Squirrel entry on mansard roof
Just before Christmas 2017 (and the big freeze), my neighbour wondered if a squirrel was doing damage to my mansard roof. Wildlife is abundant in Bloor West Village, and Gates had installed protective mesh on my roof and wall vents some years ago (referred to me by Toronto Wildlife Centre). I follow them on Facebook and see what black and red squirrels can get up to. This time, it looked as though a black squirrel had created an opening at the vulnerable junction of the electrical stack and my mansard roof. I could hear it scrambling above my front bay window where it seemed to have a cozy nest. Before engaging my roofing company (Roofworks), I called Gates to make sure we could get the squirrel out, especially before breeding season and to avoid water damage. Nick responded right away (in the depths of the cold freeze and the holiday season!) and installed a mesh cage around the stack, with a one-way door, baited with peanut butter, to encourage the squirrel to exit. The following week, Nick checked back and verified that the squirrel appeared to have left the building. As we are now into a rainy period and the repair has been done, peace of mind is priceless, especially knowing that no animal was harmed in the process. Although the neighbours tell me that one little squirrel is very annoyed right now.
Both of my experiences with Gates have been great - friendly, knowledgeable, timely and effective - and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone wishing to co-exist peacefully with the wildlife in their neighbourhood.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $400.00
- Company Response
Hi JM, I love the detail you present in your review, it truly puts the reader in the picture. You touched on two very important aspects; getting the squirrels out before breeding season and avoiding water damage. Removing wildlife before their breeding season is less costly and locating babies can involve cutting into walls. Also, closing the point of entry before water damage occurs will prevent mold from growing and costly drywall repairs. I also like the fact that you mentioned "to co-exist peacefully with the wildlife", which is exactly what we aim to accomplish. There will always be wildlife in the city and our objective is to create harmony between humans and the wildlife. Thanks for your great review! Brad Gates, B.Sc. Owner / President - Awarded HomeStars Best Of 2015, 2016 & 2017.