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Wildlife & Rodents
Ontario is home to several urban wildlife and rodent pests that invade homes and properties in search of food, shelter, or nesting space.
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Common Species:
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Mice & Rats: Found in basements, walls, attics; contaminate food, chew wires, and reproduce rapidly.
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Squirrels: Nest in attics or chimneys; active during the day, can cause noise and insulation damage.
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Raccoons: Nocturnal, strong climbers; enter attics or garages—can be aggressive and carry diseases.
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Skunks: Known for their foul spray; burrow under decks or sheds.
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Bats: Roost in attics or roof voids; protected species, but can carry rabies and leave guano.
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Birds (e.g., Pigeons): Nest on rooftops and ledges; droppings are corrosive and unsanitary.
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Moles & Groundhogs: Dig burrows in lawns or gardens, causing landscape damage.
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Opossums: Occasionally enter garages or sheds; usually shy but can spread parasites.
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Risks & Signs:
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Scratching noises, droppings, foul odours, chewed wires, damaged insulation, entry holes.
Control & Prevention:
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Humane removal by licensed professionals (especially for protected wildlife).
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Seal entry points, install chimney caps, trim trees away from roofs.
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Maintain sanitation and secure garbage/food sources.
Skunks
1. Skunks (Mephitis mephitis)
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Habitat & Where They’re Found
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Dens in brush piles, under decks, porches, sheds, hollow logs, culverts and are active at night.
Characteristics
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Black fur with white stripe(s), 40–60 cm long, capable of spraying a potent musk when threatened.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
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Breed in spring; 4–7 kits born after ~60 days; kits accompany mother until fall. One litter per year.
Signs & Infestation
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Strong odor, digging in lawns, seeing kits or adults at dusk/dawn. Messy raid near garbage bins or compost indicates foraging.
Entry & Food Source
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They forage for grubs, insects, small animals, pet food, and garbage; enter structures at ground level.
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Interior vs. Exterior
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Primarily exterior, but may take up residence under porches or in crawlspaces.
Extermination Procedures
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Inspection: locate den openings and foraging zones.
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Humane trapping: live cage traps baited with cat food or earthworms. Release required within 1 km under Ontario regulations
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Exclusion: seal entry points with heavy gauge wire mesh after all skunks leave at night .
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Sanitation: remove food/waste attractants; secure compost and garbage bins.
Preparation (Client Guidelines)
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Avoid dusk placement of pet food; secure garbage in sealed bins nightly.
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Alert household about nighttime animal activity.
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Leave exclusion work to professionals.
Raccoons
3. Raccoons (Procyon lotor)
Habitat & Where They’re Found
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Nest in attics, chimneys, crawlspaces, sewers, tree cavities, decks.
Characteristics
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Medium-sized omnivores (4–9 kg), distinctive black mask and ringed tail. Nocturnal.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
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One litter/year: 2–5 kits in spring; kits stay with mother until fall
Signs & Infestation
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Noisy scratching, overturned bins, shredded roofing, droppings in crawlspaces/attics, daytime sightings.
Entry & Food Source
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Open garbage, compost; also eat garden produce, pet food, eggs; they enter via attics and decks ([turn0search6]).
Interior vs. Exterior
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Both: roam outside, but typically live inside structures during breeding.
Extermination Procedures
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Inspection: detect entry points, den location.
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One-way exclusion devices: on access points after confirming no kits at home. Timing crucial to avoid orphaning kits.
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Live trapping (as needed). Release mandated within 1 km
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Cleanup & decontamination: due to zoonotic disease risk (rabies, roundworm), disinfect thoroughly .
Preparation (Client Guidelines)
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Don’t attempt DIY removal during spring—check for young first.
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Secure lids on bins; remove accessible food.
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Hire wildlife professionals for humane exclusion and cleanup.
Squirrels
2. Squirrels (Tree & Ground Squirrels)
Habitat & Where They’re Found
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Build nests in attics, eaves, chimneys, vents, tree cavities, and gardens.
Characteristics
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Grey/red fur, fluffy tails; tree squirrels are agile climbers, ground squirrels burrow underground.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
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Breed twice yearly (spring & late summer); litters of 2–6; weaned by ~10 weeks, sexually mature at 1 year
Signs & Infestation
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Scratching, scampering noises in attic/day, gnawed wiring, droppings, visible nests.
Entry & Food Source
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Gain access via roof vents, soffits, chimney caps, unsealed eaves. Eat nuts, seeds, fruits, bird feeders, bulbs.
Interior vs. Exterior
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Both—exterior garden dwellers but invasive indoors when nesting/wintering.
Extermination Procedures
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Inspection: locate access points and nest sites.
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Exclusion & one-way doors: allow exit but not re-entry after kits leave.
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Trapping: live traps for severe infestation; release within 1 km per regulations.
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Sanitation and cleanup: remove nests and droppings carefully (use PPE).
Preparation (Client Guidelines)
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Trim tree branches away from roofs; install chimney caps and vent screens.
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Seal all potential entry points.
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Avoid using rodent poisons—illegal and ineffective for squirrels; always hire trained wildlife control.
Rodents
5. Rodents: Mice, Rats, Possums, Mole, Groundhog
A. Mice & Rats
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Habitat: Attics, basements, walls; indoors near food.
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Signs: Droppings, gnaw marks, greasy trails, nests.
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Control: Seal openings >¼″; set snap/bait traps indoors; avoid rodenticides—Ontario restricts use in domestic settings.
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Prep: Remove clutter, seal food, eliminate water sources.
B. Opossum
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Similar to raccoon procedures: den under porches, within attics; use humane live traps and exclusion; remove attractants (pet food/compost).
C. Mole
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Habitat: Turf lawns and gardens—underground tunnels.
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Signs: Raised ridges, molehills.
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Control: Use trap sets in tunnels, repellents, habitat modification (reduce grubs) — traps are only effective.
D. Groundhog
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Habitat: Underground burrows under decks, sheds; herbivorous.
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Life Cycle: Breed once/year; 2–6 kits; hibernate per latitudinal climate
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Signs: Large burrow openings (~15–20 cm), mounds of excavated soil, eaten vegetation
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Control: One-way exclusion, live trapping, relocation within 1 km; seal burrow after removal
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Prep: Exclude with buried mesh fences (~18 in deep), remove vegetable attractants, mow lawn.
Birds
4. Birds (Pigeons & Bats)
Pigeons
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Nest in eaves, ledges, vents; produce large amounts of droppings—risk fungal diseases (histoplasmosis).
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Exclude via netting/screens; use spikes, traps, scare tactics. Clean nesting areas and droppings with PPE.
Bats
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Roost in attics, soffits, hollow walls, often in large numbers.
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One pup/year, healthy adult colonies are beneficial (insect control)
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Exclusion after juveniles leave (summer). Seal cracks >¼″; install one-way exit devices. Follow bat protection laws. Clean guano professionally.
Wildlife & Rodents
Summary:
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Wildlife and rodents are common nuisance pests that invade homes or properties in search of food, warmth, and shelter.
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Common Rodents: Mice and rats chew wires, contaminate food, and breed rapidly.
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Common Wildlife: Raccoons, skunks, squirrels, bats, birds, and groundhogs cause structural damage, noise, and health risks.
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Where Found: Attics, basements, chimneys, walls, under decks, garages, and gardens.
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Risks: Property damage, fire hazards (from gnawing), foul odours, droppings, and disease transmission (e.g., rabies, leptospirosis).