All Wildlife & Pest Removal Services

Hearing scratching above the ceiling at dawn, finding a torn soffit, or catching a skunk smell under the deck all point to the same thing: an animal has decided your property is a good place to live. Greater Wildlife Control is a Canadian wildlife removal network that helps homeowners and businesses solve these conflicts humanely. Our trained technicians find out how animals are getting in, move them out without harm, seal the building so they can’t return, and clean up what they left behind.

We serve communities across Canada, including Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, and we handle both residential and commercial properties. This page explains which animals cause the most trouble, how to recognise the warning signs, what our process looks like from start to finish, and what Ontario law says about dealing with wildlife on private property.

Why Wildlife Ends Up in Homes and Buildings

As cities grow outward, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats and birds lose natural shelter and adapt to living alongside people. A house offers everything they need: warmth, dry space, protection from predators and easy food nearby in green bins, bird feeders and gardens. An attic is especially appealing to a female looking for a quiet place to raise young.

Having an animal move in is not a sign that a home has been neglected. It is one of the most common problems property owners in urban Canada face. Older rooflines, aging soffits, loose vent covers and gaps around chimneys and plumbing stacks all give animals a way in, and once one animal finds an opening, others often follow its scent.

Signs You Have a Wildlife Problem

Catching an intrusion early limits the damage. Watch for:

• Noises overhead or in walls, such as scratching, thumping, rolling or chirping, especially around dawn and dusk (squirrels) or overnight (raccoons).
• Visible damage to soffits, fascia, roof vents, shingles or the edges of the roof.
• Droppings or urine stains in the attic, on the deck or near the foundation.
• Strong odours, including skunk spray, ammonia from urine, or the smell of a dead animal.
• Disturbed insulation that looks flattened, tunnelled or pulled apart.
• Chewed wiring, wood or ductwork, which raises the risk of fire and costly repairs.
• Fresh digging under decks, porches, sheds or along the foundation.
• Repeated sightings of the same animal on the roof or entering a particular gap.

If you notice any of these, contact Greater Wildlife Control to book an inspection before the problem spreads.

Animals We Handle

Raccoons

Raccoons are strong, clever and persistent. They can pull back shingles, rip open soffits and push through roof vents to reach an attic. Once inside, they tend to use one spot as a latrine, which contaminates insulation and can carry roundworm eggs. Females often have litters in attics from late winter through early summer, so removal has to be planned around the young.

Squirrels

Grey, black, red and flying squirrels all find their way into homes. They chew constantly to keep their teeth worn down, which means wood, insulation and electrical wiring are all at risk. Squirrels usually enter high on the house, along the roofline or at gaps where the soffit meets the fascia, and they will widen a small weak spot rather than look for a bigger one.

Bats

Bats can form colonies in attics, wall voids and behind siding. Their droppings, called guano, build up over time and can damage building materials and pose a health risk when disturbed. Every bat species in Ontario is protected, and some are listed as endangered, so bat work must follow strict timing and exclusion methods.

Skunks

Skunks prefer to den under decks, porches, sheds and concrete steps. Beyond the obvious smell, they dig, which can undermine landscaping and small structures. Removal is followed by exclusion along the ground so they can’t dig back in.

Birds

Pigeons, starlings and sparrows nest in vents, eavestroughs, signage and rooftop equipment. Nesting material can block exhaust vents, and droppings build up quickly on commercial properties. Many native birds and their active nests are protected by federal law, so bird work has to be planned around the nesting season.

Opossums

Opossums take shelter in garages, sheds, crawl spaces and under decks. They are generally not aggressive, but they can leave a mess and attract other problems. We remove them safely and close off the space they were using.

Wasps and Hornets

Wasp and hornet nests in eaves, wall voids, sheds and shrubs can become a serious stinging hazard as they grow through the summer. Dealing with a nest while it is still small is safer and simpler.

Other Nuisance Wildlife

Our network also helps with mice and rats, groundhogs, chipmunks and other animals that cause damage around homes and businesses.

Our Wildlife Control Process

We recommend starting every job with an inspection. Trapping an animal without fixing the entry point rarely solves anything, because another animal simply moves into the same space.

1. Property Inspection

A trained technician examines the property from the ground up and from the roof, using ladders to reach the roofline. They look at:

• Soffits, fascia and roof edges
• Roof vents, plumbing stacks and chimneys
• Gable vents and dryer and bathroom exhaust vents
• The attic itself, where accessible
• Decks, porches, sheds and the foundation

The technician identifies the active entry point, notes any other weak spots that could be used next, and checks for health concerns such as droppings, nesting material and damaged insulation. Photos help you see areas of your roof you may never have looked at yourself.

2. A Plan Built for Your Property

After the inspection, you receive a recommendation based on the species, the time of year and the condition of the building. Some properties only need the active entry handled; others benefit from full animal-proofing of every vulnerable area.

3. Humane Removal

Our main tool is the one-way exclusion door. It is installed over the active entry point and lets animals leave to feed but blocks them from getting back in. This approach avoids handling the animals and keeps them in their home territory.

During breeding season, technicians check for young before anything is sealed. Babies too young to follow their mother out are removed by hand and placed in a warm box near the entry so the mother can retrieve them and move them herself. This avoids separating families and prevents young animals from dying inside walls or ceilings.

When live trapping is the right choice, it follows Ontario’s release rules described below. We never use poison.

4. Exclusion and Sealing

Once the animals are out, the entry point is permanently closed with durable materials such as heavy-gauge steel mesh, metal flashing and purpose-made vent covers. Depending on your plan, other weak spots along the roofline, vents and foundation are reinforced as well. Final sealing happens only after the technician confirms no animals remain inside.

5. Cleanup and Restoration

Animals leave behind droppings, urine, nesting material and contaminated insulation. Cleanup can include removing soiled material, sanitising and deodorising the area, and replacing insulation where needed. Technicians also flag chewed wiring so you can have it checked by an electrician.

Ontario Wildlife Regulations to Know

Wildlife control in Ontario is governed mainly by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and its regulations. Key points include:

• Release distance: Ontario requires live-captured wildlife to be released within one kilometre of where it was caught. Moving an animal across town is not allowed, and it usually comes back anyway. The province explains the rules on its page about wild animals damaging private property.
• Humane treatment: Animals must not be caused unnecessary suffering, and poisoning wildlife is not an accepted method of removal.
• Protected species: Some animals, including several bat species, are protected under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, which limits what can be done and when.
• Migratory birds: Many native birds and their active nests are protected under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.
• Municipal bylaws: Cities and towns set their own rules on matters such as discharging firearms and handling wildlife, and those apply on top of provincial law.

Because the rules depend on the species, the season and the location, it is safest to have trained technicians handle removal rather than attempting it yourself.

How to Prevent Wildlife From Returning

Sealing the house is only half the job. Reducing what draws animals to your property makes it far less likely they will try again.

• Secure food sources. Keep green bins and garbage bins latched, put organics out on collection morning, and bring pet food and birdseed in at night.
• Trim trees. Cut branches back several feet from the roofline so squirrels and raccoons can’t jump onto the roof.
• Cover vents and chimneys. Use sturdy metal caps and screens rather than plastic or light-gauge covers.
• Close off ground-level spaces. Screen the gaps under decks, sheds and porches with mesh buried below the soil line.
• Add deterrents. Motion-activated lights near the roof corners and yard can discourage night-time visitors.
• Inspect seasonally. A check in early spring and another in late fall catches new damage before animals use it.

Residential and Commercial Wildlife Control

Homes are our most common call, from detached houses and townhouses to cottages. Commercial clients such as offices, retail stores, warehouses, restaurants and multi-unit buildings face their own challenges, including bird nesting on signage and rooftop units, bats under roof decks and rodents in utility areas. Our technicians plan commercial work to keep disruption to your operations as low as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does wildlife removal involve?

Most jobs follow the same path: an inspection to find the entry point, humane removal (usually with a one-way door), permanent sealing of the opening and, if needed, cleanup of the attic or affected area. The details depend on the species, the season and how much damage has been done.

How much does wildlife control cost?

Cost depends on the animal, how many entry points need to be sealed, whether young are present, and whether cleanup is required. Your technician will explain the options after the inspection so you can choose the right level of protection. Contact Greater Wildlife Control to book an inspection and get a quote for your property.

Can I trap an animal and release it somewhere else?

Not in Ontario. Live-trapped wildlife must be released within one kilometre of where it was captured. Animals released nearby tend to come straight back, which is why sealing the entry point matters more than trapping.

What happens if there are babies in my attic?

Technicians check for young before sealing anything. Babies that can’t yet leave on their own are removed by hand and placed where the mother can find them and move them to another den. This keeps families together and prevents animals from dying inside your home.

When can bats be removed?

Bats should not be excluded while flightless pups are in the roost, which in Ontario is generally early to late summer. Exclusion is planned for the spring or late summer and fall, when all bats can fly out. Inspections can be done any time of year so the work is ready to go when the timing is right. If a bat is found in a room where someone was sleeping, contact your local public health unit for advice before releasing it.

Is an animal inside my living space an emergency?

Yes. A raccoon in the kitchen, a bat flying through the house or a skunk trapped in a window well should be dealt with quickly. Close interior doors to contain the animal, keep children and pets away, and contact Greater Wildlife Control right away. Noises in the attic are not usually an emergency, and it is better to inspect the roofline in daylight.

Do I need to clean the attic after the animals are gone?

Often, yes. Raccoon latrines can contain roundworm eggs that stay infectious for a long time, and disturbed bat guano can release fungal spores linked to histoplasmosis. Soiled, compressed insulation also stops insulating well. A cleanup removes the contamination and restores the space.

Can I use poison to get rid of wildlife?

No. Poisoning wildlife is not an acceptable method of removal in Ontario. It also tends to leave dead animals inside walls and ceilings, where they create odours and health risks. Exclusion is safer and more effective.

How do I stop animals from coming back?

Seal every likely entry point with durable materials, remove food sources, trim overhanging branches and have the property checked in spring and fall. Most repeat problems come from a new opening or an attractant that was never removed.

What should I ask before hiring a wildlife control company?

Ask how they handle young animals in spring, which entry points they will seal, what materials they use, and whether the quote is itemised. A clear answer to each of these tells you whether you are getting a lasting fix or just one hole closed.

Book a Wildlife Inspection

If animals are getting into your home or business, the sooner the entry point is found, the less damage they can do. Greater Wildlife Control’s trained technicians provide humane removal, exclusion, cleanup and prevention for properties across Canada, including Toronto and the GTA. Contact Greater Wildlife Control to book an inspection.