Who should you call?
“Animal control” can mean municipal animal welfare, public-health response or private wildlife exclusion. The correct choice depends on the animal’s condition and whether it is simply outdoors or has entered a building.
Situation
A raccoon or squirrel is living in your attic, roof, wall, chimney, deck or shed
Call
A licensed wildlife-removal company
Why
The property needs an entry-point inspection, humane exclusion and structural sealing. Municipal response does not replace building repairs.
Situation
Wildlife appears sick, injured, unusually aggressive or unable to move normally
Call
Toronto Animal Services through 311
Why
This may be an animal-welfare or public-safety situation. Keep people and pets away and do not attempt capture.
Situation
A person or pet was bitten or scratched by a raccoon, skunk or bat
Call
Public health or emergency veterinary guidance first
Why
Possible rabies exposure is a health issue before it is a property-removal issue.
Situation
A wild animal is outdoors and behaving normally
Call
Usually no removal is required
Why
Seeing wildlife outside is normal in Toronto. Secure food and garbage and give the animal an escape route.
Situation
You smell a dead animal inside a wall, attic or crawl space
Call
A private dead-animal removal service
Why
Locating and accessing an animal inside a private structure requires inspection and may require opening and treating a cavity.
What 311 and animal services handle
- Sick, injured or distressed wildlife
- Public-safety concerns involving animals
- Guidance when wildlife may pose a rabies risk
- Municipal reporting and response direction
What private wildlife removal handles
- Attic, roof, wall, chimney, deck and shed inspections
- Species identification and checks for dependent young
- One-way doors and humane exclusion
- Metal screening, flashing and entry-point sealing
Common questions
Does the City of Toronto remove raccoons from attics for free?
Routine removal from a private attic, roof, chimney, wall cavity, deck or shed is generally handled by the property owner through a wildlife-removal company. Call 311 when the animal is sick, injured, trapped in a way that creates an immediate welfare concern, or presents a public-safety risk.
What does professional wildlife removal include?
A proper service identifies the species and every active entry point, checks for dependent young, installs the appropriate one-way exclusion system, confirms the animals have left, and seals the openings with materials they cannot readily reopen.
Why not trap and relocate the raccoon myself?
Relocation does not repair the opening, can separate a mother from dependent young, and is restricted by Ontario wildlife rules. Exclusion lets the animal leave while the entry point is repaired so another animal cannot occupy the same space.
Is wildlife removal free?
Private-property wildlife removal is a paid building and exclusion service. Durapest service starts at $295; the final scope depends on the species, access, number of openings and sealing required. You receive the price before work begins.
Official information
For municipal response and current wildlife guidance, consult the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario directly: