WATERLOO REGION — The long, cold winter has driven a slew of unwanted critters into local homes.

Calls to get rid of mice, raccoons and squirrels this year are up about 15 per cent from last year at this time, says Mark Rouble, vice-president of Urban Wildlife Control Inc.

"They don't have the ability to fly south, these guys, so I think they got fed up with their normal dens in trees and culverts and things like that," he said Monday. "They're looking for the warmer spots in attics and chimneys this year."

Things could get worse before they get better.

"We are now into what we call baby season, experiencing baby squirrels and raccoons …" Rouble said.

"It (cold weather) certainly hasn't delayed any of the mating process or the birthing season. It's right on track."

His advice for people with pests?

"Simply call a professional. It's the wrong time of year to try to do it yourself. With the baby scenario, there are so many different scenarios to get the homeowner in trouble that'll just make the situation worse.

"You could get end up with a lot more damage on the outside of the house if you end up inadvertently locking a mother away from a nest. They'll cause a lot of damage to get back into the building."

Mothers will "definitely" find a way back in, Rouble said.

"A worst-case scenario is you cause a death to the litter that was just born and then you have not only the smell but the trouble of trying to locate the odour, potentially having to cut holes in walls and ceilings in order to extract them."

Pest problems often can be fixed quickly.

"Sometimes … the issue could be resolved that day. Other times it could take up to a week, depending on the complexity of the situation."

Urban Wildlife Control, based in Fergus and covering all of Waterloo Region, hasn't had many rat calls.

"I've had a few calls in the Waterloo area, but few and far between. You get the odd call but certainly not epidemic status."

Kitchener's HPM Wildlife Control has been busy with rat calls.

"I've had about five or six customers (in the last week) call me about rats in the backyard because of birdfeeders, composters, the rats running on the deck, coming out of the snow," HPM owner Hans Malthaner said Monday.

He said the number of calls for pests in homes is about the same every year.

"We get squirrels, everything, you name it — it's all breaking in. Rats, raccoons, squirrels, mice — the whole enchilada is there."

Most people find mice and rats the most repulsive.

"Everybody's got their fear. I know guys … (weighing) two or three hundred pounds, on a kitchen chair for something that's in the home like a mouse or rat," Malthaner said.

Sometimes rats come through the sewer system and enter the house through the toilet.

"I usually don't tell women that because they'll never sit on the seat again."

Malthaner once had a call from a senior who reported a "cat" in her house.

"Came in through the pet door. Thought it was a cat. Black and white looks black and white so … she's petting the kitty, it's actually not a kitty — it's a skunk, and it sprayed the whole kitchen."

gpaul@therecord.com