by SOS Wildlife Control | Nov 6, 2015 | Squirrel Control, Uncategorized
Last Updated: May 2016
Our Squirrel Removal technicians are ready to help in Toronto, Richmond Hill and the GTA. Removing squirrels can be costly if you don’t act fast. Coming into winter these critters will be looking for somewhere warm and dry to spend the cold winter months. The ideal space is your attic but keeping them out is the best option. Trim the trees from your house to reduce roof access. Remove rotten pumpkins that will attract them. Don’t overfill bird feeders and keep your pet bowls inside. Squirrels can cause a lot of damage if they enter your home. Some homeowners / business owners know they have squirrels and choose to do nothing about it, as they see no immediate problem. However it is. Squirrels teeth constantly grow and to keep them short and sharp squirrels gnaw on objects. This may be branches or nuts outside but in your home it will be your house structure, wires or whatever you have in the squirrels immediate space. Holes in the structure of your house will be costly to fix and increase your energy bill. Chewed wires are a fired hazard. It is common in Ontario for Squirrels to be blamed for power outages, one squirrel got electrocuted and knock out the whole power of Toronto’s Financial Sector for two hours. Generally animals play a large part in outages outside of the downtown area and cause house fires. Removing squirrels immediately will help avoid costly wildlife damage. The amount of damage depends on how long they remain in your attic.They will not cause a lot of damage if they have been in your attic for less than 2 weeks. If it has been a few months though the damage may be substantial. Attic Insulation can be compromised. Squirrels trample the insulation running back and forth, use it for nests and areas will be covered in urine and feces
Additional side effects to the physical damage is the noise they cause. We get many early phone calls from homeowners woken by the squirrels running back and forth the attic. They are quite noisy and irritating. If squirrels die in a unreachable area in your home the smell of their decay can be quite strong and can last for a few weeks. Removing squirrels immediately will help avoid this. With so many dangers in working at heights and possible parasites from the squirrel feces and getting bit or scratched by the squirrel itself, it’s best to call someone who knows the dangers of the job.
Baby Squirrel Removal
Please read further on our baby squirrel removal method. Squirrels have babies twice a year, spring and fall. With babies involved, it is a different removal procedure as mother and babies need to be reunited outside. Read our article Baby Squirrel Removal.
Amazing Squirrel Fact:
Although squirrels rarely interact, they learn who their nearby relatives are by hearing their unique calls. If they fail to hear a relative’s calls for a few days, they may investigate and rescue orphans.
Removing Squirrels
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated removes squirrels with the use of one-way doors and occasionally live trapping to ensure squirrels do not get trapped inside, causing more unnecessary damage. Our experienced technicians will then seal all entry points with gauge screening, preventing the return of nuisance pests. If requested we will determine any other vulnerable areas of your home and secure these areas using rust proof screens to prevent them from getting back in. By Ontario law the squirrels are then released one kilometer away. A squirrel nest, called a “drey”, is usually built high up in the trees but if no tree is available, the squirrel will build it in the next best thing: your attic. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated always release the animal in the best possible area for the squirrel to easily adapt to. Squirrels have oil in their fur that can leave a scent behind for years in your home, so even if that animal is removed, if another comes around it could smell the scent and make itself at home. Ensure all the weak areas of your home are reinforced and all holes are covered – wildlife proofing your property.
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated has plenty experience removing squirrels in attics, squirrels in businesses, removing squirrels from walls, removing squirrels from soffits.
Removing Squirrels? Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated at 1.800.981.0330
by SOS Wildlife Control | Nov 4, 2015 | Uncategorized
Last Updated: May 2016
There are many different raccoon removal 
methods of humanely removing raccoon from your property. One-way doors and live raccoon trapping are the most humane options when done correctly. One-way doors are the more preferable method as one way door has minimal to no human-wildlife interaction. The less interaction with wildlife as possible is always preferred as it is best not to interfere with their normal habits. What is a one-way door? One-way doors are specially designed doors which allow the animal(s) to exit the property and not re-enter. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated will cover all entry holes on your property except one. This remaining hole is where the one-way door is installed and where the raccoon will exit and wont be able to re-enter.
However as every raccoon removal job is different, in some cases different methods must be used. The next most effective raccoon removal method is live raccoon trapping. If relocated after being trapped, under the Ontario laws, wildlife captured must be released back into a natural habitat no further than 1 km away.
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated does not recommend untrained individuals to live trap a raccoon by themselves as improper trapping can and have led to accidents in Ontario where residents have tried to trap wildlife but instead have trapped neighbors pets or have forgotten about the trap and the animal has died. Raccoon trapping takes experience and knowledge of the animal and wildlife behaviour. Professional raccoon removal technicians will have both the proper equipment, experience and knowledge of provincial laws pertaining to wildlife removal processes.
Our professionally trained technicians at SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated provides a full inspection, analyzes the entry/exit points of the raccoons and installs the wire mesh cages accordingly for the most effective results. Upon successful entry of the raccoons into the cages, our technicians are contacted for pick up of the animals.
Raccoons mate between January and March and the
female raccoon can have a litter up to 7 young. The family live together for approximately 1 year. If they’ve built their den in your chimney, attic, or beneath your porch, it is likely you will need to call a wildlife control company for getting rid of raccoons. There are additional precautions that must be taken to protect the baby raccoons, for example the baby raccoons must not be relocated away from their mother and must be placed in an insulated heated box for their mother to find and relocate them.
Do-it-Yourself Raccoon Trapping Risks
Many things could go wrong trying to capture wildlife on your own which is why we always recommend calling a professional for these services. There have been instances where domesticated pets have been captured, injured, or killed. If you set up a trap in direct sunlight and are not present at the time of capture, raccoons could suffer and die from dehydration and sun stroke. If a cage is not properly set up, raccoons can get out as they are very operative with their hands. This can lead to aggravation where they could cause further damage like chewing on electrical cables, or ripping up screen doors. Raccoon trapping requires strong knowledge of wild animal control laws and regulations. Humane and effective removal of raccoons is the key both for the animals and for the residents. If you’re unsure of the extent of the raccoon problem, or unsure about the behavior of the animals or don’t have proper trapping training and licencing , we don’t recommend doing this on your own.
Yes, they can be a nuisance when they set den in or around your property, or when they go salvaging through your garbage bins for food, but their traits make them an interesting species!
- Their masks symbolize exactly what they are supposed to: raccoons are expert thieves. Aside from using their nimble hands for food, they are known to grab small household or personal items, like make-up, and cutlery
- They have bad eyesight, and are thought to be colorblind but they have excellent hearing and great sense of smell.
At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior raccoon trapping services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your raccoon problems. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests.
by SOS Wildlife Control | Oct 31, 2015 | Animal Control, Bat Control, Bird Control, Groundhog Control, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Mice Control, Opossum Control, Rat Control, Skunk Control, Squirrel Control, Uncategorized
Last Updated: May 2016
What does Toronto Wildlife Removal mean? To us, it means saving our clients from unwanted visitors (a.k.a urban wildlife), and humanely bringing the visitors back to their natural habitats. Both in the City of Toronto and in the Greater Toronto Area, wildlife can be a nuisance to many residents, business owners, and industrial/agricultural environments.
What is Wildlife?
Wildlife traditionally refers to non-domesticated animal species. Wildlife can be found in all ecosystems, in both urban and rural sites. Common wildlife animals found in the GTA are birds, pigeons, skunks, snakes, raccoons, squirrels, opossums, and bats. Most times, these animals will behave in hostile manners when aggravated, and can be considered as dangerous and sometimes infectious.
Wildlife & Human Co-Habitance
In most cases, wildlife and humans can co-exist in urban areas. While everyone goes about their businesses, conflicts do arise at times. As weather gets cooler, urban wildlife starts seeking shelter. Raccoons, squirrels, pigeons, and bats may settle in attics, between walls, and chimneys; causing significant damage and health hazards to homeowners. Skunks could hide under porches or decks and spray house pets or unwary residents. Human-wildlife conflict does arise frequently in Toronto.
Fall is a peak season for Toronto wildlife removal needs as many animals start looking for food and shelter from the fast approaching cold weather conditions. This is the time to wildlife proof your property to avoid unwanted visitors. Usually finding warmth and food in or around a structure. Wildlife such as raccoons and squirrels easily get acclimated to their new habitats, often bringing their dependents with them. Removing wildlife in humane manner requires very specific skill-sets as well as in-depth knowledge of all the animals. Although there are many DIY solutions available for all wildlife removal needs, one can never predict the results of these projects. Trained technicians can understand animals’ behaviors, predict their motives, and even know their next moves. Trained technicians can also tell if wildlife has been breeding, where the babies may be, and if wildlife has or is suffering from any injuries. Most importantly professionals have the proper gear, equipment, and animal storage and removal tools to avoid any harm to you, to the animals, or to themselves. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we ensure your safety, as well as the safety of the animals. Our trained wildlife control technicians help relocate wildlife as per Environment Canada’s guidelines. We ensure the animals are injury and stress free during this process. We try to use one ways doors as our first solution. This involves no wildlife human interaction but if this option is not suitable we use wildlife friendly cages where animals are transported comfortable and free of restraints to their new, natural environments.
Toronto wildlife removal services have become a necessity for many home and business owners as urban wildlife number are on an increase. Due to the quick adaptability and fast- breeding nature, wildlife quickly adjusts to their new environments and they promptly pass this knowledge down to their offspring, creating a smarter generation of unwanted guests. Once an animal has established a home, they like to keep it. Any female offspring raised here, will also want to return to the same place to have their own litters. Given many of the wildlife are extremely intelligent, it is quite possible for this to take place. For many reasons aside from the simple attachment issues, it is very imperative to remove all wildlife as soon as possible before it becomes a matter of a serious infestation problem.
How to Avoid Toronto Wildlife Removal Services
- Lock up all recyclables and garbage in animal proof bins, ensure lids are securely closed at all times
- Take garbage and recyclables out often
- Remove any and all uneaten pet foods from pets’ bowls, remove all bird feeders at night
- Caution neighbors against wildlife feeding, contact your local council if problem persists
- Survey the structure of your home regularly, be aware of all cracks and holes and ensure proper measures are taken to fix these deficiencies
- Keep your home clean and organized, don’t leave opened packages of food out or overnight
- Keep your yard tidy by removing all unnecessary items and debris. Mow your lawn, and rake leaves regularly
- Ensure doors and windows are closed, as most wildlife are superior climbers
- Screen entry points and maintain fencing
Our Approach to Toronto Wildlife Removal
While there are different approaches trained technicians can use such as no trapping, or lethal trapping; we like to use the One Way Door or the Live Trapping method at SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated. This method allows use to trap the wildlife to ensure successful captivity, but it also allows us to inspect the animals to ensure they are uninjured before releasing them back into the wild. If animals are captured at the time of birthing/nesting period, we place them in protected boxes and ensure they are located to a safe environment, no further than 1 km away from the location of captivity, as per provincial guidelines. We provide the Toronto and GTA residents, humane wildlife removal services.
Wildlife Fun Facts:
- On the mammal IQ scale, raccoons rank higher than cats, and just below monkeys
- Squirrels are extremely intelligent: they are known to put elaborate bogus food burying display to deceive onlookers. The purpose of this fake burial is to trick potential thieves: other squirrels
- Skunks are nocturnal. They sleep during the day and look for food at night
- Opossums have remarkable ability to find food and remember its source. When tested for ability to remember where food it, opossums scored better than rats, rabbits, and dogs. They can also find their way through a maze faster than rodents and cats.
At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior Toronto Wildlife Removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. We easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests.
by SOS Wildlife Control | Oct 30, 2015 | Raccoon Removal
Last Updated: May 2016
With their cute masked faces and nimble hands, 
raccoons are one of the most intelligent and curious species in the urban wildlife. However; the raccoon problem Toronto has been experiencing in the last decade has been nothing short of bothersome to property owners and residents. These nocturnal mammals certainly live up to their reputation to be quite destructive and troublesome.
Raccoons have adapted well to the city life right here in Toronto, however, they are found in other urban, rural and wilderness areas in all parts of Ontario. They are omnivores and are known to enjoy variety of things from fleshy fruits to insects and small rodents. Raccoons have amazing dexterity and can use their front paws to pry things open, they can turn knobs, press switch buttons, and most famously can get in pretty much all garbage and compost bins. With the Toronto new green bins coming out soon it is the hope of the city that they will will help the raccoon problem, or else it will be millions put to waste if the raccoons adapt. Time will tell.
Increasing number of raccoons in Toronto has resulted in diverse reactions in humans. While some people raccoon-proof their properties, other deliberately feed them. Some wildlife experts caution residents against deliberately feeding wild animals as they could become dependent on humans as their food source. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated agree you should not feed wildlife, and not not feeding wildlife is strongly supported by Fur-Bearing Defenders in the aid to co-exist with them. This would disrupt the ecology cycle and make wildlife’s acclimation back into the nature almost impossible. Contacting professionals ensure your raccoon problem are taken care of, as well as the effective return of these animals back to their natural environment with as little human – wildlife interaction as possible.
Closer Introduction
Physically, raccoons appear harmless and adorable. Although not at all common, people have sworn that they make friendly and lovable pets, with a little bossy and demanding attitude. Again wildlife are supposed to be wild! However raccoon are mostly known for their curious personalities. They enjoy inspecting and examining every situation before taking any action. They collect a lot of information and retain it, as they are extremely intelligent. They are very aggressive and tend to snarl, hiss, and even attack when provoked. More physically, raccoons vary in size, having a length of 40-70cm’s and a body weight of anywhere between 3.5-9kg’s. Raccoons have grayish coats with more distinctive features of having black and white facial masks and extremely dexterous front paws, with long and sharp fingernails. Most raccoon problem are caused by raccoons’ nimble-fingered paws. They can open and close doors, reach and grab food or other items on shelves, pantries, cupboards etc. and they can cause serious structural damage to one’s property by tearing holes in walls, insulation, air duct, and scratching surfaces like hardwood. Read more on our wildlife prevention page to understand how to further prevent this happening to your property.
The damage these little creatures can cause doesn’t just stop at generating hefty repair bills to property owners; they can also transmit lethal diseases such as rabies. What is rabies? Aggressive when provoked, raccoons’ famous nimble fingers can also cut human skin deep causing various other bacterial infections. Human contact with wild raccoons is not recommended, and if a property owner is dealing with raccoon problem, they are strongly encouraged to contact professionally trained technicians. Read further in our article Rabies in Bats, Raccoons and other wildlife.
Damages Caused by Raccoon Problem
In search of shelter and bedding, raccoons will show no mercy to your property. This means their nimble hands will once again, be at work. Raccoons are wild animals and this shows in the damage they are capable of causing. They pick at drywall with their fingers, curious of what’s between the walls, they will rip apart ducts, rip through insulation, and even chew on any wires in their way. While they cause structural – sometimes major, other times minor, they can also cause electrical damage, and possibly fire in properties. While they are busy at work, ripping through one’s attic or basement, raccoons also tend to leave up to 20 droppings per day. Their droppings are bio-hazardous as they carry many diseases as previously mentioned. While they cause a lot of re-constructive work, a property that’s been infested by raccoons also requires a thorough sanitation. If you have pets and children, it is extremely imperative that you contact professionals to inspect and clear the property off raccoons, and to properly sanitize all surfaces potentially infected by their presence and droppings. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated do provide the following services to help your raccoon removal problem: Animal Feces Removal, Attic Restoration and Attic Insulation renewal.
Prevention
While DIY options may provide quick or temporary solutions, we recommend expert advice and removal services for all of your raccoon problem. In our experience sprays, deterrent chemicals, and ultrasonic noise machines have been proven to be unsuccessful raccoon removal methods. They may work for a few days but the raccoon will return. In order to avoid raccoon problem specifically, here are some preventative principles you can live by:
- Ensure your fences (if you have them) are in good shape. Treat the wood, and fix any gaps, damages regularly
- Make your garbage and compost bins raccoon-proof by strapping the lids down with bungee cords
- Keep your doors and windows locked, ensure screen doors are properly shut and locked
- Do not leave any human food, food remnants, pet food, or food packaging/containers outside
- If you have pets, keep pet food indoors or in garage
- Ensure motion sensor lights are in working order in and around your property as light repels raccoons. If you suffer from raccoons consistently visiting your yard, invest it motion sensor lights
These are just tips,they may not work. The best solution for your raccoon problem is a professional raccoon removal and prevention service for city of Toronto. We can cease your raccoon problem by our effective one way door or if needed live trapping method. This method allows us to ensure successful captivity of the animals, but it also helps us ensure the animals are uninjured. We treat animals humanely and ensure they are brought back to their natural habitat. We don’t recommend any lethal, poison required methods as the existence of wildlife is necessary for a balanced ecosystem and it is illegal in Ontario.
At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior Raccoon Removal services for any residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your raccoon problem.We be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate and solve your raccoon problem.
by SOS Wildlife Control | Oct 26, 2015 | Bird Control
Last Updated: May 2016
While squirrels and raccoons tend to run away, birds; especially pigeons, aren’t necessarily intimidated by being in close proximity with people in Toronto. Because they’re not scared of people, pigeon control has become a serious need for residents all over the Greater Toronto Area. Pigeons are acclimated to living in urban environments, creating their nests around all types of structures. While houses and shorter buildings are more popular among pigeons to call home, they have recently started trying out the higher lifestyle monopolizing condo balconies, window ledges, patios and terraces. It causes even more of a problem to the residents of these structures because pigeons usually travel and live in flocks.
The common pigeons taking over the structures in our city are called “feral pigeons”. They are urban, and can co-habitate with people in the same space without being frightened. They are mainly dark blue/grey, sometimes have white or lighter specs on their wings, have glossy greenish iridescence around the neck, and have red feet and legs. On average they are about 35 cm’s long, with approximately 65-70 cm’s of wingspan. They breed all year around with spring and summer being the peak breeding periods. Feral pigeons usually nest and breed on or in buildings with roof voids being the most popular location. Feral pigeons can live up to 15 years. Long lifespan of pigeons often result in permanent living habits as far as locations go, requiring a pigeon control need for residents.
Pigeon Characteristics
- They can fly at an altitude of up to 7000 feet
- They fly at an average speed of 80 mph
- They fly on average 600-700 miles per day
- They are known for their intelligence and complexity
- Pigeons are one of the only small number of species in the world to pass the “mirror test”, a test of self-recognition
- Pigeons have outstanding navigational abilities and excellent memory, they use the sun as a guide, but a study has shown that they also use landmarks, signposts, and roads. Their excellent ability to remember helps them find their homes and food without any difficulty
- They mate for life and raise their chicks as partners
- They have excellent hearing abilities, and can sense distant storms and volcanoes
Often times, and in reasonable proximity from one another, it’s very common to see bird food put out for pigeons on the streets of Toronto. This could be a result of a religious ceremony performed by many different religions, or just an act of humanity as many people put out bird food and/or bread crumbs out solely for feeding purposes. This can create a situation where an ongoing pigeon control measures may be necessary. As pigeons have excellent memory, they tend to come back to areas where they can easily get fed, and bring food to their nests to feed their partners and chicks. Although it’s an act of humanity to feed the birds, it creates a problem for many people, as their feathers and droppings monopolize people’s properties, windowsills, roofs, and balconies etc. Aside from causing and unappealing presence of one’s property, pigeons are also known carriers of diseases such as salmonella, tuberculosis, and ornithosis. They are also a source of allergens, which cause respiratory discomfort as well as allergic skin reactions.
Pigeon Control Services
When faced with a pigeon control problem, one’s first instinct is to look for Do-It-Yourself solutions. Unlike rodents, raccoons, or skunks; it is often assumed that pigeons are an easier problem for people to handle themselves. In some cases, this can be true, in most; unfortunately that’s not the case. As per above, pigeons are extremely intelligent. Before resorting to any DIY options, one has to understand the capacity of the pigeon problem. One of the problems could be daytime perching, where pigeons use buildings as a point of food source. Another problem is overnight roosting, where pigeons use buildings to protect themselves at night and sleep. Another problem could be breeding. Needless to say, each of these problems would require a different type of solution. It is also crucial to understand that no matter what action one has taken to deter pigeons, it is possible that one may simply move the problem from one area to the other. This could be a frustrating and expensive experience. As with other unwanted animals and critters, pigeon control is a service that can be provided by experts. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we can take care of all of your pigeon/bird related problems. We use spikes and netting depending on your needs. We install these deterrents in a timely fashion for quick and effective results. Not only do we use a humane technique, we also provide an ultimately permanent outcome.
If your immediate property does not require any professional pigeon control services, but you do have relevant problems in your area, you can resort to alternative options. If you live/work in an area occupied heavily by fast food outlets, and this is attracting pigeons to your area, you can contact Environment Canada for an inspection. If it’s an instance of deliberate feeding of pigeons, you can contact your respective local council. You can find your local council contacts on the City of Toronto website. There are many ways to go about when it comes to solutions for a pigeon control problem. From understanding the more basic pigeon problems yourself, to contacting the city, to getting help from the experts, don’t let pigeons be a burden to your life. Contact the experts that can provide permanent solutions quickly.
At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide seamless pigeon control services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your pigeon/bird problems. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for your pigeon removal needs.
