An industrial building housing a logistics company in Candiac, on the South Shore, sought our expertise after detecting the presence of raccoons in the warehouse, particularly in the technical space located above the administrative offices. Employees had reported moving noises in the false ceilings at the end of the day, and excrement had been found in the archive room. The situation was worrying both for the sanitation of the workspaces and for the integrity of the electrical wiring, which was likely to be damaged by the characteristic gnawing of these animals. The building, built in 2003, was located near a wooded ditch along Route 132, a natural corridor regularly used by local wildlife.
Industrial inspection and access mapping
The inspection covered the entire building envelope: flat roof, ventilation boxes, façade cable entries, soffits and access hatches. Three entry points were precisely identified: two at the junction between the soffits and the masonry on the north façade, and a third at the level of a poorly closed ventilation box on the roof. Scratch marks on the gutters and hairs stuck in the fences confirmed regular passages, probably for several weeks. Inspection of the interior false ceiling, conducted with an inspection camera, revealed three roost sites with feces accumulations, nesting material, and evidence of recent activity. A phased response plan was established to ensure that the day-to-day operations of the warehouse continued to operate uninterrupted.
Inspection of the accessible electrical cables in the false ceilings revealed two areas where the protective sheaths showed superficial bite marks. These areas were reported to the building manager for follow-up by a certified electrician, in parallel with the wildlife intervention.
Progressive capture in industrial environments
Large cage traps have been installed on the roof, in front of each of the identified entry points. Inside, additional traps have been set up in the accessible technical areas, with the permission and collaboration of the company’s management. Bait made from walnuts, raisins and sardines was used, renewed every morning before the building opened. The daily verification of the traps was carried out outside of business hours to limit the impact on operations. Over five nights of intervention, five adult raccoons were captured and relocated to a wooded area beyond Saint-Constant. Our animal capture service adapts its methods to the constraints of industrial and commercial environments. You can see how we handled a similar case in our raccoon realization in commercial buildings on the South Shore.
Decontamination of soiled areas
The prolonged presence of animals had generated real biological risks in the technical areas. A complete decontamination and disinfection treatment was carried out over the weekend to avoid interference with the activities: complete removal of feces and nesting materials, enzymatic treatment of contaminated surfaces, odor neutralization, and thorough visual inspection of electrical cables to document any apparent damage. Soiled sections of insulation were replaced and access hatches were checked, cleaned and secured. A decontamination report in accordance with occupational health and safety standards has been submitted to the company’s management.
Industrial sealing and long-term prevention plan
The permanent closure of the access points was carried out with materials adapted to the industrial environment and resistant to the climatic conditions of Quebec: anodized aluminum plates, stainless steel mesh and sealants resistant to UV and extreme temperature variations. Our extermination team in Candiac provides regular follow-up for industrial buildings located in contact areas with active natural corridors. A semi-annual maintenance contract has been established, including two verification visits per year, in the spring and fall, the most active periods for wildlife in search of a home. Check out our other industrial capture achievements for more concrete examples. Our extermination services in Quebec cover the entire South Shore and are available for urgent interventions at all times.