Is it legal to remove raccoons from my GTA property myself?

In Ontario, removing raccoons requires a licence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Do-it-yourself trapping and relocation without a licence is illegal and can result in fines.

Why do raccoons choose garages?

GTA garages provide warmth, shelter, and protection from predators. Through winter, a warm garage is an attractive den site. In spring, female raccoons raise their young inside garage wall voids and attic spaces.

How do raccoons get into garages?

The most common entry is an open garage door left open overnight. Other entry points include damaged soffit panels, loose siding panels, gaps around garage roof penetrations, and broken attic vents.

What is involved in professional raccoon removal?

Licensed wildlife removal involves a site inspection, humane trapping and removal, proper disposal under Ontario regulations, exclusion to seal entry points, and sanitisation of contaminated areas.

How much does raccoon removal cost in the GTA?

Professional raccoon removal in the GTA typically ranges from $300 to $600 depending on the size of the problem, location of the den, and whether exclusion work is included.

Getting Raccoons Out of Your GTA Garage

By PestRecord Editorial Team

Raccoons in GTA garages are a common sight. These intelligent animals seek shelter in garages through the winter and raise their young in wall voids and attic spaces every spring. Here is what you need to know about getting them out safely and legally.

Why Raccoons Choose Garages

GTA garages offer everything a raccoon needs: warmth, shelter, and safety. An attached garage with a warm engine block, stored items to hide under, and easy access through a garage door left open makes an ideal den site.

In spring, female raccoons actively seek out enclosed spaces to raise their young. A garage with a wall void or attic access becomes a nursery. Removing a raccoon mother with her young requires special care and is best left to professionals.

How They Get In

The most common entry is a garage door left open overnight. But raccoons are also skilled climbers and chewers. They enter through damaged soffit panels on the garage roof, loose or damaged siding, gaps around vent pipes, and broken attic vents connected to the garage.

Inspect your garage roofline for damage and check that all vents have proper covers with small-mesh screening.

Why You Should Not Handle This Yourself

Under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, a licence is required to trap and remove raccoons. Do-it-yourself trapping and relocation without a licence is illegal and can result in fines. Beyond the legal issue, raccoons can bite and scratch when cornered, and they carry diseases including rabies and roundworm.

How Licensed Removal Works

A licensed wildlife operator will inspect your property to identify entry points and assess the situation. They will set humane cage traps baited with marshmallows or cat food. Once captured, raccoons are disposed of according to Ontario regulations.

After removal, the operator will seal all entry points to prevent re-entry and sanitise contaminated areas. Get free quotes from licensed raccoon removal operators for your GTA property.

Raccoons are not the only wildlife that enters GTA garages. Get free quotes from licensed skunk removal operators and squirrel removal operators if you have other wildlife activity.