Raccoons are a common sight and are generally part of the urban wildlife here in Greater Vancouver. They do, however, become a problem when they want to use our homes or buildings as their own.
Their dexterity is impressive; they are physically strong and excellent at climbing up to reach areas of structures. Spring is birthing season for raccoons, which is the time when they become most prone to use attics, sheds, crawlspaces, under porches, garages, etc. to give birth in a safe, warm place. They often tear holes in shake roofs, pull soffit venting away, enter chimneys, or damage other parts of the structure, which can cause a whole host of problems for a homeowner. Roundworm, leptospirosis and even possibly rabies are potential concerns.
A raccoon mother can get very defensive and can be a problem for pets if she feels threatened. From March to late June, if you are hearing large thumping/dragging noises in your attic, along with what sounds like “birds chirping”, chances are it is a mother raccoon and her young.
We safely remove the babies from where they are in the home and leave them for the mother to retrieve and relocate. We will then repair the entry point(s) so the problem won’t happen again, while occasionally employing other methods to get, and keep, the animals out. All of our work is done humanely to reunite the mother with her young yet preventing them from re-entering.