Raccoon and Squirrel Babies Found in Attics

For release: March 16, 2006

Many homeowners surprised to find new additions to family

The first raccoon and squirrel babies were found yesterday in several attics in southern Ontario. The births are slightly earlier than normal due to the warmer weather in January and February. Although raccoon, squirrel and skunk babies tend not to leave the den/nest until they’re at least six weeks old, homeowners will often start to detect the mothers moving around soon after they are born.

“This is the first sign that spring is just around the corner,” notes Humane Wildlife Control President Bill Dowd. “We always see homeowners surprised to find four to six babies living under their roof,” he adds.

Telltale Signs of Wildlife Intrusions

Different animals exhibit unique behaviours as they care for their young, but homeowners should check for the following signs of animals in the house:

Sounds of chewing or scurrying in the roof, attic, walls, chimney, vents or basement • Any damaged building materials (soffit, shingles, eavestroughs, roof/wall vents, foundations) that show signs of entry

Feces around entry holes or gathering in certain areas. Note: Raccoon feces are commonly infected with a roundworm known as Baylisascaris, which if ingested, can cause nausea, organ malfunction, loss of muscle control and even death

Increased activity of animals around the area

Contact with Animals Not Recommended

The public are not advised to attempt to remove, trap or kill animals. Mothers can be very aggressive and these animals carry several diseases. Trapping is illegal in Ontario and inhumane, as babies separated from their mothers will die.

Keeping Mother and Babies Together a Priority

“In some ways, it’s a great time of year to see all this new life being born,” says Dowd. “But it also causes a lot of stress on homeowners and the animals themselves as the mother instinct takes over,” he warns.

Humane Wildlife Control technicians are trained to assess each situation and determine if it’s wise to move the family or keep them intact for a few more days. There’s a risk of exposing the babies to stress when they’re very young, or not finding them all if they’ve become mobile.

We use several proven techniques to keep the families together and allow them to find alternate den or nest sites in the area. Raccoon, squirrel and skunk mothers always have backup sites they can use.

“We’ve developed a reputation for humane treatment,” stresses Dowd. In the end, this approach works best for homeowners as well as the animals.

Humane Wildlife Control (formerly AAA Wildlife Control Hamilton Inc. and AAA Wildlife Control Ottawa Inc.) has been an industry leader since 1989, and has pioneered several humane removal and exclusion techniques for a wide variety of urban animals.

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NOTE: High resolution photos of raccoon, squirrel or skunk babies available upon request.

For more information:

Bill Dowd, President
1-877-222-3459 ext 220