Living Alongside Wildlife: A Fall Home Check for Kitchener-Waterloo

Fall is a good time to enjoy the trails, parks and neighbourhoods of Kitchener-Waterloo—and to prepare your home for colder weather. The Grand River and the green spaces around it are part of the landscape we share with wildlife. Residents may see raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes and mice moving through the area as animals look for food and shelter. The Walter Bean Grand River Trail, for example, runs through Kitchener and Waterloo as well as Cambridge.

Seeing wildlife outdoors doesn’t mean an animal needs help or should be removed. The goal is to let wildlife remain wild while reducing the chance that our homes become a source of food or shelter.

Here are some areas Kitchener-Waterloo homeowners can check this fall.

Start With Your Yard

Living alongside wildlife doesn’t mean making your property completely unwelcoming to nature. A few simple steps can help keep animals from becoming accustomed to finding food around people.

Take a walk around your yard and:

• Secure garbage and compost bins so raccoons and other wildlife can’t get inside.
• Pick up fallen fruit and nuts from under trees.
• Remove rotting vegetables and leftover food from gardens.
• Clean up spilled birdseed beneath feeders.
• Bring pet food and water dishes indoors when they aren’t being used.
• Clean outdoor cooking areas and barbecues after use.
• Keep brush and yard debris tidy to reduce potential hiding places.

Feeding wildlife may seem helpful as winter approaches, but it can cause animals to rely on people for food and increase the chance of conflict. Local rules differ: Kitchener prohibits feeding wildlife, while Waterloo prohibits feeding wildlife in a way that creates a nuisance. Bird feeders are allowed in Kitchener, but should be kept clean to prevent spilled seed from attracting other animals.

Check Your Shed and Garage

Sheds, detached garages and other outbuildings can offer wildlife a quiet, sheltered place to enter or hide. During your fall cleanup:

• Check around doors for gaps.
• Inspect the roofline, siding and vents for damage.
• Look for digging near the base of the structure.
• Store birdseed, grass seed and pet food in secure containers.
• Watch for droppings, nesting material or gnaw marks.

If you think an animal is already inside, don’t immediately close the opening. First make sure it has a safe way to leave.

Take a Look at Your Roofline

The roofline is easy to overlook, but damaged soffits, vents or gaps can allow wildlife into an attic. From the ground, look for:

• Loose or damaged soffits
• Damaged roof or attic vents
• Gaps along the roofline
• Loose or damaged roofing materials
• Signs of chewing or pulling
• Tree branches reaching the roof
• Grease marks or other signs of repeated animal activity

Scratching, scurrying or movement in the attic may also indicate that an animal has made its way inside.

Don’t Forget the Foundation

Wildlife problems don’t always begin on the roof. Mice can use small openings around a home’s exterior, so check the foundation and lower levels too.

Look around window sills, utility lines and pipes, exterior vents, garage doors and places where different building materials meet. Finding vulnerable spots early can help you understand where an animal might enter.

Check Under Decks and Porches

The space beneath a deck, porch or shed can provide shelter. Before closing off an opening, check for signs of current activity, such as fresh digging, tracks, droppings, nesting material or repeated visits.

If you suspect an animal is using the space, don’t block its exit. Give it an opportunity to leave safely, and seek guidance if you’re unsure how to proceed.

Protect Your Pets Too

Raccoons, coyotes, skunks and other wildlife may be active in Kitchener-Waterloo during the fall. Pet owners can reduce the chance of an encounter by supervising pets outdoors, keeping dogs leashed on walks, keeping cats indoors and bringing pet food inside.

If you see wildlife while walking with your pet, give the animal plenty of space and don’t approach it.

Know When Wildlife Needs Help

A raccoon crossing your yard, a squirrel gathering food or a coyote passing through the neighbourhood doesn’t necessarily mean the animal needs assistance. If an animal appears sick or injured, contact a local animal-welfare or wildlife resource for guidance instead of trying to capture or care for it yourself. Young wildlife can appear to be alone when a parent is nearby, so give the animal space and ask for advice before intervening.

The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth supports sick and injured wildlife in its contracted service areas, working with licensed wildlife rescues to assess and transfer animals when needed. Service coverage varies by municipality; if you live outside its contracted area, contact your local municipality to find out who provides wildlife support there.

When healthy wildlife has entered an attic, wall, shed or another part of a home, the concern is different. The animal needs a safe way out, and the entry point should be addressed once it has left. The Humane Society refers residents seeking humane removal of nuisance wildlife to Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.

Fall Is a Good Time to Check Your Kitchener-Waterloo Home

Wildlife is part of Kitchener-Waterloo’s neighbourhoods and natural spaces. Protecting your home doesn’t mean preventing animals from living in the community. It means reducing food attractants, checking for possible entry points and responding carefully when an animal is already inside.

Before winter, walk around your yard, shed, garage and home. Look for signs of wildlife activity, pick up fallen fruit and spilled seed, secure garbage and check the roofline and foundation.

If wildlife has entered your home, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control can help identify how it got inside, arrange for humane removal and protect vulnerable areas from future entry. Taking a few steps now can help you enjoy seeing wildlife outdoors while keeping your home a safe distance away.