A manager of an apartment building located in a residential area of Beloeil, on the South Shore, called our team after several tenants reported persistent noises in the walls and under the floors of the units on the ground floor. The presence of raccoons had been suspected from the start because of characteristic excrement found in the inner courtyard, near the common garbage cans. A thorough inspection was necessary before undertaking any intervention, especially since the building, built in the 1980s, had several points of vulnerability on the façade and roof. The situation also had a direct impact on the quality of life of residents, many of whom reported unpleasant odours in their units.
Complete diagnosis of the building
Our technicians carried out an inspection of the entire building, covering the perimeter outside the ground, the roof, the soffits, the chimneys and the crawl space spaces. Two raccoons had established a roost in the space between the flat roof and the false ceiling of two adjacent units, operating a damaged soffit on the north side. Accumulated droppings, nesting materials (leaves, torn insulation) and scratch marks confirmed prolonged occupation of several weeks. No young raccoons were detected during the inspection, allowing for direct intervention without a biological waiting period. Detailed photographs of each access point were taken to constitute a complete file submitted to the manager.
Inspection of the crawl space under the building also revealed traces of smaller animals, probably mice, but not directly related to the raccoon problem. The manager received a separate recommendation for this item, to be addressed in a second phase. The priority was clearly the capture of raccoons and the securing of the roof.
Trap and capture raccoons
Our team installed large cage traps, suitable for adult raccoons, at the two entrances identified on the roof. The traps were securely secured to prevent movement in windy conditions and partially covered to reduce stress on the captured animals. Bait made of ripe fruit and sardines has been placed inside, renewed daily to maintain their attractiveness. The two individuals were captured in two consecutive nights, then relocated to a forested area several kilometres from Beloeil, beyond the Richelieu River corridor, in accordance with the practices recommended by the Quebec Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks. Our pest capture service takes care of all the steps, from capture to responsible relocation. You can also see how we solved a similar case in our realization of capturing raccoons in a residential building.
Decontamination of the soiled space
The accumulation of excrement and urine in the attic space represented a real health risk for the residents of the two units concerned. A thorough decontamination and disinfection operation was carried out: manual removal of all soiled nesting material, treatment of surfaces with an approved enzymatic disinfectant, neutralization of residual odors and elimination of pheromones. The damaged insulation was completely replaced with a new moisture-resistant material. This step is essential to discourage other animals from occupying this space in the future, as the residual odours left behind by raccoons can attract new individuals who perceive the area as an established roosting site.
A decontamination report was provided to the manager, documenting all the measures taken and the materials used, useful in particular in the context of transparency obligations towards the affected tenants.
Building sealing and future prevention
The closure of all identified access points was carried out with bite and weather resistant materials: galvanized wire mesh, reinforced aluminum plates and durable sealants. Damaged soffits were replaced with models with a reinforced structure. Our extermination team in Beloeil is well aware of the wildlife issues specific to residential buildings in the region, especially those located near shorelines and parks. The building management received a detailed report with the preventive measures to be monitored on a semi-annual basis. Check out our other housing animal capture projects to find out how we work in various types of buildings on the South Shore. Our extermination company offers a post-intervention follow-up service adapted to building managers wishing to keep their buildings free of harmful fauna season after season.