Keeping uninvited raccoons out of your home can often feel like a never-ending battle. These animals are clever, strong, and incredibly persistent. That’s why it’s essential to seal raccoon entry points effectively and prevent future incursions. At Skedaddle, we specialize in blocking these entryways while ensuring humane and ethical wildlife practices. Our proven approach combines expert assessment, thorough sealing, and preventative strategies, tailored to protect homes across Mississauga and beyond. 

Read on to learn how we raccoon-proof your home for good.

How We Seal Raccoon Entry Points

At Skedaddle, sealing raccoon entry points is about more than just patching holes. We focus on comprehensive protection by identifying vulnerabilities and addressing them with durable solutions. Here’s how our process works:

Step 1. Thorough Assessments

Every raccoon-proofing job starts with a detailed inspection. Our technicians check your home for any signs of current or potential entry points. Common targets include:

• Roof vents
• Chimney openings
• Loose soffits
• Gaps near eaves
• Weak siding or aging wood

We also use advanced tools, like thermal imaging, to detect activity in hard-to-see areas like attics. This level of detail allows us to evaluate raccoon presence and pinpoint all possible entryways.

Why this step matters  

Raccoons are stronger and more dexterous than many think. Even a seemingly minor gap around your soffit can be enlarged by their strong paws, leading them straight into your attic. Comprehensive assessments ensure none of these vulnerable areas are missed.

Step 2. Quality Materials for Sealing

Once all entry points are identified, we get to work sealing them with top-quality materials designed to withstand both wildlife activity and harsh Canadian winters. Common solutions include:

• Heavy-Gauge Galvanized Steel Mesh

This is a key component for sealing vents, holes, and other openings. The mesh is durable and provides excellent airflow while keeping raccoons out.

• High-Grade Caulking and Sealants

We use sealants to close smaller cracks or gaps. This blocks entry while ensuring the structural integrity of your home isn’t compromised.

• Metal Flashing

Vulnerable roof areas like chimneys and valleys are safeguarded with metal flashing, which prevents animals from prying open shingles or loosening joints.

Why materials matter  

Standard construction materials like wood, aluminum, or vinyl are no match for determined raccoons, especially those weakened by weather or age. That’s why we rely on robust materials that offer long-lasting protection.

Step 3. Strategic Repairs and Reinforcements

Where entry points have been forcibly created, we go beyond simply sealing the gaps. Our approach involves reinforcing these areas to prevent future issues. For instance:

• Damaged soffits or vents are not just sealed but also reinforced with steel and screws.
• Chimneys might be capped with secure covers designed to keep both raccoons and other wildlife out.
• Wooden areas showing signs of rot or weakening are repaired to further deter access.

Why this step matters  

Raccoons are repeat offenders, meaning they often revisit previously used entry points. Reinforcing these areas ensures they can’t exploit those weaknesses again.

Step 4. Gutter and Tree Assessments

Raccoons are excellent climbers, and overhanging tree branches or accessible rooflines make it even easier for them to reach vulnerable spots. During our inspection and sealing process, we also evaluate your surroundings for potential climbing aids:

• Overhanging branches near roofs are identified as potential threats.
• Gutters and downspouts are checked to ensure they don’t inadvertently aid raccoons in scaling your home.

Why this step matters  

By addressing raccoon access points beyond just sealing the home itself, we create a more holistic barrier between your home and wildlife.

How We Raccoon-Proof Your Home

Sealing entry points is only part of the solution. Raccoon-proofing involves implementing strategies that discourage future attempts to enter your home altogether. Here are some additional steps we take:

Ensuring Clean and Secure Spaces

One of the first actions we recommend is eliminating attractants that could draw raccoons back to your property. We assist homeowners in:

• Locking garbage bins with secure lids
• Removing pet food or other edibles left outdoors
• Clearing away potential nesting materials or debris from around the home
• Ensuring compost piles are properly contained

Keeping areas clean and reducing opportunities for food scavenging mean raccoons are less likely to target your property.

Educating Homeowners

A big part of raccoon-proofing involves making sure homeowners are informed about what to expect. For example:

• Did you know raccoons only need an opening as small as four inches wide to squeeze through?
• Or that their sharp claws and teeth can easily enlarge small gaps?

Providing this kind of knowledge empowers homeowners to take care of their property proactively.

Lifetime Guarantee

Our raccoon prevention process is backed by a lifetime guarantee. If a raccoon manages to breach our sealed points, we take responsibility. This commitment is part of why homeowners in and around Mississauga continue to trust us for their wildlife control needs.

Why Raccoons Are a Threat to Your Home

Raccoons pose serious threats to homes due to their destructive behaviours and potential health risks. These highly intelligent and resourceful animals are adept at finding weaknesses in structural integrity, such as loose shingles, gaps in soffits, or unsecured vents. Once inside, they can cause significant damage to insulation, wiring, and other elements of a home as they construct their nests. This damages not only the property but can also lead to increased energy costs due to compromised insulation.

• Raccoons are carriers of diseases like rabies and leptospirosis.  
• They can spread parasites such as ticks and fleas, posing risks to both humans and pets.  
• Their feces may contain dangerous pathogens like roundworm eggs, creating additional health hazards.  
• Raccoons are loud and disruptive, especially at night, causing scratching, scampering, and thumping noises in attics or walls.  
• They are persistent and strong, able to fit through small entry points, making them challenging to keep out.

Proactively addressing raccoon activity by ensuring thorough property inspections, sealing potential entry points, and employing humane deterrence methods is crucial for protecting your home. Understanding the risks and taking preventive action can save homeowners from costly repairs and health-related complications in the long run. Staying vigilant ensures that your property remains safe and secure from these unwelcome guests.

Skedaddle Raccoon Prevention in Mississauga

Living in Mississauga means sharing our neighbourhoods with plenty of wildlife. The lush greenery near the Credit River and serene retreats like Rattray Marsh add to this city’s charm, but they also create ideal conditions for raccoons. That’s why proactive raccoon prevention is so vital for Mississauga homeowners. 

At Skedaddle, we know the specific challenges faced here. From aging homes in historic areas to wildlife attracted by backyard gardens or nearby wooded areas, we bring decades of localized expertise to every job.

If you’ve noticed signs of raccoon activity, like scratching noises in your attic or damaged vents, don’t wait for the issue to worsen. Reach out to us today—we’re ready to help you protect your home.

Stop Re-Raccoon-ations Before They Start

Dealing with raccoons in your home can be stressful, but with Skedaddle sealing your entry points, you can reclaim peace of mind. Our proven process blends thorough inspections, expert sealing, and preventative care to keep raccoons out for good.

Contact Skedaddle to schedule your assessment and learn how our professionals can safeguard your home. Don’t wait for the scratching noises to start again. Act now to protect your property from future break-ins.