Pickering and Ajax are two communities located only half an hour east of Toronto and known for some of the best hiking and cycling trails, lush ravines, and a beautiful waterfront. Forested neighbourhoods near Rouge Park, Altona Forest, or Duffins Creek Valley offer charm and an almost rural feel but they also act as natural raccoon highways, bringing animals from the wild to residential and commercial areas—especially in the fall as raccoons seek warm dens for overwintering.

Due to loss of habitat and their incredible intelligence and adaptability, raccoons don't stay in the forest - they move into your home.

Why Fall Triggers Raccoon Infestations from Green Spaces

Survival Instinct

Fall is the season to prepare for long and often harsh Ontario winters.  Here's what raccoons are looking for:

• Warm and secure shelter to build a winter den;
  
  
• Consistent food sources, often provided by unwitting humans (garbage, compost, outdoor pet food, etc.).;
  
  
• Quiet places with little human interference; this could be garden sheds and other outbuildings, attics, storage units, or under decks and porches;
  
  

The Urban-Forest Edge Effect

Neighbourhoods that border ravines are highly attractive due to the availability of water, seclusion, and food. Raccoons are rather opportunistic creatures and much prefer a quick and easy meal over one that needs to be chased down. Hence, they have learned to appreciate human offerings and view areas near the forest edge as ideal habitats.

Raccoon Hotspots in Pickering: High-Risk Ravine-Edge Zones

Residents and property managers in the following areas see a stark increase in raccoon activity once autumn has arrived:

Rougemount / Highbush

• Proximity to Rouge National Urban Park and a natural wildlife refuge;
• Older homes, featuring large lots and mature trees;
• Raccoons can easily access rooftops via fences and branches.
  
  

Altona Forest / Amberlea

• Homes and schools are bordering dense forest;
• Green bins, school dumpsters, and open vents make for  common entry points;
• We receive many reports of raccoons entering attic crawlspaces.
  
  

West Shore / Bay Ridges

• Close to Frenchman’s Bay and marshland trails;
• Ideal for raccoons nesting under sheds, decks, or boathouses.
  
  

Duffins Creek Corridor

• New developments + preserved lands = wildlife mixing with homes;
• Commercial developments near hydro corridors and wooded lots are also affected.
  
  

Why Raccoons Easily Move Between Ravines and Homes

• Unlike skunks or groundhogs, raccoons are motivated and agile climbers: They use fence lines, tree branches, and even utility poles to cross from ravines into backyards and rooftops;
  
  
• Raccoons are also clever and strong and readily rip soffits, pry open vents, and dislodge shingles to gain access to homes.
  
  
• Temporary exclusion methods fail when there’s a ready refuge in nearby woods.
  
  

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. 

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.
  
  

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 Controlat 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.

With a declining economy, we see many empty apartments or entire buildings in Toronto and the GTA, some residential but more often commercial. Of course, an abandoned property makes for the perfect home for raccoons and other wildlife.

As temperatures drop, these buildings become irresistible targets for raccoons seeking a warm, secure den to survive the cold. A property may look empty from the outside, but it can quickly become a thriving, hidden home for a family of raccoons, leading to a host of complex problems. And because of the very fact that these properties are vacant, raccoon and other wildlife infestations go unnoticed much longer, giving the animals plenty of time to establish dominance and territory.

FAQs for Owners of Vacant Properties 

Q: I'm not in the area; can you still help?

A: Yes, absolutely. You do not need to be present for a Hawkeye technician to remove raccoons from your property. You will, however, need to have someone to check on traps twice daily (minimum) and contact us if a raccoon has been caught.

Q: Will my insurance cover the damage?

A: Most homeowner policies do not cover raccoon damages. Please discuss and confirm with your insurance contact. You may want to read this article as well: https://www.hawkeye.ca/blog/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-raccoon-damage

Q: What if there are baby raccoons in my vacant property?

A: Raccoons only have kits once a year - in the spring. The most important thing is to not separate a mother from her offspring. You MUST be able to capture and move all raccoons together.

Q: How long can a raccoon live in a vacant property unnoticed?

A: Raccoons can live in vacant buildings for as long as nobody is paying attention. During the pandemic lockdowns, reduced or non-existent human traffic and oversight caused huge issues which carry fall-out until today.

Q: What if I need to sell or rent the property?

A: If you spot signs such as raccoon droppings in an empty house, call a professional to remove the animals, repair the damages, and sanitize the den and latrine area.

Q: Is it illegal to leave a property vacant with a raccoon problem?

A: While it might not be explicitly illegal, allowing a raccoon problem on a vacant property in Ontario can lead to significant legal and financial consequences under municipal by-laws and property standards. If a raccoon infestation poses health or safety hazards or causes damages to neighbouring properties, the property owner could face orders to resolve the issue, fines of up to $50,000, and costs for municipal cleanup work. This may vary by municipality.

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.

You might wonder why raccoon breeding season is a topic in the midst of December? Well, now would be a really good time to double check around your home and ensure that no raccoons (or squirrels) can get in. Because they ARE thinking about breeding season and they WILL find a cozy spot to den and raise their offspring. And, that cozy spot will hopefully not be your attic!

Mating Behavior During Raccoon Breeding Season

Raccoon Mating Seasons in Toronto

Raccoonmating or breeding typically occurs in the later part of winter - January and after - with females giving birth in the Spring time to the only litter per year. However, if the first litter doesn't survive or is not viable, the female may mate again and have a successful litter later in the summer. 'When is raccoon breeding season' often depends on the amount of daylight and temperatures. But let's look at the raccoon breeding cycle a bit more closely:

Raccoon Mating Habits & Courtship Rituals

Raccoon mating habits are not unlike those of many other mammals - including humans :) The males posture and compete for the right to mate - this may go as far as a physical fight. And, the females will observe the spectacle and choose their mate, usually the strongest male. Dominant, healthy males may breed several females. The actual mating involves an hour or so of foreplay and finally copulation and may be repeated for several days. You know.. just to be sure :)

Raccoon Gestation and Birth

Once the female has mated and is indeed pregnant, she will become solitaryand set out in search of a den to raise her offspring. A lone raccoon foraging and lingering around your home in late January or early February may very well be a pregnant female looking for a den. 

Gestation Period Details

Expectant mums have a 63 day (or, roughtly two months) gestation period before welcoming their litter into the world.

Typical Litter Size

Female raccoons will give birth to an average litter of 4 kits - although, litters can range from 1 to 7 little ones. Babies are born blind and deaf, weighing only about 4 to 5 ounces. They are completely dependent on their mother's care for their first 3 weeks of life. As many as 50% of raccoon babies may not survive their first year of life. If separated from their mother early one, their chances are nil.

Signs of Raccoon Breeding Activity in Toronto

Increased Nighttime Activity

During the time of courtship and mating, you are more likely to see groups of raccoons. While raccoons are primarily nocturnal animals, they will be more visible and more social and interactive with each other duing this time.

Raccoon Vocalizations During Mating Season

Raccoons are very vocal animals at all times, chitter chattering and conversing with each other - but even more so during mating season. You might hear a male raccoon letting out loud, screeching calls to get the attention of a fancied female raccoon, which may be answered by a softer, chirping sound coming from said female. These calls play a crucial role in their mating rituals and territorial behaviors.

Scent Marking during Raccoon Breeding Season

Raccoons don't pee on trees, or distribute their excrement willy-nilly. In fact, raccoons are very clean animals, using designated latrine areas - and this doesn't change just because it's mating season. Instead, they will use their entire body to rub their scent on trees or structures and thus let others know who the master of this particular domain is.