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Raccoons are usually not found in Alberta, due the the harsh winters and extra predators which present more challenges than Ontario or B.C.
The affectionately named “trash panda’s” in Alberta however, tend to lay low inside the cities forests and green spaces. However, a local pest control company, Peregrine General Pest Control, says they have responded to 26 raccoon calls already this year. According to them, raccoon calls seem to be on the rise, as milder winters have increased raccoon sightings by “10 percent year-over-year”.
There are a few options for removing raccoons, but not all work best, as trapping and re-locating more than five kilometres away can be a “death sentence”, with only about a 50% chance of surviving. However, male raccoon urine can be used to encourage females and their kits to leave of their own accord, and sometimes the use of one-way doors can be effective as well.
As of now, Mackenzie Lake and Fish Creek Provincial Park appear to be where some of the sightings are occurring. With the elevated risk of predators in coyotes and bobcats, only time will tell if these urban bandits can establish themselves in the city.
Another factor in whether or not raccoons can take hold of the area depends on human behavior as well, according to experts. Leaving out food for the raccoons or not securing your garbage can result in training the raccoons to come back.
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