The following case study details a raccoon removal service in Thornton, Ontario. A mother raccoon had broken into an attic and was found nesting in the insulation with her babies. To remove them, a member of the Raccoon Control team placed a one-way door to the entrance of the den and moved the babies outside where the mother would get them. For safe, affordable, and reliable raccoon removal services, call Raccoon Control.
The homeowners in this case first called Raccoon Control when they had raccoons living in their attic. It was springtime, and the animals could be heard making noises in the attic. Raccoons commonly break into attics at this time of year because it is when they have babies. Attics present raccoons with an opportunity to nest indoors where they can be safe from predators.
Inspection, Removal, and Exclusion
Upon arrival, the technician on duty performed a thorough inspection of the roof. No matter the situation, the experts at Raccoon Control examine everything from top to bottom, checking for every potential entry point. This enables us to provide our clients with the best possible service because it gives us a proper understanding of the problem. In this case, the technician examined the exterior closely and found that a raccoon had broken through a soffit where it touched the shingles of the roof below. Raccoons frequently push through soffits to get in the attic. Vents on the roof and walls of the home were also found exposed, which could be torn open in the future.
After the exterior inspection, the technician checked the interior of the attic. This was to confirm if the raccoon on the property had babies, which would affect the removal process. A raccoon and her babies were found nesting in the insulation. Because they were still very young, the babies would need to be removed by hand. The technician then told the homeowner that he would remove the babies, then put a one-way door into the broken soffit to let the mother out. Reinforcing the other soffits and excluding the vents on the exterior of the house was also recommended to ensure that the animals would not be coming back. The junctures where soffits meet the roof below are especially vulnerable to raccoons.
The homeowner in this case agreed to have the raccoons removed right away and to protect the soffits from any more invasions. The technician on site then screwed a one-way door into the entrance the mother raccoon was using, which is a spring-loaded, plastic flap that only opens one way. This would allow her to exit the attic but prevent her re-entry. To reinforce the soffits, the technician screwed 6 feet of galvanized steel mesh on top of them. This is a strong, rust proof flexible material that resists the chewing and pulling of wild animals that try to break in.
Once the exclusion on the exterior was complete, the technician went back inside the attic to get the babies. Wearing a thick pair of gloves, the babies were placed, one by one, inside an open box of warm blankets. The box was then placed on the roof, next to the one-way door. Given that her babies were just taken away, the mother was likely to collect them within a day or so. This is the most humane way to evict raccoons from human homes. None of them would be harmed in the process.
The owner of this residence reported that the raccoons were gone by the next day, but that she had seen the mother try to break back in by pushing on another soffit. A technician then returned to the property to do more exclusion work. Pests, especially mothers, can some times attempt to get back inside once they have been kicked out. It is imperative that the roof be protected from the probability of a second invasion. Once the additional mesh was installed, the technician checked the attic to see if every animal was gone. None were found. A few days later, the technician came back to remove the one-way door and replace it with galvanized steel mesh.
Conclusion
Raccoons will cause a significant amount of damage to both the interior and exterior of the home, so it is important that they be removed as soon as possible. When doing so, however, it is also important that all weak spots and potential entry points be sealed to prevent another invasion from happening. If you suspect that there are raccoons living on your property, call Raccoon Control. Our technicians are highly experienced in the removal and exclusion of raccoons, with or without babies. We provide safe and effective pest control services. Reach out to Raccoon Control today.