Raccoon removal

Elite Pest Control

Raccoon exterminators in Montreal and everywhere in Quebec

Located in Montreal but serving the entire province of Quebec, our company offers pest control services to anyone who needs to get rid of pests such as raccoons.

Thanks to our expertise in the most effective methods and our rapid response throughout the province, we are one of the most highly regarded extermination companies in Quebec.

If you have a raccoon problem or suspect an intrusion, contact Elite Pest Control now. Our team of professional exterminators will take care of the problem once and for all without harming the animal.

Proven extermination methods

Our extermination procedures are proven and all our treatments are guaranteed.

A team of certified technicians

Elite Pest Control’s technicians have extensive expertise in raccoon removal in Quebec.

Fast 24/7 extermination service

We provide fast 24/7 service and the guarantee of a job well done with each of our raccoon control services.

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Complete overview of raccoons

Despite also being famous for its black mask, the raccoon is less popular and not as well known as Zorro. Here is an introduction to this animal that is not malicious, but often dangerous.

What is a raccoon?

Family and origin: The raccoon is an omnivorous mammal of the order Carnivora, native to North America.
Life expectancy: Experts agree that most raccoons live 3 to 5 years but can live up to a decade if food is abundant and weather conditions are mild.
Food: Raccoons are not picky eaters and will eat just about anything: fruit, wheat, fish, bird eggs… It’s not surprising to see them raiding garbage cans in search of a tasty meal.
Habitat: Raccoons are pests that like to live near water. They are not afraid of humans and can therefore be found in agricultural and rural areas as well as in urban areas. Sewers, garages, caves and abandoned places are excellent nesting areas for them.

How to spot a raccoon

Characteristics: Raccoons are generally just under a meter long and weigh between 2 and 10 kg. They are easily recognizable with their gray coat, black mask, pointed snout and striped tail.
Signs of activity: The animal is discreet and likes to appear at night. It can leave traces of urine and feces in the garage or attic, overturn garbage cans and make holes in certain materials with its long claws.

How do raccoons populate North America?

Species found: While the Mammal Species of the World lists 23 species of raccoons worldwide, the 2 most common subspecies in North America are the Eastern Raccoon and the Upper Mississippi Valley Raccoon, Procyon lotor lotor and Procyon lotor hirtus These 2 species occupy southern Canada, the entire United States and Mexico.
Conservation status: Good news, in Quebec and other Canadian provinces, the raccoon is not threatened by human activity and climate change. Its ability to adapt to human life and to eat just about anything are advantages for the survival of the species.

How do raccoons live?

Sociability: The raccoon is a rather solitary mammal. For example, it only meets females during the breeding season. However, when it comes to feeding, it does not mind sharing its food with fellow creatures.
Gestation: Breeding begins between January and March but extends into June in some southern areas. The gestation period lasts 63-65 days and 2-5 baby raccoons are usually born and weaned for 16 weeks after birth.
Impact and health risks: The raccoon is considered a threat to biodiversity and the Council of Europe advises its eradication. It can spread diseases (like rabies) and parasites to humans.

Why contact an exterminator if raccoons are invading your property?

Even though raccoon sightings are rare since they come out at night, their presence can cause two types of problems:

Health hazards
Property damage

Let’s see how much damage they can do.

What kind of damage can raccoons do?

When raccoons approach your home, it means they are looking for food. They are clearly not vicious, but their activity can cause significant damage to your property:

Their droppings deteriorate insulation

Build-up of raccoon droppings can cause a very unpleasant odor that spreads throughout your home. More importantly, if you detect urine and feces, you should be concerned about the state of the insulation in the affected areas. If this is the case, don’t panic:

Our decontamination and disinfection service will verify the extent of the damage

Our insulation service will restore your home’s insulation.

They damage the structure of your home

Their long, tapered fingers allow them to grip and climb up downspouts. They also gnaw on house siding, shingles and roof underlayment, tearing roof vents in the process. They can even open a shed door that is not properly closed.

In these cases, using our home sealing and caulking service will block all access points to your home.

They don't give your garden a break

Having a garden is a challenge where raccoons live because they like to dig holes to hide or put their food in. If you grow vegetables, your garden could be a playground for these omnivorous mammals. This is even more true if you have fruit trees as they will have no trouble climbing them to pick and eat the fruit.

What are the health risks associated with raccoons?

Many homeowners are concerned about the damage these pests can do to their homes, but it is especially important to be aware of the health risks, as raccoons can be dangerous:

Rabies

In Quebec, home and business owners should be aware of the risk of contracting rabies from a raccoon. Several cases of raccoon rabies are reported each year in Ontario and on its border with La Belle Province.

Roundworms

Raccoon droppings harbor roundworm eggs. Do not attempt to clean up droppings in your attic, gutters or backyard without wearing proper protective equipment. There is a real risk of ingesting the eggs or inhaling the dust that contains them.

Distemper

Distemper is a transmissible disease that affects both wild and domestic animals. Transmission to your cat or dog can be particularly dangerous as it affects the respiratory tract, stomach and intestines and can also aggressively interfere with the nervous system of affected animals. If infected, the life of the animal is clearly at stake.

How to detect raccoons in your home

These discreet and clever little creatures do not always leave obvious traces of their presence. Here are some clues that should alert you:

You hear scratching noises or movement in your attic at night
You notice yapping in the backyard at night
You notice claw marks or holes along the underside of gutters or roof vents
You see paw prints in the yard
You see droppings that look like dog feces on the roof, at the base of trees or elsewhere in the yard
You notice that your garbage cans are overturned
You notice damage to your composter
You notice that your bird feeders have fallen over
You notice uprooted plants in your vegetable garden
You notice dark spots on your eavestroughs from the oil in their fur

However, these clues are not necessarily indicative of the presence of a raccoon as other animals may enter your home and leave similar traces.

No need to panic, our exterminators will be able to tell you which intruder is paying you a visit and will adjust their extermination method accordingly.

If you have any doubts, contact us whether you live in Montreal, the Greater Montreal area or any other city in Quebec.

Need help removing raccoons?

514-791-8385

Elite Pest Control operates throughout Quebec! Fast service 24/7

How to get rid of raccoons

Since raccoons can cause damage to property and risks to your health, it is important to get rid of them. Several methods can be used, but the important thing is to respect the animal and the applicable laws in Canada:

Leave this task to professional exterminators

The best thing to do if you have a recurring raccoon problem is to call a pest control company. You can also entrust us with raccoon removal. We have the right equipment to capture the animal without endangering it and release it in a wild area.

We always use methods that leave the animal alive and we encourage you to do the same.

Most importantly, an extermination company can figure out why they are invading your home and take the right actions to protect you.

Capture them with a non-lethal trap

You can find a variety of non-lethal traps, such as cage traps, at your nearest hunting store. If you decide to use these, it is very important to follow the instructions carefully to avoid injuring yourself or the raccoon.

While we recommend that you have a professional trap the raccoon since they are dangerous, you can place the live trap in your attic in hopes that the raccoon will take the bait.

Use raccoon repellents

There are several natural scents that scare away raccoons, two of which seem to be the most effective:

In a container, mix a little hot sauce with water and a teaspoon of detergent. When the mixture is finished, apply it to the area concerned with a sprayer.
In a pot of water, put a chopped yellow onion, a tablespoon of cayenne pepper and a bell pepper. Bring to a boil and then strain the mixture when it cools. Spray it on places where you suspect raccoons have been.

Other repellents can be used to drive them away:

Motion sensors can be very effective if you want to scare raccoons away from your home. When they detect the animal’s presence, they activate and turn on lights that will scare them away.
Ultrasonic repellents can also scare away intruders. These devices activate ultrasonic sounds that are not perceptible to humans at a distance of 9 meters.

However, the use of repellents has a drawback in that animals often get used to them and understand that there is no danger for them. These are only temporary solutions. They will run away for a while, but may come back if you do not adopt good habits.

7 tips to keep raccoons away

Here are some tips to prevent raccoons from returning to your property:

Keep garbage cans in a shed or securely close garbage can lids by placing a heavy object on them
Compost table scraps and organic materials in a compost bin with a locking lid
Repair eavestroughs when they show signs of wear
Do not leave unwashed food or containers outside
Pick up fruit and seeds that have fallen from your shrubs
Spray with raccoon repellent
Install a solid fence or screen around your garden and under your shed

Following these tips should keep them out of your home once and for all.

Our exterminators stop invasions everywhere in Quebec

Whether you want our team of exterminators to get rid of raccoons permanently, need to caulk an entry point or decontaminate an affected area, you can always contact Elite Pest Control. Our exterminators will travel to your home according to your needs and your availability.

514-791-8385