I hear noises in my attic and behind my walls. What animal could be living in my attic? Toronto pest control and wildlife removal. Get rid of raccoons, squirrels, skunks, birds, mice, rats, etc.

​Does it sound like an animal is living in your attic? Do you hear noises from behind a wall or ceiling? Does it sound like some rodent or larger animal is living inside the wall or ceiling cavity? Do you hear an animal running through the ductwork of your home? TSR has answers to all of your rodent and wildlife problems. We are here to assist Toronto residents in keeping their homes and businesses free of pests.

The purpose of this article is to answer some of the most frequently asked questions from Toronto residents about pest and wildlife nesting in their attics, walls, and ceiling cavities. 

Why do raccoons and squirrels settle in homes?

Most urban wildlife such as raccoons and squirrels choose to settle in homes because they need a quiet, safe, and warm nesting space. Attics and wall cavities offer convenient living space to these critters. Living close to humans is also advantageous because of the abundance of food that our garbage bins contain. Attic spaces also suit the nocturnal animals because they are as quiet as any other place could be during the day in densely populated areas. 

What are the most vulnerable places around a house that raccoons could break to gain entry?

Raccoons are very good at scaling residential buildings. The soffits, wood and vinyl sidings, ventilation and plumbing outlets, shingles, aluminum facia, stucco, and other construction materials used in the exterior finishes of a building could offer easy entry to raccoons. Raccoons are physically strong animals and can easily create a point of entry on these types of surfaces. 

What can you do to prevent raccoons and squirrels from returning to my home? What could I do to prevent the wildlife from getting access to my home?

An experienced animal removal technician familiar with building designs knows how squirrels, raccoons, birds, and other wildlife could be entering your home. At TSR, our wildlife removal professionals have developed a probability table of animal entry points based on thousands of cases we have studied. Every wildlife intrusion case that a TSR professional comes to know is marked on a 3-D model home. Over time, we aggregate the data and compile a list of the most vulnerable points around a house for each type of wildlife. Our technicians use these charts when deciding which areas should be prioritized for animal-proofing. We offer advice to customers based on these carefully calculated entry-point probabilities.  

How long does it take for a raccoon or a squirrel to break open an entry point? 

It does not have to take very long. For example, a raccoon can pry open soffits and vents within minutes. Most urban raccoons are very experienced in gaining entry into homes. They are more or less like professional burglars. Just as it takes a professional security expert to reduce the risk of a break-in around a highly protected building, keeping raccoons and squirrels out is often not possible without the involvement of an experienced wildlife control professional.  

How do I know whether a raccoon or squirrel in my attic has had babies? 

A wildlife removal technician will need to assess the nesting area to determine if there is a risk of an animal having babies that are not mature enough to leave the nest with their mother. Our wildlife removal service trucks come equipped with the latest and most advanced inspection and detection technologies to assist our technicians in their efforts to complete each wildlife service request in the most professional and responsible way possible. We use advanced thermal imaging, videographic inspection, cloud-based active monitoring technologies to ensure a complete and humane removal. TSR takes pride in being Ontario's technologically most capable wildlife removal firm.  

What are the most effective ways of evicting squirrels from your attic?

There is no one-size fits all solution when it comes to removing squirrels from a Toronto-area home. Our technicians will assess the work site, determine the damage and the risk of re-entry and will provide advice based on a custom squirrel removal plan. We strive to provide our clients with the most honest and realistic advice on animal removal and animal-proofing. Our decisions are based on a careful and nuanced analysis of the data we collect by studying your home's exterior finish and its surroundings. 

Are one-way doors effective against widlife intrusions?

A properly customized one-way door or exclusion device is an important resource. At TSR, we specialize in building custom animal exclusion devices. Our custom exclusion devices have enabled us to exclude not only raccoons and squirrels but also foxes and cayotes. TSR currently has more than ten unique and customizable exclusion device models that we have developed to assist our wildlife removal professionals in tackling the most difficult animal intrusions in commercial and residential buildings across Toronto. 

Can I use any repellants to keep raccoons, squirrels, birds, and other wildife away? 

It is highly unlikely that a homeowner will be able to evict raccoons or squirrels from their home and keep them away by using repellent products sold by some home-improvement stores and websities. There are two reasons for this. First, animals are smarter and more adept than we tend to think. Second, these products cannot applied in the concentration required for their effectiveness. The fact that a product works in a laboratory environment to irritate an animal does not mean it will work in a complex real life environment such as an attic, roof or backyard. There are many real life factors that the developers of these products cannot take into account such as the risks and dangers that animals are trying to avoid and the fact that attics of many homes offer thousands of squares of inhabitable space that cannot be contaminated at the sufficient dosage over a sufficient period.     

Will the wildlife return after it has been evicted?

There is always a risk of re-entry. This risk cannot be eliminated but can be significantly mitigated. What can we do to minimize this risk? First of all, humane and professional removal will significantly cut the risk of re-entry. A wildlife-proofing service based on our probability of entry chart also significantly reduces the risk of the animals being able to gain access again. A proper knowledge of a particular wildlife species' behaviour will also help in keeping that species out of a building.   

Would trapping and relocating an animal work?

In some cases, this is one of the most effective solutions, but in many other cases, it is the least effective thing a wildlife removal technician can do. The comparative advantage of this method depends on lots of complex variables. One of the most important factors to be taken into account is that many types of animals are territorial and removing them from an area could invite other members of the same species into the area. This is a decision that requires expertise. Overall, in the vast majority of wildlife intrusion cases, there are other, considerably more effective solutions that a wildlife removal professional will be able to offer. 

Can I hire a roofer to repair the animal damage? I can see a broken roof vent. Should I call my local roofer/handyman to fix it for me?

Hiring a roofer to address a wildlife intrusion is one of the worst decisions homeowner could make when discovering a broken roof vent or other types of roof damage. There are two important reasons. First of all, only trained and experienced wildlife removal professionals can remove animals from an attic or wall cavity safely and effectively. After all, this is what we specialize in. Secondly, in many cases these animals are gaining entry by undermining the roofing and other types of construction work. Wildife prevention is a skilled trade distinct from that of roofers and builders. It requires different construction materials and tools than those a roofer is familiar with.  

Why did raccoons choose my house? There are so many homes in my neighbourhood? Have I done something wrong? Is my house more inviting to raccoons because I have trees close to my home?

This is an important question that contains more than resentment and grudge at the wildlife. Although some of the factors that contribute to an animal's entry can be explained, many other aspects of animal's choice have no rational explanation. Sometimes, our buildings are inviting animals because of some excessive, visible, and hard to miss defect, while at other times our homes are one of tens of other similarly vulnerable homes. Nonetheless, this remains an important question to ask a wildlife removal technician who visits your home. If we know why raccoons chose your home, we can try to eliminate those risk factors. 
I have been dealing with roof rats and attic mice. Does TSR have an effective treatment against these rodents?

Mice and rats in an attic can create an excessive noise nuisance and prevent you from enjoying a peaceful night's sleep. They also represent a significant fire hazard. TSR is one of the most experienced pest control companies in Ontario when it comes to eliminating roof rats and attic mice. We combine our knowledge of mice and rat infestations as one of the most experienced pest control operations in Toronto area with our cutting-edge wildlife removal capabilities. 
Would animals leave my attic on their own, or do I need to hire a pest control company?
The answer is no, they have no reason to leave your home on their own. Many wildlife live in attics and walls throughout the year. Once an animal family moves in, they are likely to stay for a long time and cause significant building damage unless the homeowners take the necesary steps to ensure a complete removal.