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Connected row houses, townhomes, and other attached GTA properties present a unique challenge by allowing raccoons to enter through one unit and potentially access connected structural spaces. This makes raccoon removal a multi-property issue.
Connected rooflines, attic voids, soffits, wall cavities, or other structural connections allow movement between units and make both the detection and capture of animals more challenging.
When Does an Attic Raccoon Problem Become a Shared-Property Issue?
- Multiple units report noises, activity, odours, or damage.
- Wildlife activity appears to move between adjoining homes.
- The suspected access or occupied area cannot be attributed to one independently enclosed unit.
Determining the scope of the shared-attic raccoon problem (i.e., number of animals, location, whether young are present, etc.) matters before individual homeowners arrange for raccoon removal in their unit.
How to Approach Raccoon Removal from Shared-Attic Spaces
If and when one home owner or tenant has confirmed the presence of one or more raccoons, it's a good time for neighbours to get together and share sightings and proposed solutions. Ideally, all occupants of the connected units can work together to inspect their home and share their findings. Depending on the complex, responsibility and costs may be shared by:
- Individually owned townhouse/row-house properties
- Condo or townhouse corporations
- Landlord/tenant situations
- Privately owned versus common/shared structural areas
It is advisable to request a professional wildlife assessment as well as removal options and strategies to prevent future infestations from a reputable raccoon removal service before proceeding.
Hiring a Professional Wildlife Agent to Remove Raccoons from Shared Spaces
Trapping raccoons in this type of environment, where the animals can move between units and often have more than one active den, requires the expertise of an experienced raccoon removal company like Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control. Locating the animal(s) as well as accessing difficult to reach places for trap placement or physical capture is a job for professionals.
Homeowners should check their HOA agreements, bylaws, or property-management arrangements before assuming responsibility to pay.
Why Individual Raccoon Removal May Not Solve a Shared Attic Problem
Because the animal(s) can move between units, catching one may leave others behind. Raccoon removal for connected homes needs to be a group effort. Treating one unit independently may not get rid of the raccoons because:
- The raccoon may be using connected areas.
- Other accessible portions of the structure may remain involved.
- Separate removal attempts by different homeowners can produce fragmented solutions.
- A coordinated assessment can determine whether the problem is isolated or extends across multiple units.
How Should Raccoon Removal Be Coordinated Across Connected Homes?
- Identify potentially affected units.
- Coordinate access between owners/occupants.
- Determine whether shared areas are involved.
- Have one professional assessment establish the scope.
- Coordinate removal and any necessary follow-up work rather than having each household independently address the same wildlife problem.
- Establish rules or best practices to help curb future wildlife issues.
What If Raccoons Keep Returning to the Same Connected Property?
Recurring raccoon activity across connected units can indicate a broader unresolved wildlife issue and may warrant a more long-term plan to exclude raccoons and other local wildlife. Repeatedly removing individual raccoons by trapping and relocating the same animal(s) may not be the most successful or cost-effective approach.
There's one company that offers permanent raccoon removal in the GTA - that company is Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control. Over 35 years of experience and a unique set of licenses allow for the cycle of trapping and relocating to be interrupted and for peace to return to your home.
Contact Hawkeye today for attic raccoon control and removal for townhomes and other connected properties in the Greater Toronto Area.
Hawkeye's raccoon removal services for residential, commercial, multi-unit, and other connected properties are available all across Southern Ontario, including Toronto, Scarborough, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Ajax, Pickering, Newmarket, Etobicoke, Oshawa, and Mississauga.
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