Spring is in the air. As humans crawl out from under their blankets and emerge from the warmth and safety their homes provide during the coldest months out of the year, they greet spring with open arms. When you venture into the great outdoors, you may notice more activity from the wildlife around town. What does spring mean for these critters, and when should you call for help with wildlife removal in Ajax? Read on to find out!

Rising From Sleep

Winters in Ontario are cold and often snowy. With few options for nourishment, many wild critters have little choice but to leave town or chill out during the winter months. Much of the wildlife that sticks around enter hibernation or torpor to cope with the lack of food availability. In the spring, they rouse from sleep and inactivity.

After consuming very few calories over the winter, wildlife wakes up underweight and ravenous. The first order of business is finding food. Animals don’t all emerge simultaneously, but for some, the drive to find a mate brings them out before spring officially arrives.

Answering the Mating Call

Many people equate spring with the mating season for wildlife, and in this, they are right. Male raccoons get a head start, often seeking out their first mates in January. This willingness to venture out into the cold gives them the advantage of finding more receptive partners during the January through March raccoon mating season.

Skunks aren’t far behind, as they begin the quest to find true love (or at least a willing female) in the middle of February, just in time for candied hearts and boxed chocolates. If a skunk is on your property around Valentine’s Day, instead of the sweet smell of roses, you may catch the pungent scent of a female rejecting a male’s advances! If so, contact Skedaddle for humane wildlife removal in Ajax.

Squirrels seek out their partners beginning in late February and continuing through March. Most birds in our region stick to a spring mating period. While bats mate in the fall, spring is when they release the sperm to fertilize the egg.

Bringing New Life Into the World

As the temperatures rise and food becomes more plentiful, expectant wildlife mothers around town bring new life into the world. Who doesn’t love the sight of baby animals? It’s hard to resist picking up or petting that baby kit (of either the raccoon or skunk variety), but it’s essential that you don’t. Don’t be alarmed if you see a nest or den of little ones without their mothers. Most likely, Mom is just out gathering provisions so her wee ones can eat.

Keep an eye on the situation, but also keep your distance. If the mother returns and sees you near her den of helpless little ones, she will not react well, and you may end up on the receiving end of claws and teeth. If there are no signs of the mother after a day, contact specialists in humane removal who know how to safely assess the situation and remove the little ones if needed.

As spring progresses, you may spy normally nocturnal creatures out and about with their little ones in tow during the daylight hours. This, too, is normal. Mom is just showing her babies the ropes, and the young ones are eating as much as possible while they learn. All the extra calories help them grow quickly and become independent from their mother.

Getting Help With Wildlife Removal in Ajax

Spring is a fun time of year for watching wildlife, but it isn’t so exciting when they establish residence on your property or in your home. It can also be dangerous when babies are involved — for you and the little ones. Instead of attempting removal yourself, let Skedaddle technicians handle the job safely and effectively, ensuring babies are reunited with their mother. Contact us today to find out more about our services.