This case will detail a raccoon removal in Brampton. The home had been breached by raccoons that had made the attic their living quarters.
With a population of nearly 600,000 people, Brampton is now the ninth-largest city in Canada. Part of the Greater Toronto Area, the City of Brampton has seen increased and rapid development over the past few decades.
Brampton is comprised of a mix of residential, industrial, and commercial areas. Its proximity to the Pearson International Airport has attracted many international companies to conduct business in Brampton.
Dotted by many recreational parks, Brampton is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including raccoons.
Roof inspection for raccoon entry
We were contacted by the homeowner and informed that noises were being heard from the attic space. This is usually the first indication that an animal has entered the attic through a roof hole, gap, or a damaged roof vent.
We dispatched one of our licensed wildlife technicians to conduct an inspection and determine what measures are needed to remove the animal from the home.
Upon arrival, our technician conducted a thorough inspection of the outside of the property. This includes looking at the surrounding areas of the home as well as the roof. At this point we are looking for evidence of activity, access to the house, and any visible points of entry into the attic. This step is important in identifying what type of animal or animals are present in the attic and it is an opportunity to educate the homeowner on how to keep wildlife away as much as possible. Food sources are usually the reason for high wildlife activity, and if homeowners can minimize its availability, they will have less to worry about in terms of animals roaming around.
Our technician was able to identify the possible point of entry at one of the numerous roof vents. Damage was clearly visible and a gap big enough for a raccoon to make its way into the attic was present. Roof vents are extremely vulnerable due to their weak construction. Most are made of plastic or thin metals that raccoons can easily gnaw their way through.
Raccoon exclusion from the attic
We proceeded to secure the entire roof by covering all roof and plumbing vents with a unique coated cover made of galvanized steel mesh. This durable and strong material prevents wildlife from accessing and damaging the vents. The customer agreed to install the same covers over side wall vents as well, to prevent any other animals from entering the home.
Additionally, we removed the damaged vent and installed a one-way door made of Plexiglass. This special door allows any raccoons that may still be in the attic to vacate in a safe and humane way. Our technician will return in a few weeks to remove the door, re-install the vent, and secure it with a coated galvanized steel cover.
Conclusion
Sometimes it can be difficult to find entry points on the roof of a house that is being used by raccoons to maneuver in and out of an attic. We often look for gaps at soffit intersections of the roof, obvious holes through the shingles, and large gaps at the roof’s drip edge. When these obvious spots appear to be intact and secure, we then check roof vents and often find them to be the culprits.
Roof vents emit heat during the cold days of winter and will attract any wildlife looking for a warm place to live in. Once they are able to chew through a vent, they will gain access to the subroof hole and make their way inside.
In this case, we were able to find the damaged vent and subsequently secure it along with all other roof vents. This will ensure that animals will not be able to breach through these vulnerable areas of the roof, enter the attic and cause damage.
All our exclusion work is backed with a 6-month warranty. If any of the installed materials are damaged or removed by wildlife, we will return and repair or replace them.