Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control was founded in Hamilton in 1989 and has called the city home ever since. In that time Skedaddle has grown from just a single service vehicle to Canada’s largest wildlife control company with operations in four provinces and the United States. Founder, President & CEO Bill Dowd, who was born and raised in Hamilton, early on understood the complex challenges urban wildlife can create for city residents. Recognizing that no two wildlife problems were the exact same, he sought to develop an alternative to the one-size-fits all method of trapping and relocating wildlife. Since then, Skedaddle has pioneered humane and hands-on wildlife removal and exclusion techniques that provide a high quality, durable, and permanent solution to wildlife problems for home and business owners.

Hamilton’s reputation for heavy industry might make it hard for outsiders to believe that it is a city co-existing with nature. Hamilton has a unique geography at the western edge of Lake Ontario and is split into upper and lower sections by the Niagara Escarpment. The escarpment, with its trails and waterways provides the city with connected greenspace and is the reason why Hamilton is home to over 156 waterfalls. Aside from greenspace, Hamilton’s coexistence with nature can also be seen through the many species of urban animals that call the area home and are found in great numbers throughout the city.

Urban wildlife species such as raccoons, squirrels, bats, birds and mice, rats and skunks thrive in both natural spaces as well as the city’s residential, commercial and industrial areas. These species have adapted well to city living, evolving their diet and den site needs to the urban environment. The resiliency of urban wildlife to survive in ever changing surroundings is admired by many Hamilton residents but it can also put them into conflict with people. When raccoons and squirrels make their way into an attic or when mice and rats are discovered in a kitchen, home and business owners in Hamilton need effective wildlife removal services to protect their families and property.

Setting a trap and hoping for the best is no answer, that’s why Skedaddle Wildlife Hamilton provides a proactive and permanent approach to help protect homes and businesses that begins with a full 50-point property assessment to determine the species involved, how they have made entry and what will required to get them out and keep them out for good. With our highly trained and experienced team of wildlife specialists and technicians, Skedaddle Hamilton is ready to provide fast and effective solutions to your wildlife problems.

WHY CHOOSE SKEDADDLE HAMILTON?

Trusted since 1989, Skedaddle technicians have been working closely with Hamilon’s urban wildlife, learning about their unique habits and developing humane strategies for their removal from homes. Our trained technicians use this knowledge and experience each day to help Hamilton homeowners to protect their property from crafty city-dwelling animals. Despite a construction boom in the downtown core, and in growing communities such as Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Waterdown and Dundas, wildlife populations continue to adapt and thrive in urban spaces. It is clear by now that urban wildlife is here to stay in Hamilton but that doesn’t mean we can’t co-exist.

Raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats, birds and mice often find their way into attics, chimneys, garages and sheds for shelter. When they do, they can cause a tremendous amount of property damage in just a short amount of time. They often make their way into houses through openings left behind after construction or caused by deterioration over time. Wildlife are experts in taking small gaps they found along roofs and foundations and enlarging them using their teeth or paws to squeeze themselves into a warm and secure den site. Even well constructed homes in good condition can end up hosting a wildlife family as many of the construction materials used today are not built to keep animals out. Aluminum soffits, vinyl siding and plastic vents are no match for a determined raccoon or rodent.

Experience has taught us that no two wildlife intrusions are the exact same and a customized approach is needed to get effective results. The species of animal, construction of the home and time of year are all important factors in determining how to best resolve a wildlife intrusion. To ensure your home is protected, our friendly and professional staff will remove the infestation and provide a fully customized solution, using hands-on techniques, to prevent any future nuisance animals from gaining entry.

A thoughtful approach to wildlife removal is especially important during the spring and summer birthing season. Baby raccoons and squirrels arrive in Hamilton each year at the beginning of March and litters continue to be born into summer. Their mothers need safe and secure places to raise the young and that often leads them into attics, crawlspaces and chimneys. Homeowners with wildlife babies in their roof or ceiling will observe an increase in noise and activity as the litter grows. During this time the intense activity of the family can lead to damaged insulation, vapor barrier, drywall, electrical wiring and duct work. Wild animals do not make good house guests and the longer the family is allowed to spend inside the home the more damage they are capable of causing.

Wildlife babies are born immobile and can only be removed by hand, there’s no way to chase or scare them out. That means gaining access to the densite, behind the walls or in the attic. Skedaddle relies on our experience and understanding of wildlife behaviour and the help of infrared technology to locate and remove wildlife babies from the toughest to reach places. The babies are still reliant on their mother and once removed they are reunited outside of the home and the roof is protected against re-entry, forcing the mother to relocate the litter to one of her other den sites.

SKEDADDLE STORIES

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SKEDADDLE RESCUES RACCOON AT TIM HORTONS FIELD

In the summer of 2019, Skedaddle received an emergency call about a raccoon trapped seven stories high in a stairwell at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field. President and CEO of Skedaddle Bill Dowd, along with experienced wildlife technician, Stuart MacDonald, quickly hopped in the van to rescue the distressed raccoon. Immediately after arrival, MacDonald and Dowd located the large male raccoon and created a humane removal strategy.

Using over 30 years of experience with Hamilton raccoons, MacDonald and Dowd carefully captured and carried the masked bandit down to the ground floor, maintaining a calm environment. Immediately after release across the road from Tim Hortons Field, the raccoon was safely on his way to another den site in the area.

SKEDADDLE EXCLUDES PIGEONS FROM THE HAMILTON GO CENTRE

In 2021, The Hamilton Go Centre was home to a severe pigeon infestation that was endangering riders as they waited for buses on the outdoor concourse. In order to keep Hamilton commuters safe, Skedaddle was enlisted to remove and exclude the pigeons from each vulnerable area without interrupting service.

Over seven weeks, Skedaddle technician Julian Compton installed thousands of square feet of bird netting along the underside of the concourse roof. The bird netting serves as a barrier to prevent pigeons and other birds from nesting and roosting on the steel girders that support the roof and leaving harmful droppings off the busy area below.

SKEDADDLE IN THE COMMUNITY

As part of our commitment to the Hamilton Skedaddle is a proud supporter of the Hamilton SPCA and all they do for animals in our community. We’re annual supporters of their Wiggle-Waggle Walkathon, our staff give presentations to children at day camps about wildlife and we even volunteer our time to help decorate the shelter during the holiday season.

Sharing your home with wildlife can lead to sleepless nights and unwanted stress. When you choose Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control you get the benefit of our three decades of experience. We are a truly local company that is proud of its Hamilton roots and the reputation we have established as the area’s number one wildlife control service.

Our established reputation with Hamilton residents has given us the opportunity to help spread our knowledge about wildlife to the community through local media outlets, including the Hamilton Spectator, CHCH TV, and CBC Hamilton. We’ve been asked to provide expert commentary about wildlife in the city, most notably during Hamilton’s 2015 raccoon rabies outbreak. These organizations not only trust us for our expertise, they even call us when faced with their own wildlife issues. We have removed bats from CHCH studios and helped rescue a baby hawk from the Hamtilton Spectator building. We are also proud to have previously served as the official provider of pest and wildlife control services for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Tim Hortons Field.

Pests in Hamilton

Hamilton property owners are susceptible to a number of pests invading their home or business, exploiting vulnerable areas along foundations, utility lines, or damaged exterior walls. Carpenter ant, cockroach and rat populations have steadily grown to become some of the most common pests found in residences and commercial properties throughout the city.

As the waterfall capital of the world and sitting along the shores of Lake Ontario, Hamilton is a moisture rich location where pests can thrive. Densely forested conservation areas and walking trails throughout the city also create an endless supply of decaying materials for bugs to flourish. The downtown core is home to some of Hamitlon’s most severe pest infestations, as this area offers concentrated food sources and older infrastructure that pests can use to gain access inside a home.

Since 1989, Skedaddle has been helping Hamilton homeowners protect their property from unwanted pests. With three decades of experience providing pest control services to some in the city’s oldest neighbourhoods as well as newly constructed subdivisions – our team understands the needs of Hamilton home and business owners. Our friendly technicians work closely with clients to provide long-term solutions that address the root causes of any pest issue. Depending on the type of pest and the intensity of the pressure around your property, we will design and implement a customized control program.

Residential Pest Control in Hamilton

Pests thrive in conditions that offer moisture, warmth and seclusion. That means just about any home is a candidate for a pest infestation at some stage. Homeowners in different parts of Hamilton will experience pest problems in different ways depending on environmental conditions. For instance, Hamiltonians living along Lake Ontario are more likely to experience intense spider problems than other parts of the city. The reason for this is simple: the wetlands along the lake are a fertile breeding ground for the flying insects that spiders feed on. In contrast, households along the escarpment or other forested areas of Hamiton are likely to find carpenter ants invading their home as they migrate in from wooded spaces.

Pest problems are found all over the Hamilon and our team finds infestations in newly developed subdivisions, in places like Ancaster and Waterdown, as well as communities dating back to Pre-Confederation in the downtown core, such as Durand and Corktown. Although some homeowners in the city might assume that certain pest problems only occur in specific environments, both new and old homes in Hamilton offer vulnerabilities. A damp basement, a leaky pipe or even firewood stacked against the side of the house could all be the source of an infestation.
Skedaddle Pest Control provides homeowners with expert pest control solutions. Our fully trained and licensed pest control Technicians rely on over 30 years of experience to provide each client with a custom pest control plan that can protect against insects and rodents. Using eco-friendly products and targeted application methods, we quickly eliminate pests while keeping your property and family safe. Gone are the days of broadcast sprays of highly toxic pesticides that can harm pets or other non-target species.

Skedaddle’s professionals take a thoughtful approach to pest control that produces results while limiting risk to people and pets.

Our pest control process begins with a thorough inspection to determine the exact species involved and the causes of the problem. Once we understand the nature of the problem, we will design a control procedure and take the time to walk you through our findings and the steps needed to resolve it. Each situation is different and that’s why a customized pest control game plan that takes into account the biology of the pest, seasonal conditions and root causes is necessary.

We understand that our client’s pest control needs can change with the seasons that’s why we offer homeowners year round pest protection with our Four Seasons Program. This four visit pest protection program is designed to eliminate pest infestations before they start and targets up to 14 common household pests.

Commercial Pest Control in Hamilton

It is crucial for every business to have an effective pest control plan in place in order to ensure a safe experience for clients and staff. No matter what type of business you are running, protecting your customers, staff and inventory from the hazards that pests can create is a top priority. Skedaddle Pest Control can provide a full extensive Commercial Pest Control plan to protect Hamilton businesses from pests all year round.

Our commercial pest control services meet LEED certification requirements as well as GMP and third-party standards. Using eco-friendly products, our team of skilled technicians can safely implement targeted application methods without causing any harm to customers or staff on the property. We specialize in the prevention and exclusion of pests from commercial buildings, and our technicians work closely with business owners to create a year-round pest control plan that eliminates any future infestations.
Skedaddle Pest Control also specializes in commercial bird control. In 2021 our team successfully resolved a severe pigeon infestation from the Hamilton GO Centre. Using exclusion products that are customized to any business’ specific architectural design, our team is able to prevent birds from nesting or landing comfortably on a property. No matter your industry or the size of your business, Skedaddle Pest Control has the solution for you.

• Trusted By Home and Business Owners Since 1989
• Environmentally Friendly Products
• Residential & Commercial Pest Control Services
• Same Day Service. No Extra Charge
• Fully Trained, Licenced & Insured
• Year Round Pest Control Services

Problem Pests in Hamilton – Where and Why

Rats
Long associated with dense urban environments, rats are frequently found in newly builts areas of Stoney Creek and Ancaster as well as the densely built lower city. Every home has cracks, gaps and utility lines that rats can use to gain access to the inside. With more densely packed food sources, Hamilton’s downtown core is host to severe rat problems. The aging infrastructure in the area, such as sewage and plumbing systems, is a common way that the growing number of rats are able to travel throughout the city and get inside homes and businesses. Many of the pipes laid underneath the city are made of old cast iron, which have cracked and broken overtime, allowing the rats to have access into homes and businesses. With old architecture throughout the city, many fieldstone foundations have worn over the years to create easy access routes for rats.

Carpenter Ants
The city of Hamilton is surrounded by densely forested trails, conservation areas and patches of farmland that host carpenter ants in large numbers. From downtown to the mountain, there are several wooded areas that create decomposing natural materials for a variety of insects to feast on – including carpenter ants. Just about any community in the city where mature tree populations can be found, carpenter ants can also be seen thriving. Older constructed homes in these areas made of wood materials are particularly susceptible to the chewing of carpenter ants. These century homes can be found throughout the lower city, and over time weather damage creates water damaged wood materials that carpenter ants love to use to establish their colonies. New or old, no Hamilton home is built with insects in mind, and carpenter ants are able to use cracks in foundations, window sills, electrical and plumbing lines to make their way inside.

Cockroaches
Cockroaches are commonly found inside bathrooms, kitchens and basements. Any place inside a building that offers moisture and darkness are where cockroaches are most likely to be hiding. Cockroaches do not necessarily imply unsanitary living conditions, in fact these pests can be easily spread throughout the city using old electrical lines, drains and pipes, or small gaps along the exterior of a building. Many of Hamilton’s lower city core is made up of older constructed homes and infrastructure that allows cockroach problems to spread. Once inside an apartment building or commercial space, cockroaches are able to travel from unit to unit using pipes and ventilation systems. Single family homes, student housing and townhouse complexes face the same issues. Cockroaches are often introduced into homes through used furniture or other second hand items.

Bed bugs
Hamilton has become one of the leading carriers of bed bugs in Ontario, prompting the city to dedicate
one million dollars towards eradicating the problem in 2017. Bed bugs particularly impact Hamilton residents living in high-rise apartments and condos. Bed bugs are able to spread from unit to unit very easily through shared ventilation systems, electrical lines and plumbing systems. Hamilton’s downtown core, where high rise buildings, condos and apartments are most commonly found is a hotspot for bed bug activity.

Common Hamilton Pests Skedaddle Eliminates: mice, birds, bees, wasps, hornets, spiders, earwigs, sow bugs, centipedes, crickets, millipedes and silverfish.