Emergency pest control in Toronto & the GTA
Some pest and wildlife situations cannot wait for a scheduled booking. A wasp nest at a door the household uses daily, an aggressive animal cornered in a living space, a large rodent infestation active in a kitchen, or a sudden severe bed bug discovery before a planned move — these situations require same-day response and are handled as emergency calls.
The 24/7 emergency line is answered by staff who can assess whether a situation genuinely warrants immediate dispatch versus a next-morning booking. Not every call is an emergency — and sending a technician at 11 PM for a single mouse sighting that can be addressed the next morning does not serve anyone well. The assessment is honest: if it can wait, we will say so and book it promptly.
Common genuine emergency situations include: active wasp or hornet nest in a high-use area (doorway, children's play area, deck), a skunk that has sprayed inside the home or in an attached garage, a raccoon or skunk that is behaving abnormally (potential rabies concern), or a rodent infestation that is posing an immediate food safety risk in a restaurant or food-service environment.
Where you are changes what an emergency response realistically looks like. We dispatch from East York, so Toronto and the inner GTA are where an overnight or within-hours technician is most achievable. Across the extended GTA — Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham and out to Durham — an emergency call is normally handled same-day rather than in the middle of the night. In the outer markets we serve, including Barrie, Orillia, Hamilton, Burlington, Newmarket, Bowmanville and Niagara Falls, visits are scheduled in advance and we will say so on the call rather than promise an arrival we cannot make.
- Licensed & insured — Ontario Reg. 63/09
- Same-day & next-day service
- Humane methods
- 5-year warranty on sealing work
- Across the GTA, Oakville to Oshawa
- 24/7 emergency line
Situations that typically warrant emergency dispatch
- Active wasp or hornet nest within 2 metres of a door, window, or area with regular foot traffic
- Wildlife that has entered the living space of the home and cannot be contained — raccoon, skunk, or groundhog inside the basement or main floor
- A raccoon or skunk that a person or pet may have been bitten or scratched by — a potential rabies exposure
- A skunk spray that has occurred inside or in an attached garage — odour will permeate the entire structure within hours
- A rodent sighting during food service in a commercial kitchen or restaurant — health code implications
- Wildlife behaving abnormally: moving during daylight, no fear response, disoriented movement
How we handle it
Emergency intake and assessment
Call the 24/7 line. A staff member assesses the situation: the species or pest involved, the level of immediate risk, and whether same-day dispatch is appropriate. If a person or pet may have been bitten or scratched by a raccoon, skunk, or other wild animal, we advise immediate coordination with Toronto Public Health — this is a rabies exposure protocol, not just a removal call.
Same-day dispatch
Confirmed emergency situations are dispatched same-day, typically within a few hours of the call, depending on technician availability and location within the service area. The technician arrives with appropriate equipment and PPE for the specific emergency situation.
Immediate resolution
The immediate threat is resolved on the same visit: wasp nest eliminated, wildlife removed from the living space, acute odour situation assessed. If follow-up work is required — exclusion sealing, attic inspection — this is scheduled as a second visit once the emergency is contained.
Documentation and follow-up plan
After the emergency visit, a record of what was found and what was done is provided. A follow-up visit is scheduled if the situation requires additional exclusion work, population monitoring, or a treatment cycle.
If anyone has been bitten or scratched by a raccoon, skunk, or other wild animal, treat it as a potential rabies exposure and contact Toronto Public Health right away — this comes first, whether or not the animal looks ill. For everything else, call our emergency line and we will tell you honestly whether it needs a technician tonight or first thing in the morning.
View all pest control & wildlife removal services we offer across Toronto and the GTA.
Service Areas for Emergency Services
We provide specialized emergency services services in the following neighborhoods and cities:
Starting at $395
Final price depends on the animal, the number of entry points, and the sealing work needed. You get a firm quote after the inspection — no surprise charges.
Annual Protection Plan
Year-round coverage for your home or business across the GTA.
View planEmergency Services — Frequently Asked Questions
Do you really offer 24/7 emergency service?
Yes. For urgent situations — a wasp nest by the door, an aggressive animal, a sudden infestation — we have dispatch available around the clock across the GTA.
What happens when I call the emergency line at night?
A person picks up and asks what you're dealing with: the pest or animal, where it is in the property, and whether anyone has been bitten, scratched, or stung. From that we tell you one of two things — a technician is coming tonight, or this can safely wait until morning and here's the slot. We won't send someone out at midnight for a problem that a morning visit handles better, and we'll say so rather than bill you for the drive.
How fast does a technician actually get there?
Confirmed emergencies are dispatched the same day, usually within a few hours of the call. The real timing depends on which technician is free and where you are relative to our East York base — inner Toronto is faster than the outer edges of the GTA. When you call we give you a window for your actual address instead of a blanket promise.
What counts as a pest emergency and what doesn't?
A wasp or hornet nest at a door or over a play area, wildlife loose inside the living space, a skunk that has sprayed inside or in an attached garage, a possible bite or scratch from a raccoon or skunk, or rodents active during service in a commercial kitchen — those are emergencies. A single mouse sighting, ants on a counter, or a wasp nest well away from foot traffic are real problems, but they're better handled on a booked visit.
Are you available on weekends and holidays?
Yes. The emergency line runs every day of the year, including weekends and statutory holidays. Regular booked service runs Mon–Sun, 8 AM to 8 PM.
Will an after-hours call cost more than a regular visit?
Service starts at $395 and the final number depends on the pest, the property, and the scope of work. Whatever the situation, you get the price before any work starts — nobody does the job first and hands you a number afterwards.
Someone was bitten or scratched by a raccoon or skunk. What do I do first?
Treat it as a possible rabies exposure and contact Toronto Public Health straight away — that comes first, whether or not the animal looked sick. Raccoons and skunks are primary rabies-vector species in Ontario. Call us after, and don't try to trap or corner the animal yourself in the meantime.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Durapest is licensed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and operates in line with Ontario Reg. 63/09. Our technicians are trained and insured for both residential and commercial work.
Do you offer a warranty?
Yes. Treatments come with a warranty, and any sealing or exclusion work is backed by our 5-year warranty. If covered pests return within the warranty period, we come back and re-treat at no extra cost.
How soon can you come out?
We offer same-day and next-day service across most of the GTA, from Oakville to Oshawa, with 24/7 dispatch for emergencies. Call us and we'll give you a straight answer on the next available slot for your area.