Bill Dowd, Author at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control - Part 40
Bill Dowd

About the author: Bill Dowd is the Founder, President and CEO of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, a company he launched in 1989 with a mission to provide homeowners with humane, effective wildlife solutions. A graduate of Brock University with a Bachelor of Physical Education in Teaching and Coaching, Bill also played professional hockey with the New York Islanders from 1983 to 1985. His leadership, discipline and strong community values laid the foundation for building a business focused on making a meaningful local impact. Starting from his childhood bedroom in Hamilton, Ontario — with his mother as his first receptionist — Bill grew Skedaddle from a one-man operation into an industry leader. Recognizing early on that trapping and relocating wildlife was neither humane nor effective long-term, he pioneered prevention-focused solutions homeowners could trust. Today, Skedaddle continues to be guided by Bill’s original mission: delivering compassionate service built on integrity and trust.

Connect with the author via: LinkedIn

Why Businesses Need Professional Rodent Control

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A recent article in Global News reports that in the past two years, 754 establishments in Toronto were slapped with health citations, with 87 of them forced to close due to violations related to rodent and pest infestations. For a business, getting a citation related to health and sanitation not only results in profit losses… Continue reading

Top Reasons Why You’ll be Needing Wildlife Animal Removal Services This Season

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According to a March 21, 2013 article in the Toronto Star, springtime ushers in a surge of wildlife growth in Toronto that can be problematic for both people and animals. The article adds that most people who chance upon motherless nests think that the baby animals (whether they’re bunnies, raccoons, or something else) have been… Continue reading

Raccoon Removal Services Rise as the Cute Scavengers Trouble Urban Neighborhoods Worldwide

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“Raccoons are going to take over the earth” comments Sarah Goodyear, after seeing the PBS documentary Raccoon Nation, which explains how raccoons are adapting to the complexities of urban living. Instead of being deterred by modern obstacles, raccoons have risen to the challenge and even seem to get smarter from the experience. This enhanced intelligence… Continue reading

Getting Rid of Rodents in Canada: The Fight Against Rats and Mice Continues to Concern Homeowners

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In the 1950s, an aggressive rat control program was implemented in Alberta, eventually leading to the province’s “rat-free” status for several years. But that soon ended when a colony of brown rats was discovered in a landfill in Medicine Hat City, puncturing Alberta’s celebrated claim of being rat-free. Due to the rarity and seriousness of… Continue reading

Food and Rats Don’t Mix: On Rodent Control and the Food Industry’s War On Rats

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Last April 2013, bbc.co.uk reported that the owner of a French diner in Edinburgh was fined after health inspectors found a dead, decaying rat in his kitchen just by the food preparation station. The owner, reportedly, had already received two health department warnings in the past about rodent infestation. Although the inspectors advised him to… Continue reading

Effective Wildlife Control: A Critical Step to Protecting Yourself from Debilitating Infections like Lyme Disease

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Ottawa has an abundance of parklands that are home to significant wildlife populations, making the job of nature photographers like Heather King relatively easy. However, things took a turn for the worse for King during one of her usual nature hikes in 2009 when she contracted Lyme disease from a black-legged tick. The disease actually… Continue reading

Halifax, Nova Scotia

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Halifax, Nova Scotia is the largest city on the eastern coast of Canada. It boasts a rich history and many Canadian landmarks such as Peggy’s Cove and Citadel Hill. Due to the proximity of the city to the coast, there’s a diverse wildlife population. Animals have moved into urban centres and are thriving by living… Continue reading

Talking Wildlife and Bugs on AM900 CHML

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Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control president & CEO Bill Dowd was on the Satellite Home & Garden show this past Saturday, hosted by Rob Howard. In case you missed the show, here’s a few tips Bill passed on to keep your home pest free throughout the winter, and all year round: Perform a quarterly inspection of… Continue reading

Let’s Talk Bed Bugs, Mice and Other Pests!

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Got wildlife? Got bugs? Got both? Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control president & CEO Bill Dowd was on CHML 900 this past weekend, discussing wildlife and bed bug issues with Judy Marsales on her show Sold on Hamilton. This weekly radio program highlights real estate and housing issues that every homeowner should be thinking about. It’s… Continue reading

Wildlife May Be The Reason You’re Freezing!

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Do you find yourself shivering as the sun goes down? Running out of blankets and sweaters to pile on? The furnace works fine, but the problem may be the insulation in your attic has been destroyed. This time of year we see all types of wildlife — from squirrels to raccoons, mice and bats, hiding… Continue reading

One Dirty Raccoon Job

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It’s not every day we come across a house that has been vacant for over two years, and completely filled with belongings. On top of this, raccoons and other wildlife have made this their home (and private toilet). Raccoons had made their way into the homes pantry by chewing through the roof, and gaining access… Continue reading

Raccoon Emergency in Kitchener

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Last night we responded to a raccoon emergency in Kitchener in a mail truck. It’s actually quite a common occurrence to find wildlife wandering into shipping docks and garages late at night, because these places typically stay open for hours at a time. These are opportunistic little critters! This can also serve as a reminder… Continue reading

Recent Cold Snap Causing Urban Wildlife to Seek Your Home for Shelter

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With winter approaching, decreasing day and night time temperatures are causing urban wildlife to leave their less sheltered summer den sites and relocate to more protected areas such as attics and chimneys. Wildlife such as raccoons, squirrels and skunks will regain entry into previously occupied den sites or find new shelters within our homes. If… Continue reading

September Brings Wildlife (and Bugs) Indoors

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With September and cooler temperatures coming, now is the time to get bat work done. Once the temperature drops below 6 degrees on a consistent basis, bats look to hibernate. Time is of the essence. We are still seeing our second litter of baby squirrels. Both our Hamilton and Ottawa teams had baby squirrels this… Continue reading

PSA: Those Aren’t Mouse Droppings on Your Deck

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This time of year we see an increase in tiny, black pellets appearing on properties. They’re an accumulation of bat droppings, falling to the ground from an elevated entry hole. Make no mistake, these are not mouse droppings — and they’re very hazardous. Do not handle these droppings yourself. Call a professional wildlife company (cough), and absolutely… Continue reading

Distemper Spreading in Niagara

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Distemper is a disease that attacks an animals nervous system. Symptoms of distemper include erratic behavior, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. The Niagara region is seeing an increase in raccoons who are suffering from this disease. And make no mistake, they are suffering. So, how did it come to this? When people trap and relocate an animal that is infected (not… Continue reading

Mother Squirrel Jumps with Baby

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It’s not often we get to observe nature so closely. This clip shows a mother squirrel relocating her baby, after they were evicted from a home. Listen to the squeaking noises — it sounds like the mother is chewing on a toy! Isn’t nature majestic? — Humane Wildlife Control

Why Raccoon Mothers Should Be Left Alone

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This amusing video was posted from a person in the West End of Vancouver, BC recently. The video actually illustrates how territorial and protective a raccoon mother can be. You should turn the volume down after a while — the sound of the “chattering” can be quite cacophonous. — Humane Wildlife Control

A Native, Parasitic Bird!

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By Corey Lewis, Humane Wildlife Control The adult females do not make or keep a nest. She lays her eggs among eggs already in nests built by other birds. Cowbird babies are larger and faster growing than the host species, and so out-compete the host chicks for food. As the Cowbird chick gets even bigger,… Continue reading

How To Tell the Difference Between Deer Mouse and White-Footed Mouse

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It can be difficult to tell the difference between a deer mouse and a white-footed mouse because they are two different species of the same genus, and the differences can be subtle. Nevertheless, if either species is present in your home, you require professional mouse removal as soon as possible because both species can carry… Continue reading

Link to Our Live Robin’s Nest

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We noticed a robin’s nest at the office recently, and decided to set up a web cam to stream the activity. The birds have grown a lot in the past week, and we’ve frequently seen the mother and the father of the baby robins come and go. The mother can sometimes be seen chomping on… Continue reading

Our Services

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Facts & Activities Print/download Activity Book (8.1 Mb) Print/download Animal Maze Join Ricky’s Team! Complete all the activities in the book and print out a certificate to become a Junior Humane Wildlife Control Technician   BATS Did you know? The bats we find around here are called brown bats. They don’t suck your blood –… Continue reading

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