General Pest Control FAQs in the GTA
Noises in attics are extremely common in the GTA. The type of noise helps identify the pest:
Heavy thumping / dragging → Raccoons
Fast running / loud scratching → Squirrels
Light scratching or chewing inside walls → Mice
Fluttering or chirping → Birds
Late-night noises usually mean raccoons or mice. Sunrise and sunset noises usually mean squirrels.
The GTA’s dense housing, mature trees, and aging roofing structures attract wildlife. Raccoons in Toronto are widely documented for intelligent break-ins. The City of Toronto provides insight into the increasing wildlife-human interaction (source: Toronto Bed Bug & Pest Information).
Seal soffit gaps and roofline openings with steel screening.
Install raccoon-proof chimney caps.
Reinforce roof vents and attic fans.
Trim trees away from the roof.
Schedule semi-annual inspections.
Rodents (Mice & Rats)
Mouse droppings mean active infestation. Do NOT vacuum them — Public Health Ontario warns that droppings can carry bacteria (source: Public Health Ontario Bed Bug Review PDF). While this resource is specific to bed bugs, PHO provides general pest-safety advice.
Steps:
Wear gloves and disinfect the area.
Check cupboards, behind appliances, under sinks.
Look for chew marks, entry holes, food debris.
Call professional rodent control for sealing + trapping.
Mice are nocturnal (1–4 a.m.) and move through wall voids.
Common entry points:
Foundation cracks
Dryer vents, kitchen hood vents
Gaps around plumbing and furnace pipes
Damaged weatherstripping
Seal openings with steel mesh, never foam alone.
Store food airtight.
Reduce clutter.
Seal garbage.
Schedule seasonal rodent prevention.
Raccoons & Squirrels
Heavy walking
Torn insulation
Urine smell
Roof damage or large entry holes
Ontario regularly reports raccoon rabies variant activity — see the Ontario Animal Health Network update: Ontario Rabies Updates.
Raccoons cause:
Structural damage
Wiring damage (fire risk)
Biohazard contamination (urine/droppings)
Roof vents
Soffit gaps
Chimneys
Roofline openings
Birds & Vent Infestations
Birds enter through broken, loose, or plastic vent covers. You may hear fluttering or notice foul odours.
Steps:
Turn off the vent fan.
Do not run the dryer.
Call professionals for safe removal + bird-proof cover installation.
Install steel vent screens.
Replace damaged exterior vent covers.
Inspect vents each spring and fall.
Bed Bugs
Bed bug bites commonly appear as:
Clusters or zig-zag patterns
Small red swollen bumps
Itchy welts
Public Health Ontario provides science-backed information on bed bugs: Bed Bug Review (PHO).
CDC also provides medical information on bite reactions: CDC Bed Bug Information.
Look for:
Black fecal spots
Blood marks on sheets
Live bugs under seams
Shed skins
According to the Government of Canada: Bed Bug Facts – Health Canada, bed bugs spread via:
Travel (hotels/Airbnbs)
Used furniture
Public transit
Visitors
Avoid used mattresses/couches
Inspect luggage after travel
Vacuum regularly
Use mattress encasements
Cockroaches
Cockroaches enter through:
Grocery boxes
Plumbing gaps (common in apartment buildings)
Used appliances
Warm/moist kitchens
Musty smell
Droppings like black pepper
Nighttime sightings
Egg cases behind appliances
Cockroach allergens are medically linked to asthma — see the CDC-supported study:
Cockroach Allergen Exposure & Asthma.
Also:
2016 Cockroach Allergen Review – PMC.
Degrease kitchen surfaces
Seal plumbing gaps
Fix moisture
Remove clutter
Fleas & Pet Protection
Fleas spread from:
Parks & grass
Wildlife (raccoons, squirrels)
Other pets
Health Canada’s research explains flea transmission:
Flea Prevention – Health Canada.
Monthly vet-approved flea treatments
Regular grooming
Washing pet bedding
Vacuuming carpets weekly
They usually hitchhike on pets, but also enter via wildlife.
Beetles, Flies & Other Insects
Carpet beetles leave:
Small oval beetles
Shed skins
Holes in clothing or carpets
Often come from contaminated food products such as flour and cereal.
Flies come from:
Garbage bins
Drain flies from moisture
Open windows with damaged screens
University of Guelph provides entomological insight:
Environmental Entomology Research.
General Prevention
Seal all openings with steel mesh.
Install pest-proof vent covers.
Store food airtight.
Remove clutter.
Fix leaks.
Schedule regular pest-control inspections.
Call Vanish Pest Control if you notice:
Repeated noises
Droppings
Scratching in walls
Bites or marks
Roof or vent damage
Visible pests