Contrary to what many people might believe, raccoons rarely get into a house in Toronto through an open door or window. These critters get into the home through a hole in the exterior of the structure. As a rule of thumb; a coon only needs to fit its head through the hole to squeeze the rest of the body through. Any gap, space or hole 3 inches in diameter or more is a potential entry point.

The roof is by far the most common raccoon entry point. Most roofs are rarely inspected for damage and the animal will easily tear through loose or moisture-damaged shingles to get into the house. There are also many holes, gaps and spaces on the roof including chimneys, plumbing mats, vents and roof-soffit intersections. Raccoons have strong claws, sharp teeth and dexterous paws. Combine these with their intelligent nature and they can spot weakness and exploit it to get into the house.

Raccoons rarely live in ductwork and may be using it to travel or explore the house. They may get trapped and it is only a matter of time before you begin to smell rotting corpses. It is however not entirely uncommon for raccoons to den inside the ductwork.

The roof may be the most likely raccoon entry point but this doesn’t leave out all holes, gaps or spaces in the home’s exterior. Inspect the house top to bottom and seal all holes with galvanized steel mesh or metal flashing.

Hire a Professional to Remove Raccoons in the House

It is illegal to kill or injure wildlife in Toronto and there is no guarantee that you can trap the animals safely. It is also illegal to transport wildlife for more than a kilometre without a permit. Raccoons are competent navigators and may find their way back to the den if released in close vicinity to the house.

One of the crucial aspects of evicting raccoons is inspecting for babies and removing them safely. The litter may be hidden in wall voids, a corner in the attic, in ductwork and other hard-to-reach areas. Separating a mother raccoon from its babies guarantees that the litter dies of starvation and dehydration.

Only a licensed raccoon removal expert in Toronto can remove wildlife safely and humanely. He also has the expert eye to find all potential entry points and seal permanently to prevent the problem in future.