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With spring in the air and female raccoons actively searching for a suitable spot in Mississauga that is fit to raise a family, now is the time to pay special attention to sounds and sights around your home that may indicate that a family of raccoons is about to move in (or already has moved in!).
Raccoon overpopulation is a concern in Mississauga as well as in other municipalities in the GTA. And, while some of us may want to be generous and share our home, here's why this is a decidedly bad idea:
- Health Risks
Raccoons are carriers of a number of viral and bacterial diseases, the most concerning being rabies. Animal urine and feces contaminates floors and walls, posing serious risks to you and your family. - Property Damage
By exploiting existing structural vulnerabilities of your home or by creating new openings, raccoons looking to enter your home may damage the siding, roof, chimney, roof vents, etc. Once having access, they displace insulation and wiring and create potential fire hazards.
The Importance of Recognizing and Addressing Signs Early
The longer a raccoon has been allowed inside your home, the more difficult it will be to keep it out in the future. The main reason that a raccoon will come and pitch its tent in your attic at this time of year is to birth and raise a family in a safe and quiet environment. The longer the raccoon(s) stay, the more damage can be expected; the corrosive nature of urine and feces will eat through wood and drywall and contaminate other parts of your home.
Time Is of Essence
To prevent or limit extensive damage it is of utmost importance that you consult with a licensed and qualified professional raccoon removal service provider. All raccoons must be removed from your home and all access points must be repaired and reinforced immediately.
5 Signs You Need Professional Raccoon Removal
1. Unusual Noises in the Attic or Walls
- Raccoons are most active at night; usually between the hours of 10pm and 5am.
- You may hear thumping, scratching, and foot steps.
- You may hear rustling noises from the animals collecting materials to line the den or even while rummaging through your garbage for food.
- Raccoons are also very chatty and vocal animals. You may hear chirping, cooing (especially when dealing with a mother and kits), whistling, chittering, or even growls and hisses.
Do not ignore these sounds or noises. The longer this goes on, the more damage your home is suffering. Contact a Mississauga Raccoon Removal Service for seasoned advice and a plan to evict your house guests.
2. Raccoon Droppings & Foul Odours
- Presence of raccoon feces poses serious health risks; bacteria such as leptospirosis or raccoon roundworm are shed and remain in animal droppings. Once dried, the bacteria can become airborne.
- Sudden or new strong, musky odors are a good indication that a raccoon has settled in to nest inside your home.
- Raccoons have one area where they 'use the facilities' - this is called a latrine. Clean-up and disinfection of the latrine is not a DYI project and requires expertise and proper safety protocols. Call the professionals.
3. Damage to Your Roof, Vents, or Chimney
Raccoons will use any existing opening or structural weak spot to gain access to your attic. And, in absence of existing vulnerabilities, they will simply tear off roof shingles or vents. You will want to pay close attention to any signs of damage or disturbance to:
- Roof shingles.
- Soffits and vents.
- Chimney caps and insulation.
Again, it is important that you address any structural deficits quickly - preferably before raccoons manage to get into your home. But, if prevention is no longer an option, you'll want to remove the raccoon as quickly as possible. Especially if the animals are hiding in your attic or walls, professional raccoon control and removal services in Mississauga are a must.
4. Frequent Raccoon Sightings Around Your Property
You may be able to detect signs that raccoons are scouting your home for food and shelter and if you do, now is a good time to seek professional help.
- Knocked-over trash cans and strewn about garbage.
- Scratch marks or paw prints on fences and decks.
- Raccoons repeatedly entering crawlspaces or garages.
5. Baby Raccoons (Kits) Nesting Indoors
The worst kind of scenario is to have a mother raccoon and her babies in your home. Any removal efforts will have to be executed carefully (momma raccoon will not be happy!) and ALL kits will have to be found and removed with their mother. If so much as one baby is left behind, the mother will move heaven and earth to get back to her little one. There will be no keeping her out. It is of utmost importance that the mother is not taken away from her offspring on her own. She herself will be in terrible distress but more importantly, baby raccoons are completely dependent on their mother for survival. Removing or detaining their mother would condemn the kits to a horrific death of starvation.
Let's look at why a mother raccoon may choose your attic as her nursery:
- Attics see little or no traffic and disturbances compared to other areas of the house.
- The inside of your home affords safety from predators.
- Your attic also shields raccoons from the elements and provides a perfect environment for little kits to grow.
Why Choose Professional Raccoon Removal in Mississauga?
Dealing with a raccoon inside your home can be a precarious undertaking. A mother raccoon can and will be territorial, protective over her young, and aggressive. Also, going it on your own also proves to be ineffective, as trapped and released animals turn around and come right back.
You'll have a much better chance of removing all wildlife inside your home by hiring licensed and experienced wildlife control experts. Here are some of the benefits:
- Humane trapping & relocation
- Permanent wildlife removal
- Safe handling of raccoon infestations
- Prevention & exclusion techniques to stop re-entry
- Property inspections & repair recommendations
Act Fast! Contact Hawkeye for Raccoon Removal in Mississauga
After you've discovered signs of raccoon infestation in your home, it's time to spring into action. Any delay here will lead to compounded damages and the raccoon designating your home as its permanent residence. You will be hosting a family of raccoons throughout the entire year, as often times young ones will stay with their mother through the first winter.
Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control is Mississauga's trusted wildlife control provider. In contrast to most other wildlife agents in Canada, our licensing and qualifications allow us to offer you solutions above and beyond trapping and releasing. Contact us today and learn about our permanent raccoon removal and other humane raccoon control solutions in Mississauga.
