Species
Explore the species that may be causing nuisance in your property. Learn about the habits, dangers, and removal methods for raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and more.
Raccoons
Raccoons are one of the most adaptable and widespread mammals in Ontario, thriving in both urban and rural environments. Highly intelligent and opportunistic, they are omnivores that feed on a diverse diet, including fruits, nuts, insects, small animals, and human refuse. In cities, raccoons have become notorious for raiding garbage bins and nesting in attics, chimneys, and sheds. Their dexterous front paws allow them to manipulate objects, open containers, and even unlock simple latches. While they are primarily nocturnal, raccoons can sometimes be seen during the day, especially when food is abundant. Ontario raccoons are also known carriers of diseases such as rabies and raccoon roundworm, posing health risks to humans and pets. Despite these challenges, they play an important role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations and dispersing seeds. Efforts to manage urban raccoon populations include securing garbage, sealing potential entry points in buildings, and public education on coexisting safely with wildlife.
Skunks
Skunks are common throughout Ontario and are best known for their distinctive black-and-white colouring and their ability to spray a foul-smelling liquid as a defence mechanism. The most widespread species in the province is the striped skunk, which thrives in both rural and urban environments. Skunks are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, consuming insects, small rodents, fruits, vegetables, and human garbage. They are primarily nocturnal and often dig up lawns in search of grubs, leading to conflicts with homeowners. Although generally non-aggressive, skunks can carry rabies, making encounters with pets and humans a potential health concern. In colder months, they enter a state of torpor, sheltering in dens but occasionally emerging to forage during warmer periods. Efforts to manage skunk populations in urban areas focus on securing garbage, preventing access to den sites under decks and sheds, and using deterrents to discourage their presence near homes. Despite their reputation, skunks play a valuable role in the ecosystem by controlling insect and rodent populations.
Squirrels
Squirrels are abundant throughout Ontario, with the most common species being the eastern grey squirrel, which comes in both grey and black colour variations. Other species include the red squirrel, which is smaller and more territorial, and the northern flying squirrel, which is nocturnal and less commonly seen. Squirrels are highly adaptable and thrive in both urban and forested areas, where they build nests in trees, attics, and other sheltered locations. Their diet consists of nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and even bird eggs on occasion. They play an important ecological role in seed dispersal, helping forests regenerate by burying food they sometimes forget to retrieve. In urban settings, they can become a nuisance by chewing on electrical wires, nesting in buildings, and raiding bird feeders. While not typically aggressive, they can carry diseases such as leptospirosis and parasites like fleas and ticks. Efforts to manage squirrel populations often focus on sealing entry points to buildings, using deterrents, and protecting gardens and feeders from their persistent foraging. Despite occasional conflicts, squirrels remain a vital part of Ontario’s ecosystem, contributing to biodiversity and forest health.
Bats
Ontario is home to eight species of bats, most of which are insectivorous and play a vital role in controlling pest populations. The most common species include the little brown bat, big brown bat, northern long-eared bat, and tricolored bat, all of which hibernate in caves, abandoned mines, and buildings during the winter. Other species, such as the hoary bat, silver-haired bat, and eastern red bat, are migratory and spend the colder months in the southern United States. Many of Ontario’s bat populations have suffered severe declines due to White-nose Syndrome, a fungal disease that disrupts hibernation and leads to mass mortality. Habitat loss and wind turbine collisions also pose significant threats, particularly to migratory species. Despite these challenges, bats remain ecologically important, consuming vast numbers of insects, including agricultural and forest pests. Conservation efforts in Ontario focus on protecting roosting and hibernation sites, raising awareness about their ecological benefits, and mitigating human-induced threats.
Nuisance Bird Control
Ontario is home to several bird species that are considered nuisances due to their impact on agriculture, urban infrastructure, and native ecosystems. Some of the most problematic species include pigeons, European starlings, house sparrows, and Canada geese. Pigeons thrive in cities, nesting on buildings and leaving behind large amounts of droppings that can damage structures and spread disease. European starlings and house sparrows, both invasive species, compete aggressively with native birds for nesting sites and food, often driving out more beneficial species. Starlings also gather in large, noisy flocks and can damage crops by feeding on fruit and grain. Canada geese, while native, have become a major nuisance in urban parks, golf courses, and waterfronts due to their overpopulation, aggressive behaviour during nesting season, and excessive droppings that foul public spaces. Other birds, such as gulls and crows, can be problematic in urban areas and landfills, scavenging human food waste and creating messes. Managing nuisance bird populations in Ontario involves habitat modification, deterrents like netting and spikes, noise devices, and in some cases, regulated population control measures to reduce conflicts while maintaining ecological balance.
Beaver and other fur bearing wildlife
Beavers, mink, and muskrats are all semi-aquatic mammals found throughout Ontario, each playing an important role in the ecosystem while also causing various types of damage. Beavers, the largest of the three, are well known for their ability to alter landscapes by building dams and lodges, which can lead to flooding of roads, farmland, and residential areas. While their dam-building creates valuable wetland habitats, it also damages property and infrastructure, making them a frequent target for nuisance wildlife management. Muskrats, though smaller, can also cause significant damage by burrowing into the banks of ponds, rivers, and man-made structures like dams and levees, leading to erosion and structural instability. Their feeding habits, which include consuming large amounts of aquatic vegetation, can disrupt ecosystems and damage crops in wetland areas. Mink, on the other hand, are predators rather than habitat modifiers, but they can be a nuisance to farmers and property owners when they prey on domestic poultry or fish in private ponds. While not as destructive as beavers or muskrats in terms of landscape alteration, their presence near human settlements can lead to conflicts. Managing these species often involves habitat modification, exclusion techniques, and, in cases of severe damage, trapping or relocation efforts to mitigate their impact while balancing conservation needs.
Rodents
Ontario is home to several rodent species that can become nuisances due to their impact on homes, businesses, and agriculture. The most problematic rodents include Norway rats, roof rats, house mice, and voles. Norway rats are large, burrowing rodents commonly found in urban and rural areas, where they infest buildings, contaminate food supplies, and cause structural damage by gnawing on wood, wiring, and pipes. Roof rats, though less common, are excellent climbers and often nest in attics, walls, and ceilings, leading to similar property damage and health risks. House mice are smaller but reproduce rapidly, making them a persistent problem in homes, barns, and warehouses, where they spread disease and contaminate food. Voles, also known as meadow mice, are more of an outdoor nuisance, causing damage to lawns, gardens, and orchards by feeding on roots, bark, and vegetation while creating extensive tunnel systems. These rodents also pose health risks, as they can carry diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonella. Effective control measures include sealing entry points to buildings, proper food storage, habitat modification, and the use of traps or rodenticides when necessary. Managing rodent populations is essential to prevent structural damage, crop losses, and the spread of disease, particularly in urban centers and agricultural areas.
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