Raccoons may be entertaining to observe as many viral videos have revealed, but they are certainly no joy to have in your backyard, let alone inside your building. They are of course nature’s notorious bandits. And,  Canada is no stranger to raccoon issues since they are commonly spotted in rural and suburban neighbourhoods. In fact, raccoon removal services are frequently requested in many cities and towns across the country.

Raccoons were once strangers to North American soil. But as the years passed, they travelled onto Canadian soil and rapidly increased in number. According to Naturalist Samuel Zevelloff, the raccoon population has increased by at least a hundredfold within the last 200 years alone. Even though there are seven species of raccoons in various locations from Alaska to Argentina, the only raccoon commonly encountered in Canada is the North American Procyon Lotor. 

Procyon Lotor/ North American Raccoon

Procyon Lotor is the scientific name for the common North American raccoon. The North American raccoon lives all over the United States of America and Mexico, as well as Canada. The mammal has also been introduced to Germany, Russia and Japan. The Procyon Lotor has a distinctive look created by black fur that surrounds both eyes to resemble a bandit’s mask, earning the animal the nickname ‘nature’s bandit’. The adult male (also called boar) of this raccoon subspecies typically weighs anywhere from 14-23 pounds and is usually larger than the female (known as a sow).

Common Features Among Raccoons

Like other species of raccoons, the North American raccoon is an omnivore and an opportunistic feeder, willing to chow down on pretty much any vegetable or meat item, including small animals. Raccoons are also quite adaptable and are able to live in both natural and developed settings. Another feature shared by all sub-species of raccoons is their very dexterous human-like paws. These paws function very much like human hands, allowing the raccoon to grasp, twist and lift objects.  In the wild, a raccoon can live up to two years but in domesticated settings, its lifespan increases to up to twenty years.

Skedaddle’s wildlife technicians have the tools, training, and experience to effectively handle all raccoon intrusions. We conduct a thorough inspection of your property to detect raccoon presence and then implement specially crafted strategies to get raccoons to leave safely. With Skedaddle on the job, priority is placed on the preservation of the species (and adherence to wildlife protection legislation) and all removed wildlife animals are relocated in suitable locations to enable them to continue to thrive. 

Without a doubt, Skedaddle is the ultimate raccoon removal service with teams serving many locations in Ontario, Montreal, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Milwaukee. Contact us today with any questions or for help from our experts.