If you’ve been hearing strange noises in your attic or noticed unexplained damage to your roof, there’s a good chance a raccoon is to blame. These clever animals are common in Toronto, and the city’s urban environment provides an ideal habitat for them. Understanding what attracts raccoons, how they can damage your roof, and steps you can take for prevention or wildlife removal in Toronto is key for protecting your home. This article will explore how raccoons affect residential properties and how to keep raccoons away.

What Attracts Raccoons to Your Roof?

Raccoons are resourceful creatures, always on the hunt for a safe, warm place to shelter, especially during the cold Toronto winters. Your roof, attic, or chimney can provide everything they need. Roof vents, soffits, and other vulnerable entry points make an ideal gateway for raccoons to access your home. Over time, general wear and tear on your property can weaken these areas, making them even easier for raccoons to exploit.

Another key factor that attracts raccoons is the availability of food and water. Open garbage bins, compost piles, and pet food left outside are common culprits. Additionally, bird feeders offer an unintended invitation to raccoons, as they’re quick to scavenge spilled seeds or find creative ways to break into them.

Once raccoons identify your roof or attic as a potential den, they become incredibly persistent. They can chew through shingles, tear siding apart, or claw at vents until they create a large enough opening to squeeze through. Their sharp claws and strong teeth make them more than capable of expanding even the smallest weak spot on your roof.

To protect your home, start by eliminating the things that attract raccoons. Secure garbage bins with locking lids, bring pet food indoors, and clean up fallen fruit from trees. Make your property less appealing to these uninvited guests to reduce the chances of them invading your roof in the first place.

How Raccoons Damage Roofs

The damage raccoons can cause to your roof is both considerable and costly to repair. These animals have strong dexterous paws that make it easy for them to pry open vents, shingles, or soffits to gain access to your attic. Once inside, the problems only escalate. 

Roof shingles are often the first casualties. Raccoons will tear them apart to create an entry. This not only damages the structural integrity of your roof but also increases the risk of leaks. Broken shingles become an open invitation for water damage, which can lead to costly repairs down the line.

Another common issue comes in the form of disrupted attic insulation. Raccoons will often tear apart insulation to build a nest or simply trample it, reducing its effectiveness. When insulation loses its ability to trap heat, homeowners face higher energy bills and a colder home in winter.

Electrical wiring is another critical area where raccoons cause damage. These animals are known to chew on cables, leading to potential safety hazards such as short circuits or even fire risks. Ductwork can also suffer when raccoons scratch or chew through it, compromising your home’s ventilation system.

The mess raccoons leave behind is not just inconvenient—it’s hazardous. Droppings and urine can carry harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, creating unsanitary conditions for your household. Proper cleaning is essential to prevent the spread of disease, but this task can be risky without professional help.

Recognizing the signs of raccoon activity early—and taking swift action—can help minimize roof damage. Look for the telltale signs, such as claw marks on shingles, displaced insulation, or droppings in the attic. Catching these issues early can save you both time and money in the long run.

Preventing Raccoon Access to Your Roof

The best way to deal with raccoon damage is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Since raccoons use weak areas of a roof or attic to get inside, a major part of prevention involves ensuring your home is well-maintained and free of vulnerabilities. Regular roof inspections can help identify and address any potential entry points before raccoons find them.

Sealing potential access points is critical, especially around soffits, roof vents, and chimneys. Heavy gauge screening is an effective material for keeping raccoons out while still allowing for necessary ventilation. Replacing rotted wood and securing any loose panels or shingles is another preventative measure.

Trimming tree branches that are near your roof can also make a significant difference, as raccoons use overhanging limbs as pathways to reach your home. Ideally, keep branches at least three meters away from the roofline to deter climbing.

Beyond structural fortification, placing deterrents at potential entry points can discourage raccoons from attempting to access your home. However, make sure to address the root of the issue rather than relying on deterrents alone. Secure garbage and eliminate food sources to ensure raccoons aren’t drawn to your property in the first place.

If raccoons are actively targeting your roof, don’t try to remove them yourself. This is a job for professionals. Not only can raccoons be aggressive, especially if they have young, but DIY methods can also lead to incomplete or ineffective solutions. Professional wildlife removal services in Toronto ensure the job is done safely and thoroughly, protecting both your home and the raccoons.

The Benefits of Skedaddle’s Services for Wildlife Removal in Toronto

When prevention isn’t enough, professional wildlife removal becomes essential. Companies like ours specialize in humane and effective raccoon removal to ensure that both you and the animals are treated with care and respect. 

Professional technicians bring years of experience in understanding raccoon behaviour and home construction, allowing them to locate and secure every entry point. Whether it’s a small gap around a vent or a damaged soffit, experts work to identify and seal all vulnerabilities to keep raccoons from returning.

One major advantage of professional services is their ability to address any health hazards created by raccoon infestations. Proper cleaning and deodorizing ensure your attic and roof are safe and sanitary after the animals are removed. This eliminates the chances of bacteria, viruses, or parasites being spread throughout your home.

Additionally, professional removal services use specialized equipment to deal with complex situations. For example, thermal imaging cameras can help locate a mother raccoon and her babies inside your attic. Technicians then hand-remove the babies and reunite them with the mother outside, encouraging her to relocate her family to another den.

After removal, comprehensive exclusion measures are put in place to prevent future access to your home. By relying on skilled professionals, like us at Skedaddle, you ensure that all aspects of the issue—entry points, contamination, and prevention—are thoroughly addressed.

Protect Your Roof and Your Home from Raccoon Damage

Raccoons can be destructive when they gain access to your roof, causing significant damage to shingles, insulation, and wiring, while also creating health risks. However, by understanding what attracts raccoons, taking preventative steps to keep raccoons away, and opting for professional wildlife removal in Toronto, you can protect your home and avoid costly repairs.

If you suspect raccoons have already made their way into your attic, don’t delay. Our team at Skedaddle has over three decades of experience in humane wildlife control, and we’re here to help. Call us today to schedule an inspection and protect your home from raccoon damage. We’ll assess the situation, implement solutions, and ensure your roof remains safe and secure for years to come.