🐿️ Simcoe County

Regional Overview:

Simcoe County spans a wide and varied landscape, stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay to farmland, forests, and fast-developing communities like Barrie, Orillia, and Innisfil. The county is a hotspot for both year-round residents and seasonal cottage owners, which means structures are often left vacant — giving wildlife an ideal chance to move in unnoticed. With lakeside towns, aging barns, cottage clusters, and urban expansion all packed into one region, Simcoe sees one of the broadest ranges of wildlife issues in southern Ontario.

Properties here are frequently targeted by raccoons, squirrels, mice, and bats — especially in attic spaces, wall voids, and crawlspaces. Shoreline areas bring additional concerns like muskrats and gulls, while agricultural zones attract skunks, foxes, and rodents. Nuisance bird activity is also a major concern, particularly in town centers and near the lake.

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Towns and Communities Serviced:

• Lakeshore & Central Simcoe: Beaverton, Brechin, Lagoon City, Ramara, Longford Mills, Washago

• Urban & Cottage Areas: Orillia, Coldwater, Marchmont, Warminster, Barrie, Innisfil, Alcona, Lefroy, Gilford, Belle Ewart

• Rural & Inland Communities: Cookstown, Thornton, Angus, Midhurst, Oro Station

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Common Wildlife and Bird Issues & How We Solve Them:

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🦝 Raccoons in Attics, Crawlspaces, and Chimneys
Raccoons in Simcoe are drawn to attic voids in older lakefront homes and cottages, especially if eaves are soft or ventilation is damaged. They're also notorious for climbing onto flat or low-pitch roofs and pulling off vent covers.

Our Solution:
We locate all raccoon entry points and install raccoon-grade one-way doors, allowing safe exit. Once the attic or crawlspace is vacated, we seal off and reinforce the area, using flashing or heavy-gauge mesh. For cottages or seasonal homes, we recommend pre-season inspections to catch problems early.

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🐿️ Squirrels in Rooflines and Seasonal Homes
Red squirrels are especially aggressive in Simcoe’s cottage country — chewing through gables, roof edges, and plastic venting. Flying squirrels are also common in more wooded areas like Oro and Washago.

Our Solution:
We install custom one-way squirrel doors and monitor to ensure all animals have left. Once clear, we seal entry points with chew-proof flashing, and can also reinforce soffits, vents, and attic fans to stop future intrusion.

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🦨 Skunks Under Decks and Additions
In both rural and suburban Simcoe, skunks den under porches and sheds, often in spring when mothers are raising young. New subdivisions in Barrie and Innisfil are especially affected.

Our Solution:
We trench and install buried screening with an integrated one-way door to allow the skunk to leave. Once vacated, we close off the space permanently with durable underground mesh, preventing future burrowing.

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🐁 Mice and Rats in Cottages and Crawlspaces
Rodents are a year-round concern in Simcoe, but especially problematic in winterized cottages, sheds, and trailer-style buildings. Mice often gain access through floor vents or under doors.

Our Solution:
We use a combination of rodent-sized one-way exits, full exclusion sealing (down to 1/4”), and interior monitoring or trapping as needed. For seasonal homes, we also offer pre-winter proofing to keep mice out during long vacancies.

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🦇 Bats in Rafters, Gables, and Attics
Simcoe cottages and older homes are prime habitat for bats. They roost behind wooden gables, inside attic voids, and behind siding or chimney trim.

Our Solution:
We install legal one-way bat valves during Ontario’s approved exclusion periods. Once the bats leave naturally, we seal and screen all roosting points to permanently exclude the colony. If guano has built up, we can provide sanitization and attic cleanup.

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🐦 Birds in Vents and Soffits (Starlings, Sparrows)
Dryer and bathroom fan vents are highly targeted by small birds in Innisfil, Barrie, and cottage areas. They bring in straw, feathers, and other flammable material, blocking airflow and attracting mites.

Our Solution:
We remove nests, install vent guards or one-way bird exits, and then screen all vent openings with corrosion-proof covers. Where birds are nesting in soffits or wall cracks, we use mesh to block gaps without interrupting airflow.

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🕊️ Pigeons on Rooflines, Chimneys, and Barns
Pigeons are common in town cores and farms across Simcoe — particularly in Barrie, Orillia, and older agricultural structures. Their droppings corrode surfaces and pose health risks.

Our Solution:
We install bird deterrents such as spikes, ledge guards, and full roofline netting. Droppings are cleaned and treated with disinfectant and odor neutralizers. Commercial buildings may benefit from ongoing service to manage pigeon pressure long-term.

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🪿 Gulls and Geese on Waterfronts and Commercial Grounds
Geese and seagulls are a consistent nuisance around Simcoe’s many lakefronts, especially in parks, school grounds, boat launches, and large lawns. They leave behind droppings and can be aggressive during nesting season.

Our Solution:
We use a combination of visual deterrents, reflective materials, motion-activated repellents, and site-specific exclusion for commercial and public spaces. We also recommend modifying shoreline access where feasible to reduce attraction to these birds.

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Every Situation is Unique

Simcoe’s range of rural, urban, and seasonal properties means no two problems are the same. That’s why Mitchell’s Nuisance Wildlife Solutions builds a custom exclusion and prevention plan for each job — whether it’s a raccoon in a downtown attic or birds nesting behind a seasonal cottage vent. Our goal is always to provide a humane, permanent, and professional solution that protects your home, business, or cottage from repeat intrusions.