Blog - Page 8 of 14 - Wildlifeshield.ca

28 Aug

What is The Average Lifespan of a Grey Squirrel?

The average lifespan of a grey squirrel in the wild is between 1 and 4 years although there are rare cases of free-roaming squirrels living up to 13 years. The longest recorded lifespan of a squirrel in captivity is 20 years. The animal’s life expectancy depends on a number of variables.

One variable is wintertime conditions. Grey squirrels do not hibernate and spend extended hours in their nests during harsh weather. Prolonged or severe winter can minimize the squirrel’s ability to find food while heavy snow cover can limit its ability to recover buried nuts. Desperate squirrels are known to exhibit cannibalistic behaviour, eating members of their species. Read More →

26 Aug

What to Do If a Squirrel Bite You

Squirrels are not naturally aggressive and a squirrel biting a human is extremely rare. In fact, you are statistically more likely to get bitten by another human than by a squirrel. That being said, these are still wild animals and may attack if they feel threatened or cornered. A mother squirrel can also be more aggressive than usual.

Most people get bitten when they attempt to capture or transport squirrels or accidentally while feeding them by hand. Read More →

24 Aug

Why Are There So Many Black Squirrels in Toronto

Black squirrels are actually the Eastern Grey Squirrel. The difference in colour comes from a genetic anomaly that prevents their fur from turning grey. Most people agree that black squirrels seem to be dominating the wildlife scene in Toronto. Scientists theorize a few reasons why this might be the case although it is difficult to say conclusively why there are so many black squirrels in Toronto compared to their grey counterparts. Read More →

22 Aug

What Predators Squirrels Have in Toronto

Squirrels are cute, furry animals and it is difficult to imagine anyone wanting to eat them. Unfortunately, wild animals don’t follow the same rationale while hunting food so the squirrels have many natural predators in the wild including weasels, coyotes, foxes, wildcats and snakes.

Granted that squirrels have fewer predators in Toronto but the rodents still don’t relinquish their position on the food chain. Common squirrel predators in Toronto include: Read More →

20 Aug

What Do Raccoons Eat in Cities

Raccoons are omnivorous animals so the easy answer to the question what do raccoons eat in cities is; virtually anything the critters can get their paws on.

Raccoons will gladly eat pet food left outside overnight, rotting vegetables and worms in compost, bird food, and leftovers in trash cans, fish inside decorative ponds, eggs and small birds in chicken coops, and fruits and berries from fruit trees. Although they are out of their natural environment in cities, raccoons still have an abundance of food choices in most cases. Read More →

18 Aug

What Do Raccoons Eat in the Wild?

Raccoons that live in the wild tend to settle down in forests as near as they can get to a body of water. However, some wild raccoons also live in rural and urban areas. Housing and business development destroy forestry, and so the raccoon must adapt to a new environment. So, what does a raccoon eat in the wild, whether living in the forest or among rural and urban living conditions? Read More →

16 Aug

Signs of Raccoons in the House

Hearing animals in your attic, walls or crawlspaces doesn’t necessarily mean that raccoons are the culprit. Other animals that may break into the house include rats, mice, squirrels and bats. Positively identifying the animal is the first crucial steps to successfully removing wildlife from your home in Ontario. There are a few signs which indicate that the offending animal is indeed a raccoon. Read More →

14 Aug

Is it Possible to Protect Wires from Squirrels?

Squirrels cause great damage to property but the most pressing concern is their habit of chewing through electrical wires. Exposed wires are a serious fire hazard, expose your children and pets to electrocution and may cause a blackout or short-circuit your electric.

Squirrels chew through wire insulation manly to sharpen their teeth, make the teeth stronger or to control the teeth’s growth-rate. Like most rodents, squirrel teeth grow quickly and out of control. The animal has to gnaw constantly to reduce the growth and to ‘trim’ the teeth. Read More →

12 Aug

Is It a Good Idea to Have a Raccoon as a Pet Animal?

The Short Answer: No

Raccoons are cute and look nice to cuddle with while watching them scampering about can be wildly amusing. Wanting to keep a raccoon as a pet is a natural desire for many people but before getting into why this is a bad idea, you need to first check with your provincial and municipal laws on whether it is legal in the first place. Read More →

10 Aug

How Would Your Pick A Raccoon Removal Company

Hiring a raccoon removal company in Toronto is definitely the right thing to do if you have raccoons present in or around your house. DIY removal almost always ends in failure and is dangerous both for you and for the wildlife.

Picking the right company doesn’t have to be time-consuming, confusing or frustrating as long as you have covered a few basic areas. Many homeowners might want to consider the price of the service but this should only come into consideration once all other aspects have been satisfied. Read More →

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