by SOS Wildlife Control | Jul 31, 2015 | About Wildlife
Last Updated: May 2016
Wildlife proofing your property is important as Toronto and the surrounding Greater Toronto Area are home to a large number of wildlife. Wildlife have no choice but to move into the cities as we’ve grown and expand further into the countryside. Each year they are forced into closer contact with humans and must compete with us for food, shelter and space. Conflicts can be prevented depending on how we think and act towards wildlife. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves and neighbors about living with wild animals. We will always have wildlife within our city environment, and wildlife will continue to enter our properties until we take preventative measures,
Wildlife proofing your property is important to ensure everyone’s safety and to avoid conflicts
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated offers wildlife assessments of your property to help identify the wild animal that may inhabit your property. This assessment will offer solutions to humanely remove the animal and suggestions for preventative measures. We will inspect your attic and close off entry-points, but before securing them, we ensure that there are no wildlife trapped inside. We will cap chimneys, put mesh over entrances, and soffits, all the weak areas of your house. A mesh fence is installed around your yard to prevent any further digging from unwanted guests.
The picture below is us wildlife proofing a deck. The ground is dug several ft and wire mesh is installed so animals cannot dig underneath.
Further steps we advise you to take to keep wildlife off your property include:
- Installing motion-sensor lights to startle wildlife
- Trim tree branches that overhang your home
- Keep garage/shed doors securely closed
- Do not feed wildlife, they will keep returning if you do
- Clean up after BBQ’s and make sure there is no scrap food remaining
- Securely close your bins with a bungee cord so wildlife cannot open it. Raccoons have very nimble fingers that they can open bins and tumble them over
Feeding wild animals almost always results in negative consequences for both humans and wildlife
The least traumatic and most inexpensive way of dealing with wild animals is to wildlife proof your property before wildlife moves in. Wildlife proofing your property will save you costs in the future as you will avoid animal removal and damages.
Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated for Wildlife Prevention – 647-994-9453
by SOS Wildlife Control | Jul 16, 2015 | Animal Control
Last Updated: May 2016
Need raccoon removal tips for raccoon in your attic, backyard, garage or under your deck? Once a raccoon is in your home it can be difficult to get them out. We recommend calling a wildlife removal professional but if you’re looking for some DIY alternatives, here are some tips that may help.
3 tips if a raccoon is in your backyard
- Getting rid of the main attractions is the first step. Food is usually primary reason for the visit, so keep the yard food free. If you have a BBQ, make sure to clean up all the remaining food in and around your BBQ. Bird feeders and pet food also attract raccoons. It is advised to feed your pets indoors and to not overfill the bird feeders.
- Keep the backyard trash free. Raccoon are attracted to your bins, so only put them out when it is garbage day otherwise keep them securely closed with a bungee cord. Soon the Toronto City will have the new bins in place which are wildlife proofed.
- A sheet of aluminum around the base of the tree can help keep the raccoon and other wildlife from climbing up. Trimming branches back from walls and your home can also restrict their access.
3 tips if a raccoon is in your attic
- Prevention is the best defense! By wildlife proofing your home you will prevent the animals from entering in the first place and avoid the necessary stress and cost of raccoon removal.
- Top raccoon removal tip to remove a raccoon from your attic is to find all the entry holes. Once located, block all the holes apart from one and leave one open so the raccoon can exit from there. Ensure there are no babies in the attic, if there are, call a professional and leave the attic. Mother raccoons are very protective and the last place you want to be is in a confined space with a wild animal protecting her young.
- If you know that you are dealing solely with adults, you can start using humane techniques to get them to leave on their own. Use lights and sounds to help encourage them to leave. Placing spotlights throughout the attic is a good solution to keep then from hiding in the dark. Use the radio as a constant noise. The animal will not like it and should leave. Bright lights, loud music, and wire mesh are the way to go
Do not seal the final entry hole until you are 100% sure the animals have left
Raccoon is in your house, garage, on the roof or under the deck
- The raccoon is living under the deck or shed because it’s a dark, quiet and safe. So use the light and sound technique to make it less comfortable.
A lot of people advise old wives tales solutions and from our years experience none of them work as well as calling for professional services. Raccoon repellents, high frequency sound waves, other animals urine (coyote or fox), Scarecrows, water sprinklers, there are lots. Usually, these methods are effective temporarily until raccoon lose their fear.
Raccoons are very wise and adapt well to urban lifestyle. The tips mentioned in this post are merely suggestions and there is no guaranteed they will work. For an effective wildlife removal or wildlife prevention service we recommend to call a professional like SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated will help your detect, remove and prevent wildlife. We do not advise you to try live trapping, as this requires licensing, requires experiences and should only be done by a professional. You don’t want to accidentally trap the neighbors cat or worse their toddler. Also there are strict laws of the sizes of the traps and the animals have to be relocated. If you are going to try this yourself please read the Ministry of Natural Resources Laws. It’s of the utmost importance to make sure the safety and welfare of the animal is first and foremost in any animal removal process. Visit Raccoon Removal page for more information.
For professional raccoon removal call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated at (647) 994-9453
by SOS Wildlife Control | Jul 14, 2015 | Animal Control, Bat Control
Last Updated: May 2016
Recently the Toronto Public Health Services received confirmation of this year’s first positive rabid bat in Hamilton. I am writing this blog regarding rabies in bats, raccoons and other wildlife so you will know what prevention steps to take, learn about the symptoms, steps to take if you are bitten and not to panic!
In Canada, common carriers of rabies are bats, raccoon, skunk and foxes. Recently the most human-rabies cases have been contracted by rabies in bats. Please take precautions around wild animals and use heavy duty gloves if handling them is absolutely necessary. If you require raccoon removal or bat removal it is best to call a professional.
What is rabies?
Rabies is a fatal disease that can affect all mammals including human beings. It is caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system causing inflammation of the brain. The virus lives in the saliva of the rabid animal and is contracted by a bite, through an open cut or wound, or if the virus gets near your mouth nose or eyes.
There are several strains presently in Ontario, there are skunk and fox strains, raccoon strains and bats have several strains. The bat strain is known to be the most dangerous to humans, however all rabies are extremely dangerous if not treated immediately. If you get bitten or scratched by a rabid animal, seek treatment immediately from a local physician or hospital.
There are several strains in Ontario, to control this the Ministry of Natural Resource (MNR) distributes baits for wildlife to eat each year. The bait contains a rabies vaccine that is absorbed through the lining of the mouth. This is an oral rabies vaccination. This one vaccine protects against all strains in North America. Within two weeks the animals will be immune to the virus. Unfortunately this method does not apply to bats. Be sure to take the proper precautions when around bats.
The time between exposure to the disease and the onset of symptoms, varies from a few days to several months.
Rabies Symptoms
An animal that has contracted rabies will have flu-like symptoms, severe headache, and fever. Confusion and hallucination begins as the disease sets in. Many times the animals jaw will drop causing them to drool and foam at the mouth.
In humans early symptoms is numbness or itchiness around the bite area, flu like symptoms and headache progressing within days to symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia. It is important to be treated immediately as once symptoms appear death is usually imminent.
Ontario Rabies Hotline number is 1-888-574-6656
Rabies in Raccoons
Raccoons can pick up various strains of rabies, but they are most susceptible to the raccoon strain. Raccoons are generally a nocturnal animal, so if you spot a raccoon exhibiting abnormal behavior especially in the day, be alert and keep your distance. As a precaution, all bites or scratches by raccoons should be considered a possible exposure to the rabies virus. Raccoons may incubate rabies for long periods (months) without becoming ill. They may shed the virus in saliva two weeks prior to showing symptoms. Raccoons are attracted to pet food in your back yard, overfilled bird feeders, leftovers from backyard barbecues and especially garbage bins. Don’t attract raccoons to your property, consider feeding pets indoors, not over filling bird feeders, cleaning up well after BBQ’s and keeping bins securely closed.
Rabies in Bats
Rabid bats accounted for 27 of the 28 rabies cases in 2013. As bats in Canada are insectivores, no efficient way of vaccinating them has yet been found. Globally, bats are considered ‘reservoirs’ (long-term hosts) of a number of viruses, many of which are not harmful and cannot be passed to humans. Bats are not normally aggressive and will avoid contact with humans. This means that there is no risk if you do not handle bats, but if you do, take the safety precautions necessary to minimize your risk.
The rabies virus is transmitted via bite or scratch from an infected animal, or from its saliva coming into contact with your mucous membranes (your eyes, mouth or nose). If you do need to handle bats always wear thick gloves to avoid getting bitten. Not all bats have rabies, but due to the severity of the virus, it is important to take precautions.
It is illegal to kill a bat, they are protected animals
What should you do if your bitten
Wash the bite immediately with soap and warm water. Seek medical attention immediately with your nearest doctor or hospital. Local or state health officials should be consulted to help determine if rabies treatment is needed. As rabies are deadly you or your physician have to contact the local health unit.
How to protect your pets from being infected
Ontario law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies and their shots kept up-to-date. To further protect your pets, keep them indoors at night to limit their exposure, the time when foxes, skunks, bats and raccoons are most active.
If you encounter a rabid animal keep your distance and call the Rabies Hotline at 1-888-574-6656.
Rabies Prevention Tips
The easiest way to decrease your risk of exposure is ensuring that contact with infected wildlife if minimized. Here are some tips on preventing wildlife on your property.
- Do not approach or handle wildlife
- Vaccinate all pets
- Do not feed wild animals
- Do not give wildlife accessto your garbage by securing bins
- Place trash out for pickup on the same day it will be picked up
- Seal openings in attics, basements, porches, sheds and barns
- Cap chimneys with screens
If you have more questions, visit Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources downloadable “Common questions and answers for rabies” PDF.
by SOS Wildlife Control | Jul 10, 2015 | Animal Control
Last Updated: May 2016
Cities are chock-full of raccoon problems with Toronto and the GTA being no different. This blog discusses the common raccoon problems for Toronto GTA homeowners. The information provided outlines their behavior and characteristics to help you understand your options.
Raccoons are quite common in Toronto and have increasingly become a problem not only in the GTA but throughout Ontario as well. Raccoons have no natural predator to keep their population in control and as we continually destroy their natural habitat they have no choice but to adapt to our residential areas. The most common raccoon problems include:
- Raccoon in the attic
- Raccoon tipping over garbage cans
- Raccoon living in chimneys
- Raccoon stealing bird seeds or pet food
Raccoon Behavior
Raccoons can be destructive urban mammals. Their strength alone, combined with their determination to get food and shelter make for a potentially costly combination. Raccoons have a variety of skills that allow them to exhibit a variety of behaviors, most revolving around the basics: foraging for food and seeking shelter. They are very opportunistic animals especially when it comes to meeting their basic needs. They have nimble fingers which allow them to open garbage bins to seek out food. The City of Toronto has introduced new green bins to tackle this issue, you can read further about this on our blog here. Even with the new bins, raccoons adapt very quickly, so it is still a good idea to stay alert. I came home from work one day to find a raccoon in my bedroom. He had opened the balcony door and went into my room. I had a pizza box on my desk and it was tumbled over and the remaining pizza was gone. I found the raccoon behind my bed. I opened the window and left the room closing the door behind me. He left shortly after. Food attracts raccoons! Dog or cat food left outside is pretty much an open invitation to a raccoon, and they may even come in through a pet door to get to the food. Raccoons in many areas have simply lost their fear of people. They are very strong and can defend themselves, in some cases, even against big dogs, so do not corner them. Never corner a wild animal!
How to approach your raccoon problems
One of the most commonly used methods is trapping and relocating. Trapping is were you cover all entry holes the raccoons use except one. A one-way door is installed so the raccoons can exit and not reenter. One they have exited, the final entry-hole is closed. If there are babies involved, different precautions must be taken. The mother raccoon must be removed first in order for the babies to be moved into a insulated heated box which is placed near the hole. The mother raccoon then returns to the babies, relocating them into a new safe site. Never trap a wildlife animal in your home as this is inhumane and illegal. For wildlife removal services, we recommend calling a professional to ensure safety, humane practices and professionalism.
Read our blog on things to do before calling a wildlife control agent
Remove them yourself dangers
There’s a reason professional wildlife trapping companies exist. Do-it-yourself options for raccoon removal like trapping and releasing them elsewhere leads to the risk of you trapping a family or neighbor’s pet, or even worse a toddler. If you decide to conduct it on your own, check to see what laws are in place regarding wildlife trapping and relocating. It is illegal to kill raccoons in Ontario. There was a very sad case in Pickering where someone set up snares which killed a litter of baby raccoons, one by one. A resident of Pickering had a baby raccoon enter their garden struggling to get out of the snare. It was reported and a $1000 reward for information on the culprit was placed. See the link here. Another Ontario resident set rat poison around a tree to kill off squirrels and ended up killing 3 pet dogs and putting 3 critical ill. It was lucky no children ate the poison. So please be aware when attempting to solve raccoon problems yourself, as there are other risk factors involved.
Professional Raccoon Removal
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated specialize in nuisance wildlife control. We remove unwanted wildlife from homes and businesses, and solve conflicts between people and wild animals. From home inspections to preventative measures, wildlife trapping, we solve raccoon problems with professional expertise.
Call us today at 647-994-9453
by SOS Wildlife Control | Jul 8, 2015 | Animal Control, Bat Control
First off when it comes to Bat Control you need to know they are a protected animal. It is illegal to kill a bat in Toronto or in fact anywhere in Canada. Bats play an important role in many environments around the world. Bats help pollinate flowers like mango, banana, cocoa, durian, guava and agave (used to make tequila – this is very important). Bats also control pests like mosquitoes and other insects, eating thousands of insects every night. Insect-eating bats are great for keeping bugs away from crops, as well as the places where the bats roost.
Bat characteristics
Bats are nocturnal mammals, meaning the majority of their activity takes place at night. Bats usually breed in the late summer or early autumn.
Bats are located throughout most of Ontario but they prefer to be near fresh water where they can forge for insects. The Little Brown Bat and the Big Brown Bat are the most common bats found in and near buildings in Ontario. During the winter months the Little Brown Bats and Big Brown Bats will hibernate. Little brown bats have an adult wing span between 9 to 11 inches and a body length between 2-4 inches. Their colour can range from a dark brown to reddish brown or pale tan. The big brown bat has an adult wing span between 13-16 inches and their body length can range from 3-6 inches. Their color can range from light brown, to reddish brown or dark brown.
In 2006 a bat disease called White-nose syndrome (WNS) was identified. It has been associated with the deaths of over 5.7 million bats across the USA and Canada, according to figures from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the MNR. In some hibernation sites, numbers have declined by 80-100% since 2006. This disease is not known to be transferable to humans but is a huge danger to this protected species.
Bat Diseases
Globally, bats are considered ‘reservoirs’ (long-term hosts) of a number of viruses, many of which are not harmful and cannot be passed to humans. Bats are not normally aggressive and will avoid contact with humans. This means that there is no risk if you do not handle bats. The rabies virus is transmitted via a bite or scratch from an infected animal, or from its saliva coming into contact with your mucous membranes (your eyes, mouth or nose). If you do need to handle bats always wear thick gloves to avoid getting bitten. Rabies can be a deadly disease if not treated immediately. Even though not all bats carry rabies, and of those that do, not all are likely to transmit it. If bats enter your living space it’s usually by accident or because they have rabies and are rabid. Only 10% of cases with bats in living areas are due to rabies. In Canada there are usually only one or two human cases of people infected by rabies per year. So be careful!
It is illegal to kill a bat, they are protected animals
Bat Control
It is not uncommon for bats to live in attics and multi story buildings. These bats enter through small openings or vents that are left open. Bats can fit through an entry point as small as a quarter of an inch and have little difficulty gaining access to structures through cracks and crevices. Though bats, especially in great number look dangerous, they are harmless and vulnerable creatures unless their life is threatened. Though they are harmless, most people don’t like bats in their house because they make disturbing noises, can come into contact with people and can spread diseases.
To remove bats from your home or building it needs to be humane. The most effective humane way to remove bats from an attic or building is with a live exclusion. This is where none of the bats are killed in the process. The idea behind bat exclusion is to let the bats leave the attic on their own but prevent them from returning. This is achieved by installing one-way devices, such as mesh netting and bat valves on the entry points.
Bat removal is not easy and it is highly recommended to hire a professional to avoid any harm to yourself or the bat(s). Bat feces also called bat guano is risk to your health and it is advised to remove the bats as soon as possible.
Bat Baby Season
Bat baby season starts in mid – summer. If you have babies in your attic it is illegal to remove them until the babies are old enough to leave the nest. The babies are unable to get food during the maternity season because they cannot fly. If you remove the mothers and block their access to the roost, then the babies are going to starve to death.
If bats are roosting in your attic or walls, it’s important to have bats evicted from your home as soon as possible to avoid costly bat guano cleanup, attic insulation replacement and possible health risk.
SOS Wildlife Removal have answered 100’s of bat removal cases and are available 24/7.
Call SOS Wildlife on 647-831-9951 for bat removal
