Wildlife Removal Laws in Ontario
Raccoons can damage soffits, roof vents, chimneys, fascia and attics when they enter a home. Ontario law generally allows property owners to take action when wildlife is damaging or is about to damage their property, but homeowners must follow provincial wildlife rules.
One of the most important rules is the 1-kilometre relocation limit. A live raccoon captured while protecting property generally must be released within 24 hours and within 1 kilometre of where it was captured.
This means a homeowner cannot trap a raccoon and drive it several kilometres away to release it in a park, forest, rural area or another community.
For most Ontario homeowners, the better long-term approach is humane wildlife exclusion. This involves determining how the raccoon entered, checking whether young are present, safely removing or excluding the animals, and securing the entry point to help prevent another wildlife problem.
Can You Trap and Relocate Raccoons in Ontario?
Ontario rules generally allow property owners to capture and relocate most wildlife that is damaging or about to damage their property, subject to provincial wildlife laws and any applicable local rules.
If a raccoon is captured alive:
- The animal generally must be released within 24 hours.
- It must be released within 1 kilometre of the capture location.
- Permission is required before releasing wildlife on someone else’s private property.
- Wildlife must be handled humanely and must not be subjected to unnecessary suffering.
- Municipal bylaws and other applicable laws must also be followed.
Long-distance raccoon relocation is therefore not an appropriate legal solution in Ontario.
The relocation limit also helps reduce the risk of moving wildlife diseases into new areas and keeps animals within or near their existing home range.
Why Trapping Alone Does Not Solve a Raccoon Problem
Removing a raccoon does not automatically solve the reason it entered the property.
If the animal gained access through a damaged soffit, roof vent, fascia board, chimney, roof intersection or another opening, that access point remains available after the animal is removed.
Another raccoon, squirrel or other wildlife may eventually use the same opening.
Effective raccoon removal in Ontario should therefore address two separate problems:
- The raccoon currently using the property.
- The structural opening that allowed the animal to enter.
Finding and securing entry points is one of the most important parts of long-term wildlife control. Homeowners dealing with attic activity can also read more about how to get rid of raccoons in an attic.
What Can Ontario Homeowners Legally Do About Raccoons?
When wildlife is damaging or is about to damage private property, Ontario homeowners may generally take steps to protect the property, including deterrence, live capture and humane exclusion, subject to applicable wildlife laws.
For raccoons entering houses, humane exclusion is often more practical than repeatedly trapping and relocating animals.
A wildlife inspection should determine:
- where the raccoon entered
- whether the attic or roof space is still occupied
- whether dependent young are present
- whether additional entry points exist
- what areas of the roof are vulnerable
- whether repairs or reinforcement are required
- whether contamination or property damage has occurred
Homeowners must also consider municipal bylaws, which can vary between Ontario municipalities.
DIY wildlife control involving firearms, poisons, adhesives or other potentially dangerous methods should be avoided. Ontario has specific restrictions on how wildlife may be captured or killed, and additional federal, provincial and municipal laws may apply. Homeowners can also learn more about how to remove wildlife safely.
Raccoon Maternity Season and Baby Raccoons
A raccoon living inside an attic or roof space may have dependent young.
Homeowners should not permanently seal an entry point simply because they see an adult raccoon leave the property. Baby raccoons may still be inside.
There is no blanket Ontario rule that makes all raccoon removal illegal during a fixed period such as March through August. However, wildlife must be treated humanely, and dependent young must be considered before the main entry point is permanently closed.
Sealing young inside an attic can lead to:
- animal distress
- strong odours
- dead wildlife inside walls or ceilings
- contamination
- damage caused by the mother attempting to regain access
- additional openings being created in the roof or soffits
A pest control expert can help determine whether young are present and which exclusion method is appropriate.
How Humane Raccoon Removal Works in Ontario
1. Inspect the Property
The first step is identifying how the raccoon is entering the structure.
Common areas to inspect include:
- soffits
- roof vents
- fascia
- chimneys
- roof intersections
- plumbing or exhaust vents
- damaged roofing
- gaps around additions
- vulnerable areas along the roofline
The attic may also need to be inspected for tracks, droppings, nesting material, damaged insulation or other evidence of wildlife activity.
2. Check for Young Raccoons
Before exclusion begins, it is important to determine whether dependent raccoons are inside the attic, roof or den area.
This is especially important during periods when female raccoons may be raising young.
The removal strategy may need to be adjusted when babies are present.
3. Exclude the Raccoon
Where appropriate, a professional wildlife exclusion system may allow the raccoon to leave while preventing normal re-entry.
The exact method depends on:
- where the raccoon entered
- the structure of the building
- whether young are present
- how many potential access points exist
Simply blocking the opening without checking the property first can create additional problems.
4. Secure the Entry Point
Once the raccoons have been safely excluded, the damaged or vulnerable areas should be repaired or reinforced.
Common raccoon entry points include:
- soffits
- roof vents
- fascia boards
- chimney openings
- roof intersections
- loose roofing materials
- gaps along roof edges
- damaged exterior construction
Wildlife-proofing these areas helps reduce the chance of another raccoon entering later. Many of the same structural weaknesses are also common pest entry points around homes.
5. Inspect for Damage and Contamination
Raccoons can cause significant damage after entering an attic.
Possible problems include:
- compressed or damaged insulation
- raccoon droppings
- urine contamination
- nesting material
- damaged ductwork
- damaged vapour barriers
- damaged soffits or roofing
- contaminated attic surfaces
Cleanup, sanitation, insulation replacement or restoration should be recommended based on the actual condition of the property.
Why Ontario Limits Wildlife Relocation
Moving a raccoon far away may sound humane, but long-distance wildlife relocation can create additional problems.
Moving animals between areas may contribute to the spread of wildlife diseases. Relocated animals may also struggle to find familiar food sources, shelter and territory.
Ontario therefore generally requires captured wildlife being relocated for property protection to be released within 1 kilometre of the capture location.
The better approach is usually to remove the reason the property is attracting wildlife and prevent the animal from getting back inside.
That may involve:
- repairing roof damage
- securing garbage
- reinforcing roof vents
- installing chimney protection
- repairing soffits
- removing accessible food sources
- trimming branches that provide roof access
- sealing vulnerable openings
Can a Wildlife Removal Company Help?
Ontario property owners may hire qualified wildlife removal professionals to assist with wildlife problems.
Professional wildlife removal is particularly useful when:
- the animal is inside an attic or roof
- dependent young may be present
- the entry point is high above the ground
- multiple openings may exist
- the roof or soffits are damaged
- raccoons repeatedly return
- wildlife contamination is present
- homeowners are unsure how the animal entered
A professional approach should focus on humane removal, exclusion and prevention rather than simply moving the animal somewhere else.
FAQs About Raccoon Removal Laws in Ontario
How far can I relocate a raccoon in Ontario?
A live raccoon captured under Ontario property-protection rules generally must be released within 1 kilometre of where it was captured.
How quickly must a trapped raccoon be released?
Live wildlife captured for property protection generally must be released within 24 hours.
Can I drive a trapped raccoon to another town or rural area?
Generally, no. If the location is more than 1 kilometre from where the raccoon was captured, it would fall outside Ontario’s normal property-protection relocation rules.
Can I release a raccoon in a provincial park?
You should not assume that public land, parks or conservation areas are legal release locations. The safest approach is to follow Ontario’s requirement that wildlife be released within 1 kilometre of the capture location and comply with any rules applying to the release site.
Can I release a raccoon on someone else’s property?
Permission is required before wildlife is released on another person’s private property.
Can raccoons return after being relocated?
Yes. Relocation does not correct the structural problem that allowed the animal to enter the building.
If an opening remains accessible, the same raccoon or another animal may use it.
What if baby raccoons are inside the attic?
The removal process should account for the dependent young before the main opening is permanently sealed.
A wildlife inspection can help determine where the young are located and which exclusion method is appropriate.
Is raccoon removal illegal during maternity season in Ontario?
There is no blanket Ontario prohibition that makes all raccoon removal illegal during a specific March-to-August period.
However, wildlife must be treated humanely, and dependent young need to be considered before exclusion or permanent repairs are completed.
Can I permanently seal the hole after a raccoon leaves?
Not immediately unless you are certain that no animals remain inside.
The attic or den area should first be checked for dependent young and other wildlife. Once the property is confirmed clear, the entry point can be properly repaired or reinforced.
Do Ontario municipalities have their own wildlife rules?
They can. Provincial wildlife laws apply throughout Ontario, but municipalities may also have bylaws affecting activities such as firearms use, property standards, animal control or other wildlife-related activities.
Homeowners should comply with both Ontario law and any applicable municipal bylaws.
When should I call a professional wildlife removal company?
Professional raccoon removal should be considered when:
- a raccoon is living inside an attic or roof
- baby raccoons may be present
- the entry point is difficult or unsafe to reach
- soffits, vents or roofing have been damaged
- raccoons repeatedly return
- several potential entry points exist
- attic contamination may be present
- you are unsure whether the animal has completely left
Professional Raccoon Removal in Ontario
Ontario homeowners dealing with raccoons should focus on more than simply removing the animal.
The entry point should also be identified, the attic or roof checked for dependent young, and vulnerable areas secured to reduce the chance of another wildlife problem.
Where additional inspection is needed, a pest control technician can help identify pest and wildlife entry points and areas that may require further attention.
If you hear scratching or movement in your attic, notice damaged soffits or roof vents, find raccoon droppings, or have recurring wildlife activity around your home, call us now for professional raccoon removal in Ontario.