Scarborough, Ontario – 2024
This article will analyze and recount a case of a raccoon that had burrowed under a deck surrounding a house in Scarborough. The deck was raised above the ground by just a few inches, but with some digging, the raccoon managed to find a home beneath it. The customers tried to deter the animal from burrowing under the deck with various methods like piling bricks around the area and other pieces of concrete but were unsuccessful. When the technician arrived, he found the main entryway and gave the customers a quote for the removal. The work was scheduled for late in the week as the job was too large to do that day.
This visit is located between in Scarborough, Ontario.
The technicians, before the work is done, must first inspect and confer with the customer or customers on the issue and then must inspect for the source of the issue. In this case, it was a raccoon which had burrowed under a deck. The animal would not vacate on its own as it found a permanent home there, and so the deck needed to be sealed on all accessible sides, and then a one-way door needed to be installed to prevent the raccoon from getting back under the deck.
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough, a city that grew from rural villages to a diverse urban area, was settled by Europeans in the 1790s. It became a township in 1850, part of Metropolitan Toronto in 1953, and a borough in 1967. Rapid development as a Toronto suburb led to city status in 1983. In 1998, it merged with Metropolitan Toronto to form the current city of Toronto. Scarborough offers the Scarborough Bluffs, overlooking Lake Ontario, with parks, beaches, and hiking trails. The Toronto Zoo features global animal pavilions and a wildlife health centre. The area’s culinary scene boasts regional Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Indian cuisine.
Exterior Inspection
When the technician arrived at the property, they conducted an exterior inspection and discovered activity beneath the deck. There were clear signs of digging, but the excavation was larger than that of a skunk. The technician inspected the area and found that it was a raccoon that had dug under the deck. While skunks are the most common burrowing animals, raccoons can do the same, but they tend to create much larger holes because they are larger animals than skunks and don’t produce the distinctive smell of a skunk. If you notice a burrow at the foot of your deck but can’t smell a skunk, it’s likely that a raccoon is living underneath it.
Initial Measures
The first step was to measure the entire accessible perimeter of the deck to calculate the cost of trenching. Precision is crucial in this technical process to ensure accurate cost estimation. After the measurement, a quote can be provided for sealing off the deck. The work is fully warrantied for two years, providing peace of mind in case any animals penetrate the work. If this happens, the technician will return to remove the animal using another one-way door. This highly effective process usually removes the animal within seven to ten days and prevents future access by other animals, raccoons, rats, skunks and other critters. This prevention extends far beyond the warranty period, ensuring that animals won’t be able to get under the deck for years to come.
Proposed exclusion
The initial step involved trenching the deck, which entailed decking a one-foot by six-inch trench around the entire accessible perimeter of the deck or porch. Subsequently, galvanized, waterproof steel mesh was attached to the deck’s base and buried one foot deep and six inches away from the deck to prevent burrowing animals from accessing any areas of the deck in the future. A one-way door was then attached to the burrowing entrance that the animal had previously used to enter the deck, allowing them to exit but preventing them from re-entering. This work was then covered by a two-year warranty against any animals penetrating the deck in the future. This process is extensive and will provide decades of protection for the deck.
Conclusion
The technician excluded the deck and the raccoon successfully vacated through the one-way door and left the property to find a new home. The work was completed, and the door was removed, preventing any further animals from accessing the deck. The customers were pleased with the work and haven’t encountered any further issues with animals living under their deck.
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