- October 16th, 2015 How Torontonians can co-exist with their furry neighbours, even raccoons
- October 16th, 2015 How Torontonians can co-exist with raccoons
- July 22nd, 2015 Durham Region - Humane ways to avoid conflict with wildlife in Durham
- July 15th, 2015 Yahoo News - City dwellers must co-exist with urban wildlife, experts say
- Jun 11th, 2015 City News - Owl rescued from being stuck in soccer net
- May 14th, 2015 Toronto Star - Humans not raccoons are the problem
- April 6th, 2015 CTV - Tips for keeping your home critter free
- April 6th, 2015 Global News - Toronto considering raccoon-resistant green bins
- April 6th, 2015 Newstalk 1010 - Raccoon-proof green bins & expanded blue bins on this week's city agenda
- September 20th, 2014 Inside Toronto - Company helps Scarborough senior solve raccoon problem at no cost
- August 18th, 2014 National Post - Rob Ford makes a new enemy, says he has been in 'standoffs' with fearless raccoons outside his home
- September 26, 2013 PCT Magazine - Humane Urban Wildlife Management: What Does it Really Mean?
- July 25th, 2013 The Star - Racoons: Everything you always wanted to know about them but were too busy cleaning up their mess to ask
- March 8th, 2013 The Star - Trapped Cat Survives Between Floor and Ceiling For 11 Days
- Winter 2012 Condominium Manager Magazine - Protecting Your Green Image
- December 12th, 2011 AAA Gates' Wildlife Control - Choose a Wildlife Control Company Carefully
- October 1st, 2011 The National Post - Toronto's flourishing fauna
- September 23rd, 2011 The Toronto Star - Wildlife vs. the city: Can't we get along?
- August 21st, 2011 AAA Gates' Wildlife Control - Nuisance Wildlife and Municipal Animal Services
- June 8th, 2011 The Grid - All creatures great and small
- May 20, 2011 Toronto Sun - Three albino baby raccoons found
- February 10th, 2011 AAA Gates' Wildlife Control - The Reprecussions of Live Trapping Wildlife
- November 17th, 2010 Eye Weekly - Pop-up possums! Everything you need to know about Toronto's newest immigrants
- September 28th, 2010 AAA Gates' Wildlife Control - Humane Bat Removal
- October 2010 Green Condos - A Guide for Choosing an Ethical and Humane Wildlife Control Company
- Summer 2010 Toronto Life Magazine - Gates' Wildlife Control Voted Best in the City
- July 2nd, 2010 Globe and Mail - The 'Wild West' of wildlife control
- June 15th, 2010 ACMO Tech - Solving Wildlife Problems: Challenges Confronting Property Managers
- May 6th, 2010 The Record - Raccoon in attic led to Kitchener blaze
- February 2nd, 2010 The Toronto Star - City's Coyotes Popping Up Again
- January 14th, 2010 Newmarket Era - Lone coyote roaming around Glenway club
- May 11th, 2009 City TV News - Wildlife Crew Finds Rare Albino Raccoon At Contruction Site
- March 30th, 2009 City TV News - Creature Comforts How To Stop Wildlife From Invading Your Property
- February 24th, 2009 The Toronto Star - Coyote attacks prompt city to take action
- April 24th, 2008 City TV News - Raccoon Fatally Injured After Leg Caught In Barbaric Trap
- August 20th, 2007 City TV News - Raccoon Sways Lamp Post, Crowd
Tips for keeping your home critter-free
CTV News
By CTVNews.ca Staff | Tuesday, April 14, 2015
With the spring season now in full swing, homeowners have to contend with pesky critters on their property and in their homes.
It is generally not recommended that homeowners try to remove animals by themselves, says Brad Gates of AAA Gates' Wildlife Control. Instead, call a professional company that has experience dealing with small animals.
Gates said, at this time of year, it is especially important to leave it to a wildlife control company because most animals have babies in the home that will die if they are removed from their mother.

It is illegal in Ontario to relocate any wildlife more than one kilometre, so leave it to the professionals to transport animals away from your property.
Once the professionals have removed the animals, here are some steps from the Humane Society that you can take to keep your home pest-free:
- Review your home for any new holes in the roof or under the porch or deck. Also check for any open chimney shafts.
- Temporarily plug any new holes with insulation, paper or cloths that an animal who may be using the space can easily push aside. After a few days, check to see if the material has moved. If it hasn't, you can seal the opening.
- Trim tree branches and keep any vines away from your roof, as it's the easiest way for animals to enter your home.
- Choose a metal chimney vent over a plastic one, as they are harder for animals to get through.
- Clean up any debris that has collected in your gutters or around your home’s foundation.
- Keep an eye out for any roof shingles or insulation on your property. This is a "sure sign" that an animal has made it inside your attic, Gates said.
Gates said most of his calls at this time of year are concerning raccoons, whose babies are vocal upon birth. But in about a month's time his company gets inundated with calls for squirrels, as the newly born squirrels become more active.
"What prompts people to call us in about a month's time for squirrels is that those babies now become mobile. They're able to walk around," he said. "When a homeowner thought they only had one squirrel in the attic, now they're hearing six or seven."
Homeowners should also be wary of any animal feces which could cause health problems if ingested by small children, Gates said.