by SOS Wildlife Control | Feb 5, 2016 | Animal Control, Helpful Tips, Squirrel Control
Last Updated: June 2016
It’s no secret that there are a ton of selections for wildlife control companies in Ontario who can help you solve your wildlife problem which is why it is difficult selecting the right wildlife control company. From east of the GTA to the west, north and south, the number of options are countless. This, I’m sure can get pretty overwhelming especially when all you need is a quick fix. Whether it’s an absolutely urgent problem that you need solved today, or something that you can spend an extra couple minutes researching, there are a couple things you should look out for in any of the options that you are choosing from. These factors can mean the difference in terms of the safety of you and your family, the technicians solving your wildlife problem and when looking out for the best interest of the animals and the environment. So, if selecting the right kind of wildlife control company is important to you, whether it’s a squirrel in your attic, raccoon in your garage or bird in the house etc. here are a couple things you should be looking out for.
Proper Licensing and Coverage
Although sometimes it means hiring for a lesser cost, having a wildlife control company/operator do work for you without being properly licensed or a company who isn’t covered/protected is way too big a risk. By choosing a company or a technician who doesn’t hold the proper qualifications to be conducting the processes required to properly conduct wildlife control processes can cost someone’s safety, damage of property, inhumane treatment of animals or more. In the end, you saving those extra couple dollars at the beginning will not be worth the problems that you can avoid facing by choosing a licensed, well trained, insured wildlife control company and operator/technician.
Things you should ask for from a wildlife control company
- Do they have Fall Arrest/Working at Heights certification?
- Have all of their technicians undergone proper training courses?
- Does the company have a Trapping License from the Ministry of Natural Resources?
- Are they available 24/7?
- Will they conduct processes humanely?
- Is it a pest control company, or a wildlife control company?
- Does the company have at least $3,000,000 liability coverage?
Respect for the Animals & Environment
In this line of business, it is easy to encounter people and companies who may not hold the same feeling towards wildlife as others. It is, after all, the business of removing wildlife from your property, wildlife often considered nuisances and problems. The truth is, the nuisance is in the part where unwelcome wildlife start using your home as their habitat possibly causing damage and bringing outside germs and disease in the house. The nuisance is not the animal itself – animals who are likely being driven out of their natural habitat in search of a place to raise their young or find themselves shelter. This is something that should be clear when you are selecting the right wildlife control company. You need to ensure that the technician/operator that you want to hire to do the job understands the difference and will not treat the animals inhumanely and know how to treat them so that there is no question. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated understands that when moving animals away from the property, to move it 1km away. They understand the proper procedure when catching an animal is to never trap by the neck. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated also understands how to properly remove wildlife from your property during baby season, which is by ensuring that the mother is easily able to locate the babies while the babies are in a safe, heated box. There are specific laws in place that specify proper treatment of wildlife. To encourage the proper treatment of animals, both inside and outside the home, select a wildlife control operator/technician who know these processes and have these values.
The right wildlife control company will be friendly, open and honest
When doing any kind of business, having someone work with/for you who is friendly and with whom you get along with can always make the process a little bit more pleasant. Rather than hiring someone who can get the job done while you struggle tolerating the entire process, you should hire someone who can get the job done well, who is friendly, can offer great service and is honest. Business is business, some people say, but business means people. This means interactions, relationships and good service. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated we continuously deliver exceptional customer service, even after the job is done. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always call back to have them addressed. When looking for the right wildlife control company, look for someone who can be open and honest right from the start, whether it be about the fees or the process. This also makes the process of having them work on your property easier. Nobody likes getting unpleasant surprise at the end of the job, so when choosing a company, find someone who will be honest with you.
Knowledgeable and Professional
It’s easy to claim knowing all there is about a trade, but it’s another thing to be able to do it. When selecting the right wildlife control company, be sure that they aren’t purely talk, but can also get the job done and know what they’re doing. A poorly trained technician can result in inefficient work, safety concerns, and health concerns and in the end, be the cause for a loss of time and money. When picking the company, make sure that they are well trained, know what they’re doing, why they are doing it, and conducts the process properly. This makes it so that you only have to get the job done once, the right way. The right wildlife control company who is knowledgeable and professional will be able to explain the situation to the customer, will tell the customer how the problem will be solved, solve it and then answers any additional questions the customer may have. You can easily spot a company who meets this qualification be seeing what others are saying about it. Look for reviews or testimonials for previous customers opinions on how the company operates.
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated is a company who meet and exceed these expectations and requirements. We are a company with over 10 years of experience who understand the right way to handle wildlife control. We know that proper licensing and coverage will help protect the customer, the company and the wildlife. We understand that in this business, some try to get away by treating animals inhumanely in their removal process. We are not one of these companies. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated will tell you all of the information you need to know up-front and will explain the process and answer any questions you have during or after the job is done. We are knowledgeable and professional and always put out our best when doing our work.
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated has:
- Fall Arrest/Working at Heights certification
- Technicians have undergone proper training courses
- Have a Trapping License from the Ministry of Natural Resources
- Available 24/7
- Is a professional Wildlife Control company
- Conduct wildlife control processes humanely
- $5,000,000 liability coverage
If you notice signs of wildlife in your house give us a call. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior wildlife removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. 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 in the most humane way possible.
Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated at 1-800-981-0330 today!
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 22, 2015 | Uncategorized
Last Updated: May 2016
Autumn is a beautiful time of year in Toronto, with the leaves changing colour, the weather cooling down a bit, and signs of wildlife running around parks collecting food for hibernation. However, Halloween is the time of year you can find raccoons and other wildlife lounging around for treats. If you see a raccoon or any wildlife such as squirrels or skunks around this time on your property, we strongly advise you to assess your home to see how it stands against wildlife intrusions. Assess your property for entry holes, or weak areas where it is possible for wildlife to get through. Nuisance wildlife are now searching for shelter for the winter.
Raccoon Fact: Raccoons are much less active with the cold weather and will sleep for longer periods of time
October is the perfect time to wildlife proof your home as snow hasn’t yet fallen and there are no raccoon babies.
Baby Raccoons
As it is October there will be no baby raccoons which simplifies that raccoon removal process. When babies are involved, raccoon removal involves a the mother first needing to be removed, then the babies who are then reunited.This process is not necessary during the fall season due to the fact that it is not their baby season. Read more on baby raccoon removal here.
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Stop Wildlife being attracted to your home
Check any overhanging trees and trim branches to restrict access to your roof. Put your garbage bins in a garage or secure with a bungee cord to restrict access. Remove any food scraps around your home, and place pet foods inside. Don’t overfill bird feeders. Stopping wildlife from being attracted to your property is step one
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Fixing any weak areas of your home
Assess your home for weak areas. Replace any broken, weakened or missing roof tiles. Check all soffits and vents. If heat is escaping from parts of your home, fixing this will not only reduce energy costs but will not attract unwanted critters. If they can’t find any weak areas they will move on. If anything is torn open or got holes big enough for a raccoon can enter then you may already have wildlife in your home. Do not seal them unless you know there is no wildlife inside. You can either do this yourself but calling a professional is recommended.
Unfortunately your Halloween pumpkins might also attract wildlife to your property, but if you wildlife proof your property they will be restricted from getting in the property. .You can wildlife proof your property yourself or you can hire a professional like SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated to do it for you. Doing this now will save you money in the long run. It is more convenient to prevent a raccoon from entering now than removing it in the middle of the winter when there is snow on the ground. Do not climb on an icy roof to cover holes yourself as this is dangerous, you may risk falling.
Denying raccoons access in the fall gives them time to search for another appropriate living space. If they are found and removed during colder months, their chance for survival is threatened.
Happy Halloween everyone!
Call SOS for Raccoon Pest Control at 647-994-9453
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 | Jun 9, 2015 | Animal Control, Human-Wildlife Conflict
Last Updated: May 2016
Animal Control and Wildlife Control are terms that differ on many levels and are often mixed up. Understanding the difference between the two will help you receive the correct information and get in contact with the right help.
Animal Control handles mostly domestic animal cases, like dogs or cats
Wildlife Control deals with wildlife like raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats etc. and are handled by private companies when on private property.
Animal Control
In Toronto and the GTA, animal control is handled by the city, who are responsible for preventing cruelty to animals, enforcing animal cruelty bylaws and housing stray animals.
They often provide the following:
- Pet licensing
- Animal Welfare
- Unwated animals
- Barking Complaints
- Animals running at large
- Adoption
- Helping homeless, hungry or hurt animals
Here are several organization who can help you with animal services
For information on pet safety, food safety for pets, pet-proofing, and natural disaster prep for pet owners check out this great Pet Safety Guide by Expertise.
Wildlife Control
Wildlife control technicians handle animals who are generally seen in the wild and are not domesticated.
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated provides the following services:
SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated does not handle geese. If you are experiencing geese problems, try Geese Management
For bears and other dangerous large wildlife, contact the police or the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).
Animal control and wildlife control differ in the animal species they manage, but they both promote and protect the health and safety of people and animals. Both animal and wildlife control organizations should be professional and humane; to be well versed and familiar not only with wildlife regulations and species conservation but also with laws, rules and regulations relevant to wildlife management.
