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News, little truths and wisdom regarding Pest Bird & Animal Wildlife Control, Falconry, and Birds of Prey....
Permanent Raccoon Removal for GTA Office Buildings
- Written by: Dan Frankian
You might think that raccoons only stay and den on the ground. However, in the GTA, the office skyline has become a multi-level ecosystem for highly adaptable urban wildlife - a vertical habitat.
An office infestation is not just a nuisance; it is a threat to business continuity, employee health (such as OSHA/Ministry of Labour compliance), and corporate brand integrity. This is why professional raccoon control for office buildings requires specialized strategies that account for vertical access points, compliance obligations, and the unique risks of occupied commercial environments.
Read more: Permanent Raccoon Removal for GTA Office Buildings
How to Prepare GTA Properties Before Geese Return This Spring
- Written by: Dan Frankian
While we may still be buried under snow and ice, the arrival of Canada geese in the GTA is only weeks away. With spring goose season approaching quickly, now is the time to educate yourself and consider options for geese control—before the birds settle in and begin nesting.
Canada geese may return from their southern winter home as early as March. Once geese establish a nest, removal becomes significantly more difficult due to regulations and aggressive behaviour. Early prevention is the most effective and cost-efficient approach. Contact Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control now.
Read more: How to Prepare GTA Properties Before Geese Return This Spring
How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Your Cottage
- Written by: Dan Frankian
If you're lucky enough to own a summer retreat, perhaps in the Muskokas or near any of our seemingly countless, beautiful Ontario lakes, you probably know the sinking feeling of arriving at your cottage for the first weekend of the season, only to be met by the stench of ammonia and the sight of shredded insulation.
Cottages (or camps, as they are often called up north) are prime targets because they remain undisturbed for months, providing raccoons with a high-security, low-risk environment to den and breed. The pantry often remains somewhat stocked and provides for a quick snack and, of course, fresh, clean water is just a few steps away.
For cottage owners around the GTA, a raccoon infestation isn't just a pest problem—it’s a threat to your investment and peace of mind. This article explores why DIY methods almost always fail in remote settings and why Hawkeye’s permanent removal is the only way to secure your getaway for the long term.
Raccoon Removal for Electrical Substations and Power Plants
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Electrical substations and power plants are uniquely attractive to raccoons due to their architecture. These facilities offer, secure, warm, and elevated structures that mimic optimal natural denning sites. Raccoons access the equipment using their exceptional climbing skills and athletic abilities to take advantage of the heat, shelter, and potential food sources found here.
Raccoon infestations in substations and power plants are not just a nuisance issue but a critical infrastructure risk. Even one determined raccoon can cause power outages, costly equipment damage, and pose a safety risk to workers and passersby. A raccoon infestation here is a potential catastrophic failure point for the regional power grid and demands a zero-tolerance mandate. Unlike residential scenarios, raccoon removal for power plants and substations must meet strict safety, compliance, and operational continuity standards.
Read more: Raccoon Removal for Electrical Substations and Power Plants
Permanent Raccoon Removal for Schools & Universities in the GTA
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Schools and universities make for prime raccoon habitats, offering sprawling grounds, abundant food waste from cafeterias and waste bins, and complex architecture such as portables and tunnels. In fact, educational facilities provide everything a raccoon needs to thrive.
The stakes of raccoon infestations are high: Beyond property damage, the presence of raccoons in a school environment introduces severe liability risks, including student safety, public health concerns, and potential closures. This is why campus infestations require a different approach than residential properties. Trapping and relocating almost always fails - it's time to look for a solution that works, including raccoon control for school buildings and grounds that addresses liability, safety, and long-term prevention.
Permanent Raccoon Removal: Learn more or CALL for a free consultation.
Read more: Permanent Raccoon Removal for Schools & Universities in the GTA
How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Confined Spaces
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Confined (or small) spaces pose added challenges when it comes to trapping and removing raccoons. Not only may the space be difficult to access and/or too small to set an appropriate trap, but the animal(s) will also be cornered and in a defensive state of mind. Especially when it comes to confined spaces, DIY removal can be down right dangerous, so you should always consult a professional raccoon removal service.
A "confined space" in the context of wildlife includes wall voids, floor joists, crawlspaces, HVAC ducts, and soffit gaps where human access is difficult or next to impossible.
In this article, we'll explore the spaces in which you can expect to find raccoons and removal solutions ranging from relocation to permanent raccoon removal.
How Small of a Space Can a Raccoon Fit into?
We think of raccoons as roly-poly, lumbering critters and often underestimate their agility and flexibility; this is particularly true when it comes to squeezing into tight openings. In reality, raccoons can access openings of four to five inches in diameter.
How Raccoon Breeding Season Impacts GTA Commercial Properties
- Written by: Dan Frankian
While Toronto and surrounding areas may still be covered in snow and ice in January, raccoon mating season is as little as eight weeks away. Breeding season transforms raccoon activity from occasional intrusion into high-risk occupancy.
Commercial, industrial, and municipal buildings offer warmth, height, and concealment, , making them ideal for raccoon dens. Commercial property managers often underestimate the impact of breeding-season until operations are disrupted or worse, halted.
Raccoon breeding season isn't just a pest issue; it's a high-stakes liability and structural emergency that requires immediate, permanent action.
Note that this article focuses on commercial, institutional, and municipal properties, not single-family homes.
Read more: How Raccoon Breeding Season Impacts GTA Commercial Properties
Permanent Raccoon Removal in Winter (GTA)
- Written by: Dan Frankian
As temperatures drop below freezing and natural foraging is inhibited by snow and ice, raccoons enter a state of prolonged periods of sleep (called torpor), turning attics and crawlspaces into highly sought-after survival shelters.
There is a persistent myth of "it's ok to wait until spring" and that raccoons merely hibernate and will leave on their own accord once the worst of winter is over. In this article, we will discuss why this is approach would be greatly misguided and potentially very costly. Raccoons neither hibernate, nor necessarily move out with warmer weather.
When it comes to humane animal control, the time to act is the minute you discover raccoons in your home - Call Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control at once.
What Actually Happens to Raccoons in GTA Winters
Raccoons Do Not Hibernate
Instead, they enter short periods of torpor. This is a state of reduced activity that involves lowered metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, and reduced movement to conserve energy during periods of food scarcity and extreme cold.
Raccoons Are in Desperate Need of Warm Shelter
Cold snaps force raccoons to seek heat-retaining structures, preferably near food and water sources. During Ontario's harsh winter months, raccoons invade:
- Attics, crawlspaces, basements
- Utility rooms, boiler rooms
- Mechanical and service corridors
The modern, urban raccoon's chance of winter survival is actually much higher than its cousin's out in the woods. Both, residential and commercial buildings provide adequate shelter and often easily raided trash bins or dumpsters, bird feeders or outdoor pet food and water bowls. Additionally, larger predators (i.e., coyotes) often avoid areas with frequent human traffic and pose less of a threat to raccoons.
How to Get Rid of Raccoons in Corn Fields?
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Raccoons are among the most destructive wildlife pests affecting corn crops in the GTA. They cause large-scale financial losses due to stalk breakage, kernel removal, and trampled rows.
Corn fields are especially attractive due to the cover provided by tall stalks, sweet corn sugars, and nighttime accessibility, all on large acreage. Traditional raccoon trapping and relocating does not work here as raccoons will almost always return.
Hawkeye’s permanent raccoon removal is legal, ethical, and the only effective long-term solution.
Why Raccoons Target Corn Fields
- Corn provides high-energy food right before winter (late-summer carbohydrate loading).
- Fields are often close to forest edges, barns, irrigation ponds, or abandoned structures.
- Tall stalks are perfect for temporary cover, hiding, and denning.
- Nearby rural dumpsters or livestock feed is easily exploited.
Raccoon Control and Permanent Removal in GTA Parks
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Toronto isn't called the "Raccoon Capital of the World" by accident. But all across the GTA, urban raccoon populations are rising, including in Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, and Markham. So, raccoon control in Toronto and surrounding areas is serious business.
Why GTA Parks Are Prime Raccoon Habitats
Is there a raccoon problem in our parks? Well, these distinctive animals are present in many parks and green spaces in the GTA and pose safety risks to children, pets, park staff, and community users. Before we get more into the risks and prevention/removal strategies, including whether there are effective raccoon deterrents for parks, let's look at what draws raccoons to our parks and why that is so undesirable:
Read more: Raccoon Control and Permanent Removal in GTA Parks
