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News, little truths and wisdom regarding Pest Bird & Animal Wildlife Control, Falconry, and Birds of Prey....
Why Should I Hire a Licensed Trapper to Trap Raccoons?
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Have you noticed raccoons nesting on your property? These masked bandits may be cute, but they cause a lot of property damage, make a lot of noise, and can be destructive and dangerous to household pets and children.
Your best option is to remove them from your property before the situation gets worse. That said, Ontario laws prohibit trapping and relocating raccoons in the province without a proper license. Chances are you do not have a license. For this reason alone, you should not attempt to trap a raccoon yourself. In addition, trapping can be a risky endeavour, and in many cases, serious injuries can occur.
Keep reading to learn why you need to hire a professional trapper for your sake and the sake of the animal.
Read more: Why Should I Hire a Licensed Trapper to Trap Raccoons?
Pigeon Poop Removal in Toronto
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Aside from the ugly mess pigeon poop makes on balconies, solar panels, sidewalks, cars, and buildings, the composition of the poop can cause serious health conditions in humans, domesticated animals, and other wildlife. Left on premises, and other objects, pigeon poop can damage and destroy paint, bricks, concrete, and your roof.
If you notice an excess amount of pigeon poop on your property, you may want to invest in a professional company to remove it.
What Are the Diseases Associated with Pigeon Poop?
Pigeon poop is considered one of the more hazardous substances naturally produced. While the bird itself usually does not transfer disease to humans, we are still susceptible to diseases found in pigeon poop.
In areas of the city where pigeons tend to roost, the large number of droppings can produce airborne disease we can easily inhale. Most illnesses associated with pigeon poop require little to no medical intervention, except for those with immunocompromised systems. Pneumonia and meningitis have been connected to pigeon poop exposure.
Direct and indirect exposure to the droppings can also cause several diseases. While it is rare for humans to fall fatally ill from these diseases, they can produce serious health effects.
Below are some common diseases linked to pigeon poop:
- Salmonellosis: Salmonellosis develops from salmonella bacteria, like what is found in food poisoning cases. Symptoms of severe cramping, fever, and diarrhoea usually appear within 24 to 48 hours of inhaling pigeon poop and can last up to seven days for mild cases.
- Psittacosis: Psittacosis is sometimes referred to as parrot fever. The bacteria responsible causes flu-like symptoms over a two-week period of development.
- Histoplasmosis: Histoplasmosis is linked to a fungus found in pigeon droppings. Inhalation can trigger symptoms of fever, coughing, chest pain, sweats, nausea, and weakness in those diagnosed with respiratory conditions.
- Cryptococcosis: Cryptococcosis is another fungus related disease seen with inhalation exposure to pigeon poop. This disease can travel from the lungs to the brain, leading to meningitis.
What Attracts Raccoons to Your Yard?
- Written by: Dan Frankian
The masked faces and ringed tails of raccoons are familiar creatures— but what exactly draws raccoons to your yard? And more importantly, how can you prevent them from destroying your property?
What Do Raccoons Need?
Food
Raccoons aren’t known to be picky eaters— the opposite, in fact. They’ll feast on just about anything they can get their paws on. From ripe fruits and veggies to juicy insects and small mammals, they have a varied diet. And what really gets their attention? Your garbage. Your overflowing trash bin is like a buffet invitation for these critters, and could be the reason why they’re returning to your yard night after night.
Water
Additionally, just like us, raccoons need to stay hydrated. They'll happily slurp from ponds, bird baths, or even a leaky outdoor faucet. If you've got standing water in your yard, you've basically set up a raccoon watering hole, which might not be ideal if you’re trying to keep these critters away.
Shelter
When the sun goes down, raccoons are on the lookout for a cozy place to crash. They'll nestle into dens, hollow trees, or even seek refuge under decks or in sheds. Your attic might seem like a secluded hideout to them too, so don't be surprised if you hear some unexpected guests scurrying around up there.
In addition to shelter, raccoons are also frequently on the hunt for building materials. Leaves, twigs, grass, and sometimes even bits of man-made stuff like insulation or paper make for prime nesting materials.
That’s why it’s important to keep your yard tidy to avoid inadvertently providing raccoons with the perfect construction site.
But aside from what attracts raccoons to your yard, let’s explore a little more about their behaviors.
Where Do Raccoons Live?
In the wild, raccoons typically make themselves at home in wooded areas close to water sources, like forests, marshes, or streams. But they won’t hesitate to find shelter in your attics, crawl spaces, and even abandoned buildings. Sometimes, raccoons are simply passing through. Storm drains, culverts, or the space under your deck might serve as temporary shelters.
Ultimately, what attracts raccoons to your yard is all about convenience and easy access to the three things we mentioned: food, water, and shelter.
What Attracts Raccoons to Your Yard?
Trash Cans, Bird Feeders, or Compost Piles
Those unsecured bins filled with tasty leftovers are irresistible to raccoons, so tighten those lids, invest in raccoon-proof containers, and keep your garbage secure.
Spilled birdseed or easily accessible feeders are also like an open invitation for raccoons, so to keep them at bay, try hanging your feeders more strategically, using counter weights or baffles and other techniques to prevent larger wildlife from access and to deter these sneaky snackers.
And while it might seem like a good idea to recycle your kitchen scraps, raccoons see your compost piles as an all-you-can-eat buffet. To deter them, consider using enclosed compost bins or turning your pile regularly to make it less inviting.
Decks, Attics, or Sheds to Stay Warm
When the chilly nights roll around, raccoons will look for a cozy place to crash — that's where your deck, attic, or shed comes in. They can and will tear through insulation or even set up camp under your deck.
To keep them out, try sealing off potential entry points and remove any debris or clutter from these areas.
Bodies of Water (Ponds, Birdbaths, or Leaking Outdoor Faucets)
Ponds, birdbaths, or even leaking outdoor faucets can attract raccoons looking for a drink or a dip. To deter them, repair any leaks and consider using motion-activated deterrents or covering ponds with netting. As far as your birdbaths go, empty them in the evening and refill in the morning to prevent raccoons from turning them into their personal watering holes.
What Attracts Raccoons to Your Yard?
You've spotted them sneaking around your trash cans, perhaps even heard their playful chatter late into the night. Here’s how to get rid of raccoons in yard, and keep them out.
Secure Your Trash
Start by locking down those trash cans, and investing in heavy-duty, animal-proof trash cans with secure lids, and clean up any spilled garbage or food scraps around your trash cans. Another way to prevent raccoons from being in your yard is by putting out trash bins on the morning of collection rather than the night before to reduce the chances of attracting raccoons during their nightly scavenging adventures.
Remove Food Sources
While we’re talking about food sources, consider the other food sources that might be in your yard attracting raccoons, like an outdoor pet’s dinner bowl, food residue left behind from your grill, or even fruits and vegetables growing in your harden.
Bring your pet’s food inside or clean it up promptly, clean your grill as soon as you’re finished, try harvesting your produce promptly, and remove fallen fruits from the ground to eliminate potential food sources for raccoons.
Install Motion-Activated Lights
Motion-activated lights can startle and deter raccoons from entering your yard, especially when they're most active at night. Consider installing them near potential entry points to your yard, such as around trash cans, sheds, or along fence lines. You may also be able to adjust the sensitivity of the lights to ensure they're triggered by raccoon activity but not by other wildlife or passing cars. Note, that this will only work for so long. Raccoons are smart and will determine that there is no actual threat.
Install Sprinklers
While raccoons might come and try to drink your sitting water, motion-activated sprinklers can be a great way to alleviate raccoons from your yard.
Strategically place sprinklers to cover areas where raccoons are likely to enter or frequent, such as near trash cans or vegetable gardens. And don't forget to set them to operate during the times when raccoons are most active, typically during the night.
Install Fences
A tall, smooth-surfaced fence can be an effective physical barrier that raccoons will struggle to scale. But if you find the raccoon is digging, you might need to use wire mesh fences, specifically ones that are at least 12 inches underground along the fence line. This creates an additional obstacle and helps deter raccoons from digging underneath. If you find they’re trying to climb over your face, you might need overhangs or electric wire to put a stop to that.
Use Legal Repellents in Canada
You may be able to use some legal, natural repellents to sway the raccoon away. Just make sure it’s legal to use in Canada, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and apply it properly in your yard (ensuring you’re not putting pets, children, or other wildlife at risk.).
Call Hawkeye for Safe and Efficient Raccoon Removal
Tried figuring out how to get rid of raccoons in yard but still stumped?
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, those raccoons still won’t budge— which is where the professionals come in. Hawkeye Animal Control offers professional wildlife removal services that get the job done safely and humanely. We can identify raccoon entry points, implement exclusion techniques, and safely remove raccoons from your yard.
Falconry FAQs
- Written by: Dan Frankian
5 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Falconry
Have you ever considered falconry as an environmentally friendly way of controlling pest birds? Once known as the “Sport of Kings”, falconry involves capturing, breeding, training, and keeping birds of prey for use in hunting.
What Is Falconry?
Dating back several thousand years, Falconry is the taking of wild quarry with trained birds of prey. Birds of prey - also called raptors, are all very skilled hunters in their natural state. A falconer harnesses this natural hunting ability by training the raptor to hunt in partnership with the falconer. The raptor and the falconer develop a bond and the raptor comes to trust the falconer to be fed and cared for.
The type of raptor used for hunting is going to depend on the type of game being hunted. Falcons, such as peregrine and saker, are longwings and will hunt mainly birds that are in flight. Shortwings, such as red-tailed hawk, harris hawk, goshawk, sparrow hawk, typically take ground game such as rabbit, squirrel, or chipmunk. Eagles are in a group of their own. There are several types of eagles - such as bald, golden, harpy, hawk-eagle, snake-eagle, crested eagle, grey headed fish eagle. Only the bald and golden Eagle are native to North America. Eagles tend to hunt larger prey. They are capable of taking down geese, ducks, rabbits, hare, pheasant, ptarmigan, and they can fish as well. Owls can also be used in falconry for hunting mice, rats, rabbit, and birds.
Falconry requires a real time commitment as the raptors need care and feeding every day. It can be considered a lifestyle, as the birds need to be flown often. Depending on what the laws are in your area only certain raptors can be taken from the wild, but there are a number of raptors that are captive bred and can be purchased. To become a falconer you must apprentice with a licensed falconer - usually for over a year. In Ontario the law is from the beginning of hunting season in one year to the end of hunting season the next year. Each province in Canada has its own rules and regulations to do with falconry.
Can I Do Falconry in Canada?
Yes, falconry is possible in Canada. You can become a falconer in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. Each province has its own regulations and permits for falconry. To become a falconer in Ontario you must find a falconer willing to mentor you as an apprentice for approximately 14 months and 30 hours of learning with the falconer. To become proficient requires many more hours of practice. You must also purchase a small game license from the province to be able to hunt with your bird of prey. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has the final say in giving certificates once your training is completed.
What Does a Falconer Do?
A falconer handles and often trains his/her birds of prey. Bird and falconer develop a working relationship and a certain level of trust. The bird needs to learn to obey commands to fly up and then return to the falconer’s glove and be rewarded with food. The bird becomes a tool for the falconer to use in hunting small game. Captive bred raptors that are purchased may already be trained.
What Is the Best Bird to Start Falconry?
As each Canadian province has its own set of regulations, only certain species of birds can be used for falconry. In Ontario, the Cooper’s Hawk, Red-Tailed Hawk, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, and Merlin are the birds approved to use for capture. Hawkeye’s birds are bred in captivity; they are not captured. Our Harris Hawks are indigenous to the southern United States desert regions in Arizona and New Mexico. As such, they are not suited to cold weather flying and must be kept in heated quarters in the winter. At Hawkeye, we find the Harris Hawk to be the most versatile and gentle, easy to train raptor.
Many falconers recommend the Red-Tailed Hawk as a beginner bird once a person is approved and trained as a falconer. This species is native to Ontario and is therefore accustomed to the various weather and temperature fluctuations in our province.
Where Can I Take Falconry Lessons?
Hawkeye offers apprenticeship programs if you’d like to become a falconer yourself. In Ontario, an apprenticeship program lasts from the beginning of hunting season in the fall to the end of the next hunting season the following year.
You can glean a glimpse into the world of Falconry at our falconry workshops and experiences of one, two, and three hours at our facility just outside of Toronto. We can also do special experiences for groups tailored to suit your needs. Our certified and experienced falconers will teach you about training and working with birds of prey. In addition to having many years of experience in this industry, our falconers have a deep respect for nature, particularly the instincts that are exhibited by birds of prey. Email us at [email protected] or call us at (416) 429-5393 or toll-free at 1-(855) 393-4295 to learn more.
Why Should I Hire Wildlife Removal Services?
- Written by: Dan Frankian
When is it time to call in a Wildlife Removal Specialist?
If you’ve noticed raccoons and other wildlife frequenting your property, they may have made a den in your shed or near your garden or even in your house. This is bad news for you and your family. Not just because these animals can be a nuisance, but also because they can pose a health and safety hazard.
Before the winter weather hits and they make their way into your home for warmth and shelter, it’s important to remove any invitations to unwanted wildlife from your property. Your best option is to call a wildlife control company professional. Only a designated professional has the knowledge, training, expertise, and tools to handle unpredictable wildlife.
Why Call Hawkeye for Wildlife Removal?
Hawkeye Bird and Animal Control uses a number of effective passive and active removal methods to get rid of wildlife and keep them off of your property for good.
We are the only pest bird and animal/wildlife control company in the country designated "Certified Wildlife Control Professional" and in possession of licences and permits that enable us to euthanize pest animals in accordance with the Canadian Veterinary Association’s standards, if the client so desires.
We can also set up a one-way exit device to allow wildlife to exit your property carefully and safely without causing any harm to you, the animals, or your structure. Our expert, licensed technicians can employ a number of safe, humane, and effective live trapping methods.
See more reasons why hiring a professional wildlife trapping service provider is essential »
Raccoon On A Hot Roof
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Does a hot roof hurt raccoons?
A hot surface, such as a roof, is not likely to hurt a raccoon. While their paws are quite sensitive, they develop calluses very similar to dogs, cats, and even people. That’s how they are able to walk and run across sharp stones and gravel without flinching. Otherwise Doctors and Vet offices would be inundated with sore feet on us and our pets every summer. Yes, concrete and asphalt pavement can get very hot in the summer but wildlife as well as our pets usually have enough callus formation to prevent any injuries, unless they are still very young or are not used to walking on hard, rough, uneven surfaces.
Raccoon paws are very sensitive as their eye sight isn’t the greatest. They use their paws rather than their eyes to figure out what is in front of them by feel. They will pick up an object to feel it and smell it to find out if it’s edible or usable in some way. Raccoons also have a lot of callus build up on their paws because they quickly get used to walking on hard, rough, uneven surfaces, especially raccoons that live in cities where there is a lot of pavement that can get quite hot in warmer weather. When the footing is too hot they tend to stay off it and find an easier way through or around to get to their destination.
ALL ABOUT GEESE
- Written by: Dan Frankian
The Canada Goose is very recognizable, black head, white cheek patches and long black neck. There are several different “races” of Canada Geese. The smallest one - the cackling Canada Goose is only about 1.1 kg, while the Giant Canada Goose - the largest, weighs up to 8 kg. Wing span on the smaller birds is just under a metre while the larger birds can be just over 2 metres. The underbelly can range from light grey to chestnut brown, sometimes almost blackish brown.
Canada Geese fly in large V shape flocks of sometimes over a thousand birdes when migrating, and are able to travel more than 1,000 km in one day. They make a very loud honking sound to announce themselves.
Habitat
You can find Canada Geese in nearly any area with water, small ponds, lakes, or rivers. They spend as much time in water as they do on land. Water is their safe zone to flee from fox, coyote, and other predators. You can find geese on beaches, parks or golf courses with ponds, sheltered mountain streams, and rivers. They also like large agricultural fields with crops or leftovers from crops that give them plenty of food. They like to eat young grasses, roots, stems, seeds, and even berries for their young.
More Coyote Attacks in Burlington, Ontario
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Coyotes have become ubiquitous in urban and suburban areas. If you have a problems with coyote in your area please contact HAWKEYE Bird & Animal Control for removal.
Why do Coyotes suddenly attack humans?
We have a theory... For over 2 years, the general population has been mostly absent or greatly reduced, due to the extended lockdowns in response to COVID. Closed restaurants and other businesses meant less easily available food in trash bins, so the animals slowly moved into more populated neighbourhoods. During those months of lockdowns, residents may have also taken comfort in watching and feeding wildlife. With life returning to more normal activities, Coyotes are suddenly finding themselves pushed out of cushy territories, that had been their home for some time. So, we believe that the current attacks on residents are a combination of territorial aggression and a demand for food.
Coyotes, Canis latrans, are medium-sized dog like animals (weight: about 8-20 kg; length: approximately 1-1.4 m) that range throughout North America and into the top of South America. The range and number of coyotes seems to be expanding, probably due to their high reproductive capabilities, great dispersal ability, and opportunistic food habits. Coyote expansion has also been made easier by the elimination of so many wolves, with whom they usually compete unsuccessfully and avoid. Coyotes show an amazing ability to adapt and compensate for increased human exploitation. They are able to exist and reproduce successfully in extremely diverse habitats ranging from urban, to suburban, rural, mountains, desert, and from coast to coast. Neither altitude, latitude, nor vegetation restricts their survival.
It’s no surprise to most people to learn that coyotes are amazing and adaptable animals who can live just about anywhere, ranging from remote wild environs to crowded urban areas. They eat just about anything and often are mischaracterized for being vicious predators who routinely harass humans and their companion animals. While attacks do occur, in reality, they’re quite rare, considering all of the opportunities coyotes actually have to interact with humans and domestic animals.
Do NOT Poison Animals
- Written by: Dan Frankian
Before resorting to desperate, inhumane, and illegal measures, please know that we are authorized to permanently remove raccoons and other wildlife from your home or business.
A Toronto man was recently charged for setting a raccoon trap containing bread dipped in wiper fluid – tragic for both the raccoon and the perpetrator. According to reports, the raccoon recovered and has been released. For the man charged with animal cruelty, the fallout from this incident will undoubtedly be felt for a long while.
While nobody can or would condone his actions, this man’s frustration and desperation is not entirely uncommon and warrants at least a little bit of sympathy. Countless home and business owners find that, upon engaging one of the local companies offering animal wildlife control, captured animals are released literally at the bottom of their driveway. And, of course, the animal promptly returns – resulting in follow up calls to the animal control company again. And again. And again.
If captured wildlife is released in Ontario, it must be no more than 1 kilometer from where trapped or caught. The reason behind the regulation is two fold:
- If animals are released at a greater distance from their usual habitat, they may face serious hardship and even death. Doing so would decidedly NOT be humane.
- To prevent the spread of Rabies or other diseases. Especially animals who are fearless of people, may carry rabies.
So, what is a home owner to do, once a raccoon, skunk, or squirrel decides to move into their yard, shed, or home? Most people assume that their only options are to either spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on recurring calls to have the animal trapped and released , or accept their fate and learn to live with the animal.
There is a third option. The animal can be humanely destroyed. However, this option requires extensive training and licensing – something, most animal or wildlife control companies do not possess and therefore cannot offer. WE CAN. Hawkeye is the ONLY Certified Wildlife Professional Company in Canada and authorized to euthanize a captured raccoon at the request of the property owner. EVERY Hawkeye technician holds a fur bearer’s license and is required to keep up with appropriate training and education.
Please do not take matters into your own hands and risk breaking the law – call Hawkeye at 416.429.5393 to have an animal removed permanently. Guaranteed.
Coyote Attacks in Burlington, Ontario
- Written by: Dan Frankian
UPDATE Sep 1, 2022
Unfortunately, additional attacks are being reported in the City of Burlington. These attacks are uncharacteristic of coyotes and this cluster of attacks on humans are the first reported in Burlington.
Hawkeye will return and continue to assist, dealing with the animal(s) directly. Meanwhile, city staff are in contact with owners of a property which seems to contain a coyote den. Efforts are made to clear out vegetation and fallen trees to dissuade the animals from continuing to use this site as a denning area. Residents are offered 'Coyote Whistles' until the crisis is resolved. More information here »
On August 24th, 2022, Hawkeye was called to the City of Burlington after a third report of an unprovoked attack on human life in recent days.
Thanks to Animal Services staff, who played a key role in tracking the coyote identified as being responsible for all three attacks. The attacks resulted in injuries to a toddler in a fenced yard, and adult female, and an 18 year old female in open spaces. Two of the incidents occurred during the day; the last incident was reported to have happened during the evening of August 23rd. All victims received medical treatment and have been released from hospital.
While there have been some coyote sightings in the past, this is the first time that the city of Burlington had to deal with reported attacks. And, although attacks are rare, the city approved and implemented a Coyote Response Strategy in 2015. The document outlines guidelines on preventing and managing conflicts with coyotes, including escalation in relation to the severity of the incident(s).
Bird strikes still a danger to Aviation
- Written by: Dan Frankian
It may seem quite inconceivable that a small bird could bring down an airplane. Sadly, it continues to happen to both commercial and military aircraft.
The danger is real and the danger is ever present, especially for smaller aircraft. A bird (sometimes even more than one) flying or being sucked into an aircraft engine often causes catastrophic engine failure and subsequent loss of human life. Such was the cause leading up to last year last year's fatal crash of a Canadian military Snowbird demonstration jet in Kamloops, B.C.
The Royal Canadian Air Force's Directorate of Flight Safety released its final report today on the accident, which took place on May 17 of last year and killed Capt. Jenn Casey, the public affairs officer for the aerobatics team. The investigation found that a single, small bird was sucked into the engine of the aircraft — Snowbird 11 — following take-off. That resulted in a compressor stall and a loss of thrust as the aircraft was trying to climb.
"Evidence suggests that the damage caused by the bird ingestion was insufficient for it to cause a catastrophic failure but rather the engine most likely continued running, albeit in a stalled condition," the flight safety report concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions about Owls
- Written by: Dan Frankian
- How many species of owls are there?
In Canada, we see around 15 different species of owls. Those include Great Horned Owls, Great Gray Owls, Short Eared and Long Eared Owls, Barn Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern and Western Screech Owls, Burrowing Owls, Snowy Owls, Northern Pygmy Owls, Flammulated Owls, Barred owls, and Boreal Owls.
This may seem a lot… but there are over 200 owl species worldwide. Owls can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
- Where do owls live?
Owls can be found in many habitats; from mountainous regions to forests and deserts. The snowy owl is at home in colder climates. Owls are hard to spot; not only are they mostly nocturnal but, they also blend in fabulously with their surroundings. Owls will stalk and hunt their prey from high up in trees, but that’s not necessarily where they live. They often make their home in lower shelter, such as bushes, shrubs and tree trunks. The burrowing owl even takes shelter in underground dwellings dug by other animals.
- Do owls migrate?
Some owls do migrate but many of the species found in Canada stay here year round. The ones that do migrate, will generally only go as far as the northern United States. Great Horned Owls have been observed to migrate east, rather than south. When food becomes scarce in the prairies, they head up to 1500km east or south-east.
- How long do owls live?
In the wild, most owls get to be around 10 years old. In captivity, they can live almost twice as long. Mind you, life expectancy very much varies according to owl size and species. A small barn owl may only live to be 4 years old while a larger bird like the snowy owl can easily live to 10 and over.
- How do you tell a female owl from a male?
Size is often a first indicator: Like many bird species, a female owl will generally grow larger than a male. Certain species have distinct markings as well… for example, female barn owls will have a brown throat where males have a white throat. But, without seeing a male and a female of the same species sitting side by side, it would be next to impossible to tell for the average owl watcher.
- What do owls eat?
Generally speaking, owls mostly eat small mammals, but also frogs, snakes, insects, and even fish. It very much depends on the size of the owl and the prey available in the area.