What it usually means, the likely causes in order, what to safely try first, what a pro charges in Canada, and when to stop and call one.
This guide covers the common cases. Describe your exact problem and get a personalized diagnosis — free to start, with a DIY vs. call-a-pro verdict and a real cost estimate.
Scratching, thumping, or scurrying overhead, most often at dawn, dusk, or overnight, usually means squirrels, raccoons, or similar wildlife have found an access gap in the roofline, soffit, or vents and are using the attic or a wall void as shelter. Attics offer exactly what these animals want: warmth, quiet, and protection for young. The time of day you hear activity is a genuine identification clue, since raccoons are mostly nocturnal while squirrels are active by day. Wildlife in the structure is not just noise; animals chew, soil insulation, and can damage wiring, ducting, and the very opening they came in through.
This worsens if delayed, so book an inspection promptly rather than waiting out the season. Young are often born in attics in spring, and removal timing then matters a great deal for humane and legal reasons. Act sooner if you smell a strong odour, see staining on a ceiling below the attic, find droppings, or hear activity that suggests an animal may be stuck or has died in a void. Do not seal any opening while you still hear activity inside.
The most common cause: a lifted shingle edge, a rotted soffit corner, a missing vent screen, or a gap where two roof planes meet. Raccoons can enlarge a weak spot with surprising strength, and squirrels need only a small opening, so the entry is often bigger or more damaged than homeowners expect.
Tree limbs close to or touching the roof act as a highway, letting squirrels and raccoons reach the roofline easily and repeatedly. Homes with heavy canopy cover get repeat visits even after one entry is sealed, because the animals can test the whole perimeter at leisure from above.
Open chimneys and unscreened vents are ready-made cavities. Birds, squirrels, and raccoons all use them, and an animal that enters a chimney flue or vent stack may not be able to climb back out, which turns a shelter problem into a trapped-animal problem quickly.
Unsecured garbage, outdoor pet food, bird feeders, and fallen fruit bring wildlife close nightly, and a compost or sheltered deck void gives them a base near the house. From there, exploring the roofline is a short step, especially for a mother looking for a den site in spring.
| Job size | Typical estimate (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Simple fix — the straightforward version of this repair | $135–$300 |
| Major job — complex, hidden, or replacement-level work | $300–$900 |
Estimates only, calibrated to Greater Toronto Area trade rates and adjusted by region on this site — not a quote. Your exact price depends on the cause, parts, and access. A personalized diagnosis narrows this range using your specific symptom.
Homeowner work here is observation, securing food and garbage, and documenting entry damage from the ground. Removal, exclusion, and repair belong with a licensed wildlife operator in most cases, and in Ontario this work is regulated for good reason. A pro identifies the species, checks for dependent young before any removal, uses one-way doors or humane methods in the correct sequence, and only then seals and reinforces every entry. Never seal wildlife inside a structure: an animal trapped in walls will damage its way out or die in the void, creating a far worse problem.
Not while animals may be inside, which is the situation most people are in when they find the hole. Sealing traps the animal in the structure, where it can cause major damage trying to escape or die in an inaccessible void. Proper exclusion confirms the space is empty, often using a one-way door that lets animals leave and not return, and only then is the opening permanently sealed and reinforced.
Timing and weight are the best clues without seeing the animal. Squirrels are daytime animals, light and quick, with fast scurrying often at dawn and again before dusk. Raccoons are nocturnal, heavier, and sound like slow, deliberate thumping or walking overhead at night. A professional will confirm with droppings, tracks, and the size of the entry, since the reinforcement needed for raccoons is substantially stronger.
That is common in spring and it changes the plan. Dependent young cannot be separated from their mother, and reputable operators time the work so the mother can move or retrieve her young, or they reunite the family outside in a warming box near the entry. This is a strong reason to use a licensed, humane operator rather than rushing: a removal that ignores young leaves them to die in the structure.
Sometimes a seasonal visitor moves on, but you cannot count on it, and the entry gap, soiled insulation, and scent marking remain attractive to the next animal even if this one leaves. An opened roofline also invites water in. The reliable approach is inspection, humane removal or one-way exclusion at the right time, then sealing and reinforcing every entry point so the attic stops being an option.
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