A retail store specializing in gardening items, located in the commercial area of Saint-Liboire in Montérégie, reported the presence of raccoons in its rear storage room. The owner first noticed damage to the stored product packages and then discovered droppings on the bottom shelves. Saint-Liboire, a municipality neighbouring Saint-Hyacinthe whose residential and commercial neighbourhoods rub shoulders with the surrounding farmland, is an area where raccoons frequently move between natural and urbanized areas. The presence of animals in a commercial premises raised immediate health issues and could compromise the establishment’s compliance. Nova Extermination mobilized a team quickly to resolve the situation.
Technical diagnosis on the commercial building
The inspection covered the entire outer perimeter of the business, with particular attention paid to loading areas, basement windows, cable ducts and ventilation ducts. Two entry points were identified: a basement window at the base of the rear wall with a fractured plastic grille, and a gap between the brick cladding and the concrete slab under the delivery dock. Scratch marks on the frames, imprints in the grease on the ground and fresh droppings confirmed regular visits for several weeks. The interior inspection of the storage room revealed limited but significant contamination: droppings, hair and damage to several packaged items. The absence of an active nest inside indicated that the animals used the premises primarily to search for food waste, without having established a permanent habitat. Our extermination team in Saint-Liboire is familiar with the wildlife corridors in this area, where Highway 20 borders farmland, and adapts its diagnosis accordingly.
Targeted capture in a commercial context
For this type of case, the capture of raccoons must be planned to integrate with the operations of the business. The live-trap cages were installed after closing and checked every morning before opening, so as never to disturb customers or employees. Two traps have been positioned at the identified entrances, baited with strong-smelling food. Over three nights, two adults were captured and relocated in accordance with provincial regulations. A 48-hour check with no additional activity closed the capture phase. The intervention report has been documented for trade records, useful for any regulatory audit or inspection. Our similar interventions are documented in our realization on another business in the region.
Decontamination of the storage room
The storage room has been completely decontaminated and disinfected . Damaged or contaminated items were segregated according to commercial waste management protocols. The shelves, floor and walls of the room were cleaned with a broad-spectrum disinfectant and then rinsed. An enzymatic treatment neutralized the residual odors and pheromones left by the animals. The ventilation of the room was checked to ensure air quality before being put back into service. Employees were informed of the health risks associated with raccoons and the hygiene measures to be followed if new signs of intrusion were to be observed.
Access closure and sustainable preventive measures
The fractured basement window was replaced by a tightly meshed galvanized steel model, resistant to shocks and intrusion attempts by animals. The space under the delivery dock was filled with hydraulic concrete and covered with a bolted galvanized sheet metal panel. The entire low perimeter of the building was inspected and vulnerable areas were treated preventively. Closing ports of entry is the most important step in ensuring the sustainability of the results. The owner also received recommendations on waste management: securing the outdoor bin with a lockable lid, avoiding any food storage outside and keeping the surroundings clean. These good practices, combined with the closure work, ensure lasting protection against recurrences in this active sector of the Montérégie.