Raccoons invaded her walls amid a neighbour’s reno weeks ago. Now this Toronto woman says she’s fed up
Ariel Lukaniuk, a resident of a row house in Toronto’s east end, has been facing a nightmare scenario for the past few weeks. Renovations in a building two doors down have allowed raccoons to infiltrate the walls, leading to a family of them taking up residence in her bedroom wall. The incessant scratching and screaming at night have made it impossible for her and her partner to sleep, with their dog also being frightened by the noise and barking at the walls.
Despite reaching out to the city and the building owner, a non-profit housing provider, Lukaniuk has been met with a lack of urgency in addressing the issue. She first contacted the city through 311 about three weeks ago, but the raccoons are still there, causing distress and sleepless nights for the residents.
The building under renovation, owned by Community Circle LandTrust (CCLT), had its back wall on the ground level removed for several days, giving the raccoons access to the inner walls of the row housing. CCLT has since taken steps to trap the raccoons, with a pest control company installing a trap on the property and a roofer sealing off possible entry points.
However, Lukaniuk remains concerned about the impact on her work and sleep, as well as the safety risks posed by the raccoons potentially dying in the walls or causing damage. She feels frustrated by the slow progress in resolving the issue and the city’s response, which has been limited to stating that the property owner is addressing the situation.
In response to the situation, a city spokesperson stated that they are aware of the steps taken by the property owners to address the complaint and will continue to investigate to ensure compliance with applicable bylaws.
For Lukaniuk, the ordeal has been exhausting and frustrating, with no end in sight to the disturbance caused by the unwelcome guests in her walls. As she awaits a resolution to the raccoon infestation, she hopes for a swift and effective response to restore peace and quiet to her home.
