You heard it last night. Scratching in the ceiling. Heavy footsteps in the attic around 2am. Maybe some chattering or chirping sounds at dawn. You went up there with a flashlight and found droppings, torn insulation, or a hole chewed through the soffit vent.
Welcome to spring in the Greater Toronto Area. Raccoons and squirrels are moving in, and they're not paying rent.
April and May are peak wildlife intrusion season across the GTA. As temperatures warm up and breeding season kicks in, female raccoons and squirrels go hunting for safe, sheltered spots to nest and raise their young. Your attic checks all the boxes—warm, dry, protected, and full of soft insulation perfect for building a nest.
The bad news? They won't leave on their own. The worse news? Trying to remove them yourself is dangerous, often illegal, and can make the problem ten times worse.
Here's what you need to know about wildlife removal in the GTA, why spring is the danger zone, and how professional removal and exclusion actually work.
Why April and May Are Peak Wildlife Season in Ontario
It's not random. Spring wildlife intrusions follow a predictable pattern tied to biology and weather.
Breeding season. Raccoons mate in late winter (January to March), and females give birth in April or May after a 63-day gestation. Squirrels have two breeding cycles per year, with the spring litter arriving in March and April. Both species are driven by an overwhelming instinct to find a safe den site before giving birth.
Temperature swings. April and May in the GTA mean warm days but still-cold nights. Wildlife can't regulate their body temperature the way we do. A drafty tree hollow or exposed nest won't cut it when temperatures drop to 5°C overnight. Attics, by contrast, are insulated, hold heat, and provide stable conditions for newborns.
Urban habitat pressure. The GTA has sprawled into what used to be raccoon and squirrel territory. Ravines like the Don Valley, Humber River, and Rouge Park systems are packed with wildlife, and residential neighborhoods back directly onto these corridors. As tree cover declines and natural den sites (hollow trees) are removed, animals adapt by moving into human structures.
A 2019 study by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources found that urban raccoon populations in the GTA are three times denser than rural populations, largely because of abundant food sources (garbage, compost) and shelter (attics, garages, sheds). Squirrel populations follow the same trend.
So when you hear scratching in April, it's not bad luck. It's spring.
Signs You Have Wildlife in Your Home
Most people don't see the animal first. They hear it or smell it.
Sounds. Raccoons are nocturnal and heavy—70 to 100 pounds on average. You'll hear thumping, scratching, or what sounds like something rolling around. Squirrels are smaller but louder during the day. They're active at dawn and dusk, and you'll hear rapid scratching, gnawing, or scurrying across the ceiling. If you hear chirping or crying sounds, that's babies.
Entry damage. Look for torn soffit vents, chewed holes near the roofline, or pry marks around attic vents. Raccoons have dexterous paws and can rip shingles, bend aluminum soffits, or tear through rotted wood. Squirrels gnaw through fascia boards, roof edges, and even PVC vent pipes.
Droppings. Raccoon droppings look like large dog feces and are often found in piles (latrines) in attic corners or near entry points. Squirrel droppings are smaller, pellet-shaped, and scattered. Both carry disease risk—raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) can be fatal if inhaled or ingested.
Insulation damage. If you go up into the attic, you'll see compressed or torn insulation where animals have nested. Raccoons will pull apart fiberglass or cellulose to create bedding. Squirrels chew insulation to line nests. This reduces your home's R-value and drives up heating/cooling costs.
Odor. A strong, musky smell—especially combined with urine stains on drywall—means you've had wildlife residents for a while. If the smell is overwhelming or you see flies, there may be a dead animal in the walls or attic.
The Two Main Culprits: Raccoons and Squirrels
Both are common in the GTA, but they behave differently and require different removal approaches.
Raccoons
Raccoons are smart, strong, and stubborn. They're one of the most common urban wildlife problems in Toronto, Brampton, Vaughan, and Mississauga. They prefer attics but will also den in chimneys, under decks, and in crawl spaces.
Why they're dangerous: Raccoons can carry rabies, and Ontario sees 200-300 confirmed rabid raccoons per year according to Public Health Ontario. Even non-rabid raccoons will bite and scratch when cornered, especially mothers protecting babies. Their droppings carry Baylisascaris roundworm, which can cause severe neurological damage in humans if spores are inhaled during cleanup.
How they get in: Raccoons don't need much space—a 4-inch hole is enough. They'll tear through roof shingles, pry open soffit vents, or rip apart attic fans. Once inside, they're hard to evict because they're territorial and will fight to stay.
Squirrels
Eastern gray squirrels dominate the GTA. They're smaller than raccoons but just as persistent. Squirrels are diurnal (active during the day), so you'll hear them in the morning and late afternoon. They prefer attics, soffits, and wall cavities.
Why they're dangerous: Squirrels chew constantly because their teeth never stop growing. They'll gnaw through electrical wiring (a fire hazard), PVC pipes, and wood framing. Squirrel-caused electrical fires are more common than most people realize. They also carry parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites.
How they get in: Squirrels exploit existing gaps—builder gaps where two roof planes meet, gaps around dryer vents, or holes left by previous wildlife. They can squeeze through a 1.5-inch opening. Once they establish a nest, they'll defend it aggressively.
Why DIY Wildlife Removal Is a Bad Idea
We get it. You want the animal gone, and calling someone costs money. But DIY wildlife removal almost always makes things worse.
You can't legally do it. Under Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, it's illegal to trap and relocate most wildlife without a permit. Even if you catch a raccoon in a live trap, you can't legally transport it more than 1 kilometer from the capture site. Relocation also has a 50% mortality rate—relocated animals often die from stress, starvation, or territorial fights with resident animals.
You'll get hurt. Cornered wildlife is dangerous. Raccoons bite. Squirrels scratch and bite. Both can transmit diseases. We see DIY injuries every spring—people bitten trying to grab animals, scratched climbing into attics without proper gear, or exposed to droppings and parasites during cleanup.
You won't solve the problem. Chasing an animal out of your attic doesn't fix the entry point. The same animal—or a new one—will be back within days. Worse, if you seal the entry while babies are still inside, the mother will tear through drywall, siding, or soffits to get back to them. We've seen raccoons rip a hole through a kitchen ceiling trying to reach trapped babies.
You might separate mothers from babies. If you remove an adult during nesting season (April-May for raccoons, March-April for squirrels) without checking for babies, you've just orphaned a litter. The babies will die, decompose, and create an unbearable smell that can last weeks. You'll then need to hire someone to find and remove the carcasses anyway.
How Professional Wildlife Removal Works
We don't just kick the animal out and hope for the best. Wildlife removal is a multi-step process that removes the animal humanely, seals entry points, and prevents re-entry.
Step 1: Inspection
We inspect the exterior and interior to find all entry points, identify the species, and determine if babies are present. Most homes have 2-4 potential entry points, and animals often have a primary entry and a backup. We check soffits, roof vents, chimney caps, dryer vents, and foundation gaps.
Step 2: Humane Removal
If babies are present, we hand-remove them and place them in a heated reunion box near the entry point. The mother will retrieve them within hours and relocate the litter to a secondary den site (raccoons and squirrels always have backups). This is the safest, most humane approach.
If only adults are present, we install one-way doors—devices that allow animals to exit but not re-enter. The animal leaves on its own to forage, realizes it can't get back in, and moves to another den site.
We never use poisons, glue traps, or lethal traps. It's inhumane, often illegal, and creates secondary problems (dead animals in walls, predators eating poisoned carcasses).
Step 3: Exclusion (Sealing Entry Points)
This is the most important part. We seal every entry point with materials animals can't chew or pry through—galvanized steel mesh, heavy-gauge hardware cloth, and exterior-grade caulking. We don't use spray foam or wood alone; animals will chew through those in days.
For roof vents and soffit vents, we install steel mesh screens. For chimneys, we install steel chimney caps. For gaps along the roofline, we use metal flashing or steel mesh secured with screws.
Step 4: Cleanup (if needed)
If the animal has been living in your attic for weeks or months, there's likely contaminated insulation, droppings, and urine stains. We remove soiled insulation, disinfect surfaces, and neutralize odors. This step is optional but recommended if the infestation was severe.
GTA-Specific Wildlife Challenges
The Greater Toronto Area's geography and development patterns create unique wildlife pressure points.
Ravine systems. The Don Valley, Humber River, Rouge, and Credit River ravines are wildlife highways. Neighborhoods backing onto these systems—like the Beaches, Bloor West Village, parts of Mississauga near the Credit, and Scarborough near Rouge Park—see higher wildlife intrusion rates. If your home backs onto a ravine or wooded parkland, you're in a high-risk zone.
New construction. Subdivisions in Vaughan, Brampton, and Richmond Hill are being built on former agricultural land that was home to large squirrel and raccoon populations. When their habitat is cleared, they don't leave—they move into the new houses. Newer homes often have builder gaps (intentional soffit vents, roof turbines) that aren't properly screened, making entry easy.
Urban density. Toronto's older neighborhoods (The Annex, Leslieville, High Park) have mature tree canopies and aging homes with plenty of access points. Combine that with green bins full of food waste, and you've got ideal conditions for urban raccoons and squirrels. The City of Toronto estimates there are over 100,000 raccoons living within city limits.
Seasonal food availability. Spring is lean season for wildlife. Natural food sources (acorns, berries, insects) are scarce, and animals are desperate for calories to support pregnancy and nursing. That desperation drives them to take risks—like breaking into attics—they might avoid later in the year.
What Wildlife Removal Costs in the GTA
Most wildlife removal jobs cost $300 to $800, depending on:
- Species. Raccoons are harder to handle and remove than squirrels, so costs are higher.
- Location. Attic removal is straightforward. Chimney removal or animals in wall cavities require more labor and specialized tools.
- Number of animals. A single squirrel is cheaper than a raccoon with four babies.
- Entry point repairs. If the animal tore a large hole or damaged soffits, roof shingles, or vents, repair costs increase.
- Cleanup. Insulation removal, disinfection, and deodorization are extra.
Get a quote before work starts. Legitimate wildlife control companies inspect first, explain the problem, and provide a written estimate. Avoid anyone who quotes over the phone without seeing the site.
What to Do Right Now If You Hear Wildlife in Your Home
Don't wait. Wildlife problems don't solve themselves, and the longer animals stay, the more damage they cause.
- Don't seal the entry point yet. If babies are inside, sealing them in creates a disaster. Call a professional to inspect first.
- Don't try to trap or remove the animal yourself. It's dangerous, often illegal, and rarely works.
- Keep pets and kids away from the area. If the animal is in your attic, keep everyone out. If it's in a chimney, don't light a fire.
- Document the damage. Take photos of entry points, droppings, and any interior damage. This helps with insurance claims if needed.
- Call a licensed wildlife control company. In Ontario, wildlife removal companies must be licensed and insured. Ask for proof before hiring.
If you're in Toronto, Brampton, Vaughan, Mississauga, Scarborough, or anywhere in the GTA and you're hearing scratching, thumping, or chirping in your attic this spring, don't wait for it to get worse. Raccoons and squirrels won't leave on their own, and the longer they stay, the more damage they cause and the harder (and more expensive) removal becomes.
We show up the same day, inspect for free, and handle everything—removal, exclusion, and cleanup if needed. No traps left in your attic for days. No mothers separated from babies. No guessing if they'll come back.
Spring nesting season is short, but the damage isn't. If you've got wildlife in your home, we'll get them out and make sure they stay out.
Need wildlife removal in the GTA? Call us today for same-day service and a free inspection. We handle raccoons, squirrels, and all urban wildlife—humanely, safely, and for good.
