Five Tips and Methods for Preventing and Trapping Raccoons in Ontario

Let’s be honest—raccoons are impressive little engineers. They scale fences, undo latches, even shimmy down chimneys like they own the place. One night your trash bin is upright and untouched. The next morning, it’s been flipped, rifled through, and half your compost is scattered across the driveway like confetti.

They’re not just scavengers. They’re problem solvers. And once they’ve identified your property as a reliable food stop or nesting spot, they’re not in a rush to leave. But prevention, paired with proper trapping for raccoon removal when necessary, can tip the balance back in your favour.

And if that raccoon seems a little too comfortable—wandering around mid-day, not reacting to claps, car horns, or your dog barking behind the patio door—it might not be fearless. It could be sick. Distemper, which causes neurological symptoms in raccoons, can make them appear calm or even dazed. These aren’t animals you want to approach. Let trained professionals handle that situation.

For everything else, here are five hard-earned lessons from Ontario wildlife specialists—methods that work when raccoons are just being raccoons.

1. Remove What’s Feeding the Problem

No wild animal sticks around without a reason. In almost every case we’ve responded to, food is the primary motivator. Leftovers in the green bin, kibble on the porch, half a sandwich in the compost—it all reads as a dinner invitation that will attract raccoons.

Lock up your garbage. That doesn’t mean loosely closing the lid. Use a heavy-duty bin with clamps or switch to raccoon-proof trash cans that require opposable thumbs to open. Don’t leave pet food outdoors unless you’re willing to share it. And if you have a fruit tree, pick it clean and gather fallen fruit daily.

Bird feeders? They might seem innocent, but they’re often the unintentional starter pistol for nighttime raids. Either bring them in or switch to models with bafflers that discourage raccoons from climbing up and reaching in.

2. Scan for Weak Points

You’d be surprised how small an opening needs to be before a mother raccoon sees it as a viable nursery. Roofline gaps, uncapped chimneys, torn soffits, and attic vents are all fair game.

Listen carefully around dusk. Chattering, scratching, thumping—these sounds often mean baby raccoons are nearby, tucked inside insulation or curled up in wall cavities.

We’ve seen adult raccoons push vents open like swinging saloon doors, then drag entire sections of insulation into a quiet corner. Damage adds up fast, and once nesting begins, things get more complicated.

So don’t seal anything until you’re sure the animals are out. Otherwise, you risk creating an even worse situation: young raccoons trapped inside without their mother.

3. Trap Intelligently—or Don’t Bother

If you’re considering a DIY raccoon removal approach, understand that not all raccoon traps are built alike. 

Go for live cage traps. The kind with a trap door triggered by a pressure plate. Size matters—raccoon-size cage traps are typically large metal cages, built to fit an entire animal without causing stress or injury.

The bait? Marshmallows are oddly effective. Sweet, sticky, and not particularly appealing to cats. Canned tuna or peanut butter on bread works too. Just don’t place the bait at the front of the trap. That’s rookie stuff. You want the raccoon to step fully inside before triggering the mechanism—otherwise, they’ll grab the food and bolt.

We’ve seen traps fail because someone tossed in a chicken bone and called it a day. Placement and patience matter more than the food itself.

4. Make Your Property Less Welcoming

Noisemakers, flashing lights, motion-activated sprinklers—these might not keep raccoons away forever, but they can make your attic seem less inviting. If a raccoon feels the space isn’t secure or quiet, she’ll often relocate her kits voluntarily.

It’s not a foolproof way to prevent raccoons from taking up residence, but it could help. And no, ammonia-soaked rags aren’t a silver bullet. But layered deterrents work better than relying on one flashy gadget. 

5. Know When to Pick Up the Phone

Sometimes, the smartest move is to call someone who’s seen it all before. You might not know there are multiple raccoons. You might trap one and not realize her babies are still hidden in your attic, slowly starving.

At SWAT Wildlife, we inspect. We track entry points. We deal with both adult raccoons and their young. And after removal, we raccoon-proof your home so the problem doesn’t come back next spring.

Take a look at our raccoon removal FAQs if you’re unsure about the process.. We’ll walk you through next steps, no pressure.

Final Word: Prevention Is Everything

The best raccoon problem is the one that never starts. By securing your garbage, removing attractants, and using traps only when necessary, you can stop a minor inconvenience from turning into a full-blown infestation. And when in doubt, don’t hesitate to call trained professionals. Need help now? Contact us today. Let SWAT Wildlife take care of your raccoon problem—safely, humanely, and permanently.