We have seen time and time again that homes aren’t well secured to keep pests out. Raccoons tend to take advantage of this little fun fact. These annoying bandits are not only smart creatures but very adventurous ones as well. Whether it’s for food or adventure, there is almost no length they won’t go to get what they want. They can be very determined when trying to find their way into your home especially. But how can you tell whether your home is infested with raccoons? We’ve compiled a list of indications that might assist you in determining whether or not to contact us!

1. You hear scratching and thumping inside the walls of your home.

This is one of the most common signs of any pest in the home! Raccoons are nocturnal animals, meaning they’re most active at night. That means you’re likely to hear them during the evening or early morning hours. You’ll often hear them up on the second floor of your home because that’s where they feel safest and it gives them access to both areas of your home without having to use any of the dangerous outside areas.

2. You see droppings on your property or in your home.

Raccoons don’t like to be cooped up, especially when they’re living inside an attic. They’ll come out at night looking for food and water (and maybe some playtime!). Raccoon droppings are easy to spot, and you may see them in your yard, on your porch or any place else they can get outside. What do raccoon droppings look like? Raccoon droppings resemble tiny dog droppings in terms of appearance. They’re dark in colour, stinky, and frequently include undigested seeds or other food items.

3. You hear a strange noise coming from the ceiling at night.

There’s a good chance that you’re hearing the young raccoons playing with each other while their mother is away searching for food. Raccoons are incredibly smart, and if you have young ones they might be more likely to make noise when they’re playing. Playtime often sounds like fighting or running on the floors above you, so it can sound a little scary.

4. You find small holes in your siding or roofing where the raccoons could be getting in.

Raccoons are terrific climbers, and they can scale concrete walls or brick with ease. They’ll use small holes as entry points to your home, where they can slip inside for shelter — especially if it’s raining outside! If you have a raccoon family living in your attic, there will be multiple entry points so they can come and go with ease. The damage they cause to your siding or roofing may be enough for them to get in and, if you don’t notice the holes while there are still young raccoons inside, they could make their way into your living spaces and bedrooms!

5. You smell an odd smell in your attic or walls.

Raccoons have extremely strong-smelling urine that may be detected from inside the home, as well as their feces, which is also quite noxious and odorous. Raccoon droppings have a distinctive musky scent. The smell will often be strongest near an entry point or areas where you might find nesting materials. When you think you detect something dead or decaying (or both!) it’s because raccoon droppings smell so strong.

If you see one or more of these signs, there’s a good chance that you have a raccoon living in your home. Don’t be alarmed! It’s always best to ask a professional if you suspect that you have raccoons living in your home — especially if there are baby raccoons involved! Even if you don’t see any of them, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a raccoon hiding somewhere inside your home, and you should still call us to come and inspect it if you suspect something is wrong.

Raccoons are common in the Mississauga region, and there is a team of professionals who can assist you to remove them without causing any drama. They are called Hawkeye!