Recon.
With their ringed tail and black and white face mask, Raccoons are easy to recognize. Their distinctive markings are what give them their nickname: the “masked bandits” of the forest.
What they Eat
Medium sized omnivores, Raccoons eat almost anything - from fruit, nuts and berries to frogs, insects, bird eggs and mice. Urban Raccoons also scavenge for food in dumpsters, garbage cans, and composts. Pet food left outdoors is also a favourite snack.
Where they Live
Raccoons living in residential areas often make their dens in chimneys, garages, attics, under sheds, porches, and decks.
Life with Humans
In populated areas such as Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Raccoons have plenty of sources for food and shelter and few natural predators. Their prolific breeding (3-6 young born in the spring), and adaptability to human neighbourhoods, means that their numbers are steadily growing. In the urban areas, most raccoons are not even afraid of humans. We see a lot of cases where the homeowner tried to scare the raccoon away and was unsuccessful. We can never get rid of wildlife living by our side, we have to learn how to live with them. Prevention is the best solution.
Damages
In most cases raccoons will choose a dry, warm attic to nest and grow their young. They can access the attic by making a hole in the roofline, corners (where soffit meets the lower roof), roof vents, roof pipes. Besides the potential water damage from the hole, they will urinate and defecate in the attic, remove insulation and chew wiring. If your raccoon problem is ignored, it could cost a furtune fixing the damages. You can prevent this by addressing the problem as soon as it happens. You will be glad you did.
Raccoons don't always choose the attic. Sometimes they choose to nest inside/under a shed or under a deck. This quickly becomes a problem when homeowners have pets or children who play in the backyard. Besides physical encounter with the vicious raccoon they are at risk of catching different diseases from the droppings. The best solution is to evict the nuisance raccoon(s) and seal around the deck to prevent future intrusions.
Prevention
Killing or relocating is not going to solve your problem permanently, plus it's against the law. There are better ways to deal with your raccoon problem. At 360 Wildlife Control, we use the most innovative techniques for humane eviction, and we use the best material to seal and secure the potential spots to prevent them from getting back in. All out work is 100% guaranteed.
D.I.Y Prevention Tips
Raccoons are clever and mischievous but you can outsmart them:
- Store garbage inside garage, basement, bin until pick up
- Install lights around compost/garbage storage area
- Clean up after barbeques since Raccoons are attracted to grease drippings
- Fit garbage and compost containers with tight lids
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Fast Fact
Raccoons are extremely intelligent, curious animals have the uncanny ability to open containers, cabinets and even refrigerators to access food. In fact, they can remember solutions to complex tasks up to three years later!
Raccoon Removal in Toronto must be done by a professional wildlife control company. Your average handy man can lock the animal inside your attic and make your troubles worst. We make sure to humanely remove the raccoon and her babies (if any) and make sure that they do not get back in.
Having a raccoon problem? Contact 360 Wildlife today!