Get Rid of Raccoons in Underground Parking Garages

Have you ever run into a raccoon in your underground parking or a raccoon in the garage rafters? You’re not alone.

A hidden and often overlooked problem for property owners is the threat of raccoons using underground parking garages as their winter den. This issue is becoming increasingly common as residents and businesses alike prioritize underground parking to protect vehicles from the harsh Toronto winters.

While a garage is meant to be a safe, protected space for cars and storage, its enclosed nature, stable temperature, and access to garbage make it a prime, year-round habitat for raccoons. With the cooler weather approaching, the urgency of this problem increases dramatically as raccoons seek a secure, insulated environment to escape the cold. This poses a significant and unique challenge for various property types, from residential condos and apartments to commercial buildings and retail plazas.

In this article we will explore options for homeowners and business owners when it comes to raccoon removal in Toronto and the GTA, detailing the specific challenges and risks of an underground garage infestation and presenting a proven, permanent solution to protect your property and safety.

Why Underground Garages Are a Raccoon's Dream Home

Raccoon Behavior
Raccoons and other wildlife are naturally drawn to safe, dark, and secluded spaces that offer protection from predators and the elements. Underground garages provide just that. 

Ideal Nesting Sites
During their first year of life, young raccoons often stay with their mother during the winter months. There is strength in numbers, and many bodies create more heat to survive Toronto's harsh winters. Underground garages often contain spaces that are particularly vulnerable. This includes:

• Inside utility rooms, mechanical rooms, and stairwell landings.
  
  
• Behind false ceilings, in wall voids, and near piping or ventilation shafts.
  
  
• Underground tunnels, drainage systems, or behind storage lockers.
  
  
• Under vehicles that are parked for extended periods.
  
  

Properties Most Affected by Raccoons

Urban development, the ever increasing population in cities all across Canada, and our aversion to long commutes leads to more and more construction of high-rise buildings. And, most of them include underground parking. This is wonderfully convenient for tenants but also extends and invitation to urban raccoons. The most common complaints about raccoons in underground parking facilities come from:

• Residential condos & apartments – Shared underground lots with multiple entry points offer easy access to raccoons.
  
  
• Commercial buildings – Hotels, retail, offices, and mixed-use properties are targets due to reduced traffic and activity in the evenings and overnight.
  
  
• Luxury homes & townhouses – Private underground garages can provide great spaces for raccoon dens.
  
  
• Municipal/government facilities – Hospitals, community centers, and public buildings also see reduced human activity overnight - perfect for raccoons.
  
  

How Raccoons Get into Modern Underground Garages

Keeping raccoons out of underground parking spaces is next to impossible. There are usually many entry points, including:

• Utility Entry Points: Raccoons often exploit gaps where electrical conduits, plumbing, or gas lines enter the building through the foundation walls.
  
  
• Drainage Systems: Raccoons can enter through large, unsealed storm drains and sewers that connect to the garage's drainage.
  
  
• Compromised Perimeter Doors: A small gap in a main garage door, a faulty seal on a man door, or a door that doesn't close properly can all provide a consistent entry point.
  
  
• Ventilation Shafts: They can climb up or down ventilation shafts and squeeze through damaged or poorly sealed vents to access the garage.
  
  

Risks of Raccoon Infestation in Underground Garages

Health and Safety

• Biohazards: Raccoon feces in a confined space is a major health risk, potentially containing parasites like raccoon roundworm. Raccoon feces should only be handled by professionals with PPE and appropriate safety protocols. 
  
  
• Aggressive Behavior: A cornered raccoon is a dangerous raccoon. They can become aggressive when startled, posing a direct threat of bites and scratches to residents or staff. A single raccoon bite can lead to a fatal rabies infection.
  
  

Property Damage and Costs: 

• Chewed Wires: Raccoons chewing on electrical wiring can cause power outages and create a serious fire hazard.
  
  
• Pipe Damage: Damage to water and drainage pipes can lead to leaks and mold.
  
  
• Clogged Drains: Drains compromised by raccoon feces or nesting materials can lead to flooding and extensive water damage.
  
  
• Insulation and Structure: Raccoons will tear up insulation in wall voids and destroy drywall or other structural elements to access den sites.
  
  
• Cost of Cleanup: The biohazard cleanup and sanitization required after a raccoon den has been removed can be costly and extensive.
  
  

Why Winter Makes Garages so Appealing

As winter approaches, a raccoon's desire for a secure den intensifies. A female raccoon is often looking for a place for her young family to overwinter, making a warm, undisturbed garage a top choice that must be addressed immediately.

1. Garages stay warmer than outdoor temperatures, making them optimal for raccoon denning.
   
   
2. More residents use underground parking to avoid snow and salt, increasing food and trash presence.
   
   
3. Limited outdoor food sources push raccoons toward urban underground shelters.
   
   

Why Standard Removal Methods Fail for Underground Garages

Effective raccoon removal from underground parking areas often proves difficult. Almost all trapping (even by professionals) results in the release of the animal(s) and their inevitable return.

Accessibility Issues:

• Multiple hidden entry points (vents, ramps, ceiling access);
• Larger spaces make it harder to locate nests;
• Safety risks when confronting raccoons in enclosed areas.
  
  

The "Relocation" Problem:

Raccoons are intelligent, persistent critters with excellent homing instincts. "Catch and release" methods are particularly ineffective in this specific environment:

• The 1-Km Rule: Almost all raccoon removal companies are legally bound to relocate a raccoon within one kilometre, a distance a raccoon can (and will) easily travel back from.
• The "Return" Guarantee: A raccoon's strong homing instinct, its familiarization with the property, and the oh-so-convenient multiple access points will almost certainly lead it back to the warmth and safety of the garage.

The "One-Way Door" Dilemma:

In a large, complex space like an underground garage, a one-way door is highly completely ineffective. A raccoon will simply find an alternate entry point.

Permanent Raccoon Removal for Underground Garages

The Hawkeye Advantage: Hawkeye has the license to humanely euthanize raccoons, offering a permanent, legally compliant solution that ends the cycle of repeat infestations.

• Step 1: Schedule an on-site inspection of the entire garage, including hard-to-reach areas like wall voids and ceiling spaces. Professionals such as Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control may use thermal cameras to confirm the presence and location of the raccoons.
  
  
• Step 2: Base on the findings during the inspection, the appropriate number of humane live traps will be set. You will need to designate a person to monitor the traps and inform Hawkeye if an animal has entered a trap.
  
  
• Step 3: You, the client, decides how to proceed once the raccoons are caught. We can release the animal or humanely euthanize it as the final, permanent step, providing a guaranteed solution. We are the ONLY company in the GTA to offer a guarantee that the animal(s) will not return.

Get Rid of Raccoons from Underground Garages

Underground garages attract raccoons due to warmth, shelter, and often food. If you manage a property with such a space in the Greater Toronto Area, contact Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control  today and avoid the risks of property damage and any health and safety issues for your tenants or the public.

Prevention and exclusion techniques are helpful, but professional removal is the permanent solution.