A raccoon in the attic: the signs and what to do

Raccoons are among the most common wild animals in residential neighbourhoods across Montreal, Laval and the South Shore. They may look harmless, but once one settles into an attic, a roof or the space under a porch, it causes serious damage and puts the people living there at risk. Skunks and squirrels cause similar problems.

Why they move into your home

Raccoons are smart and opportunistic. They look for safe shelter (an attic, soffit, shed or garage), easy food (garbage, compost, pet food left outside) and a quiet place to raise their young. In the spring, a female will often pick an attic to give birth.

Signs of an animal in the house

• Heavy footsteps, scratching or movement in the ceiling, especially at night (raccoon) or early in the morning (squirrel).
• Lifted shingles, a torn-off soffit, a hole in a vent screen.
• Tipped-over garbage cans, a dug-up lawn or garden.
• A lingering skunk smell, even with no animal in sight, often under a porch or shed.
• Droppings, displaced insulation or debris in the attic.

The damage they cause

A raccoon will tear off roofing to get in, destroy insulation to build its nest and leave droppings that contaminate the attic. Squirrels gnaw on electrical wiring and wood. Skunks dig under foundations and concrete slabs. The longer the animal stays, the more costly the repairs.

Why you shouldn't trap it yourself

A cornered raccoon will bite and scratch, especially a mother with her young. It can carry parasites and disease. Sealing the entrance while babies are still inside creates another, more serious problem. A technician uses proper, secure cages, removes the animal as Quebec rules require, then points out the openings to repair so another animal doesn't take its place.

Keeping them from coming back

• Use garbage cans with locking lids, and bring them inside if you can.
• Don't leave pet food outside.
• Inspect the roof, soffits and vents every spring and every fall.
• Trim branches that give access to the roof, and close off the space under porches with wire mesh.