Living Harmoniously with Wildlife

— by William McIntosh

Well…as I type this article and looking out my window, a false spring has sprung! This winter has had its clutches opened slightly and goodness, it’s so nice to see the lawn again and as nature would have it, the animals are moving… they don’t know that more snow is coming!

I’ve seen animals moving around that normally would be hiding from the weather which means only one thing… baby season is almost here! In this article, I decided to share about a particularly naughty creature we are all basically familiar with, in hopes to protect your home from this common invader we know as the masked bandit, the clever raccoon. 

Raccoons are animals we see out and about, with possible close encounters on roadways or around our homes. Often associated with breaking into our trash containers while looking for food scraps, these animals are highly intelligent creatures. Looking similar to dogs, raccoons actually belong to the same class of animals as bears. Their ability to open up items such as garbage cans, locked bins, turning lids and figure out puzzles, puts raccoons high up on the list of intelligence. 

Studies have shown that raccoons have the mental solving ability of a three-year-old toddler. As anyone who knows a three-year-old is aware, they’re quite adapt at figuring out new things. Raccoons have opposable thumbs, which means they can close their paws, similar to primates, allowing great dexterity. They are even capable of figuring out door handles, so be aware… I’ve witnessed this personally!

A plentiful creature, there is an estimated 1.1 million raccoons that inhabit Ontario, with a large portion in Toronto, around 100,000 in that locality. Their ability to adapt to changing environments puts them at the top of the animals we run into in wildlife control. An example: in winter, in further northern Ontario environments, most raccoons enter a torpid state, a semi-asleep state, not to be confused with hibernation, a full undisturbed sleep. However, in southern locations, where there’s more open road access and more accessible food options, raccoons typically don’t enter a state of torpidity. Adapting to human activity, they adjust and hence breed sooner, triggering baby season earlier than northern communities will see. 

Now, at this time of the year, the soon-to-be mother raccoons are seeking shelter to birth and raise their young. Having a littler of one to nine pink blind babies, these mother raccoons have to protect them from predators and environmental dangers. Where is one of the best places to do that? Your home! 

Attic spaces provide the perfect shelter for baby animals. Hidden from wind, moisture, predators, and readily accessible to the mother, your attic can easily become victim to an invasion.  You may ask, “How does the raccoon readily access the attic?” One word… downspouts, your pre-equipped raccoon ladder. They simply wrap their paws around them and shimmy up and down. In previous articles, I’ve broken down the entry points into your attic that are at biggest risk. For raccoons, personal preference can vary by locality, but typically, roof soffit intersections, attic vents, and the gap between your fascia board and roof plywood are their favourite entryways. However, for cottages, the raccoon’s other common entry point is from below, then climbing up a wall void inside the cottage, getting into the attic. 

There are many ways a raccoon may cause trouble on your property. If you see a raccoon hanging around, call your local wildlife control company, and they can give you information and services on how to approach, and keeping your home safe from invasion. Remember that even baby raccoons are wild animals and should be only handled by professionals. 

This spring, enjoy that warm sunshine, and hopefully everyone gets some patio time before the bugs arrive! But keep an eye out for our little Masked Bandits!

William McIntosh is co-owner of Exit Wildlife and Pest Control.