Trapping

This is the first of 2 posts about trapping to wrap up the series on scuiridae and skunks and raccoons.

Trapping furbearing mammals is one of the oldest activities done in Ontario. Commercial trapping dates back to the 16th century with the arrival of European settlers and explorers, however before that trapping was very important to aboriginal peoples.

In this day and age, trapping has remained a socially and economically important activity in Ontario. Ontario is considered to be one of the world's leading suppliers of wild fur and trapping is considered to be an important role in wildlife management.

Trapping as a renewable resource

If trapping is done and managed properly,  it is a renewable resource that will replenish itself. When done with proper management and humane trapping practices wildlife can keep healthy numbers and habits. They can also ensure long-term social and economic benefits.


Regulating trapping

In order to maintain proper trapping management and healthy wildlife numbers, trapping in Ontario is governed by regulations and policies that are administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). MNR uses a variety of management tools to regulate harvests and maintain healthy wildlife populations.

The tools used include:

• mandatory trapper education
• trapping licenses
• open and closed seasons
• harvest quotas
• registered trapline arenas
• research
• mandatory harvest reportings

Check back tomorrow for a post about education, licensing and more.

If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment call us at 705-534-7863 or email us.

Friday Link Round Up

CTV- Urban sprawl blamed for Squamish cougar encounters

Globe and Mail- Healthy polar bear count confounds doomsayers

CTV- David Suzuki steps down from his foundation

City TV- Toronto reports 1st case of human rabies since 1931

Greenpages.ca- World Migratory Bird Day 2012

Greenpages.ca- Earth Day 2012 is just around the corner

Vancouver Sun- Environment Canada cuts eliminating research, monitoring and partnerships

CBC- Common antibacterial agent called harmful to environment

Remember if you have any articles or news to add in the Friday Link Round Up, email the link to us.

Raccoons

The raccoon is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. They are the largest of the procyonid family at about 16-28 inches in length and about 8-20 pounds.

Raccoon

 

Raccoons are nocturnal and omnivorous. Their diet consists of about 40% invertebrates, 33% plant foods and 27% vertebrates.

They have a greyish coat that is about 90% dense undercoat that mainly protects in cold weather. They also have extremely dexterous front paws and their well-known black masks. Raccoons are also known for their intelligence.

Raccoons originally lived in deciduous and mixed forests in North America but because they are extremely adaptable they have extended their range into mountainous areas, coastal marshes and urban areas (which is where they are most often to be considered pests).

Previously, raccoons were believed to be solitary animals however now it has been shown through studies that raccoons engage in gender-specific social behaviours especially when it comes their dens and living arrangements. For example, related females will live together in one den and unrelated males will live together.

Raccoon babies

 During the mating and breeding season (late January through mid March) males will roam their home ranges in search of females in an attempt to court them during the three to four days when conception is possible. The gestation period for females is generally 63-65 days (however it is possible to be about 50-70 days as well). The litters will typically be 2 - 5 kits. When born, the kit are born blind and deaf, but their masks are visible. At about 18-23 days old their ear canals will open and just after that their eyes will open for the first time. The kit will begin exploring outside the den and begin consuming solid food around six to nine weeks old and they will usually be weaned by 16 weeks old.

If you have any questions or to book an appointment call us at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Skunks

Sorry for the extended delay, but we're back with an all new post all about skunks.

Striped skunk

 Striped skunks are found in Canada, the United States and Mexico. They are generally 13-18 inches long and weigh about 3-10 pounds. The striped skunk is easy to recognize because of their white stripes that run from their nose and down their backs to their tails.

Skunks are omnivorous, solitary animals that will eat insects, mice, rats, birds, eggs and fruit. While breeding they will stop being solitary and occasionally when living in colder temperatures, they will gather with other skunks to keep warm in communal dens. They typically mate in early spring and successful males with usually mate with more than one female. Females give birth in May to a litter of four to seven kits.

When born, skunk kits are blind, deaf and covered in a soft fur. At about three weeks old the kits will open their eyes and then at about two months old they will have been weaned. Their mother will be very protective and will spray at any sign of danger.

Skunks are without a doubt very well known for their spray. They use their anal scent glands as a defensive weapon. They have two glands and are able to produce a mixture of sulfar-containing chemicals such as methyl and butyl thiols traditionally called mercaptans. They have muscles located near the glands that gives them the ability to spray with a high degree of accuracy, as far as 10ft (3 metres).

If you have any questions or to book an appointment call us at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Groundhogs

The last part of the sciuridae series is about groundhogs. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks, whistle-pigs and sometimes land-beavers.

Groundhogs usually weigh about 2-4 kg and measure about 40-65 cm total length including a short bushy tail that is about 15 cm long. They range in colour from yellowish to dark reddish brown. Their fur is generally grizzled in appearance because of light-coloured tips on the hairs. The belly fur on groundhogs is typically straw-coloured and their feet black.

Groundhogs are widely distributed in North America and are particularly common in the east where they are found from Alabama and Georgia in the United States to Northern Quebec and Ontario. Out west their range extends northward to Alaska and through Southern Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Groundhog eating some flowers

Groundogs are known to eat fresh green vegetation and will they will eat a wide variety of wild plants, clover, alfalfa and garden vegetables. Once in awhile, they will also eat snails, insects or young birds.

In Canada, young groundhogs are born in April and May following a gestation period of 30 days. Females will have one litter of four young per year and the young are born blind and helpless at birth. Young groundhogs are typically about 10 cm in length and weigh about 30 kg. By 5-6 weeks of age the young will start emerging from the burrows and will have been weaned or have made the transition from their mother's milt to solid food.

As they can cause damage to gardens and yards, people usually prefer to have them removed from their property.

Groundhog climbing a tree

If you have any questions or to book an appointment call us at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Friday Link Round Up

Toronto Star- Ontario's solar companies feeling blue

Toronto Star- Fiorito: Bedbug war funding must be extended

Toronto Star- Toronto groups protest imminent loss of provincial bedbug-fighting funds

Toronto Star- Fracking takes the green out of natural gas

Toronto Star- Wily coyote resurfaces in Beach

Remember if you have any articles or news to add in the Friday Link Round Up, email the link to us.

The Least Chipmunk

Least Chipmunk

The least chipmunk is the smallest chipmunk in North America and is also the most widespread species in North America. They occur across North-Central and western United States and from British Columbia and Southern Yukon to across Central Canada through Ontario and into Western Quebec.

The least chipmunk is active during the day and they prefer to eat seeds, berried, nuts, fruit and insects. They also breed in the early spring and they produce one litter of usually 5-6 young. Like the eastern chipmunk, the least chipmunk also store their food in their underground burrow, which is where they spend the winter.

Just like the eastern chipmunk, the least chipmunks are cute but they can cause damage to homes and gardens. They will eat plants from gardens and they will also chew on cords such as cable lines, air conditioning pipes and elelectric lines. Another problem caused by chipmunks is them burrowing into the ground which can cause water to get in underneath the foundation of your home or deck. This can then lead to water leaking into your home directly.

Least Chipmunk

Using IPM Cottage Country Pest Control can help prevent damage caused by these chipmunks. To book your appointment or if you have any questions call us at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

The Eastern Chipmunk

Eastern Chipmunk

Chipmunks are the sole living member of the chipmunk genus and are part of the scuiridae family. The eastern chipmunk has reddish-brown fur on it's upper body and five dark brown stripes alternating te light brown stripes it has running along its back and has a dark tail. This species has lighter fur on the undersides of their bodies and they also have a tawny stripe that runs from the whiskers to below the ears and light stripes over the eyes.

The eastern chipmunk lives in deciduous wooded areas and urban parks throughout southern Canada and eastern United States. This species prefers areas with rocky areas and shrubs which they use for cover. They are mainly active during the day which is when they forage for food. They prefer to eat bulbs, seeds, fruit, nuts, green plants, mushrooms, insects, worms and bird eggs.

The eastern chipmunk is able to climb trees well but they build their nests underground using extensive tunnel systems, often with several entrances which they disguise.

Eastern Chipmunk Babies

The eastern chipunk lives a solitary life except during mating season. Females generally produce 1 or 2 litters of young (usually 3 to 5 in a litter) during their two breeding seasons. The first breeding season is from February to April and the second is June to August.

Like squirrels, chipmunks are cute but they can cause damage to homes and gardens.  They will eat plants from gardens and they will also chew on cords such as cable lines, air conditioning pipes and elelectric lines. Another problem caused by chipmunks is them burrowing into the ground which can cause water to get in underneath the foundation of your home or deck. This can then lead to water leaking into your home directly.

Using IPM Cottage Country Pest Control can help prevent damage caused by these chipmunks. To book your appointment or if you have any questions call us at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Squirrels

Squirrel

Squirrels generally have slender bodies with bushy tails. Their fur is usually soft and silky and ranges in colour from white to black, although shades of grey or brown are most common. Squirrels will eat seeds and nuts, but some will also eat bugs or bird eggs. They generally have good vision and tey also have versatile and sturdy claws for grasping and climbing.

The gestation period varies with species of squirrels however for smaller squirrels its about 33 days and larger squirrels its about 60 days. Squirrels breed in late winter and early spring and give birth to usually about 4 young. There can sometimes be a second litter born in mid-summer if food levels are good.

Squirrel young

Young squirrels are born naked, toothless and blind. Generally only the female squirrel will care for the young which are weaned at around 6-10 week of age and they become sexually mature at the end of their first year.

Ground and tree squirrels are typically diurnal while flying squirrels are generally nocturnal.

Squirrels cannot digest cellulose, so they have to rely on foods that are rich in protein, carbohydrates and fats. In temperate regions, early spring is the hardest time since buried nuts are just starting to sprout and are not available to the squirrels. It is during this time that squirrels rely on the buds on trees for food.

Chewed electrical wire

Squirrels can be cute but they are pests. They can cause serious damage to your home and garden and in urban areas the most serious damage occurs when squirrels enter homes, usually by climbing the walls or jumping from trees. Once a squirrel has entered your home they will more than likely chew woodwork, ceilings and more seriously, insulation and electrical wiring which can lead to a fire. In gardens, squirrels are pests because they will eat your plants, raid bird feeders and they can cause damage to trees by stripping the bark.

Using IPM Cottage Country Pest Control can help prevent squirrels from entering your home and causing damage. Call us at 705-534-7863 or email us to book an appointment or if you have any questions.
  

Sciuridae

You might be wondering what sciuridae is and basically it is the squirrel family. BUT, it's not just the squirrels you probably automatically think of when you hear squirrel. Sciuridae or squirrel also refers to ground and tree squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including woodcucks/groundhogs), flying squirrels and prarie dogs.

This family is comprised of 262 species found in North America, South America, Eurasia and Africa. Twenty-two of these species occur in Canada: 6 are tree species (2 of these are flying squirrels) and 16 are ground-dwelling species (6 are ground squirrels, 5 are chipmunks, 4 are marmots and 1 is the prairie dog).

Coming up there will be a post on trapping and over the 4 days, there will be posts on squirrels, the eastern chipmunk, the least chipmunk and groundhogs. Following the series on the sciuridae family, there will be some posts about skunks and raccoons. So check back to find out more about each of these species and maybe some others.

Remember Cottage Country Pest Control can help if you've got a problem with pests. Give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us to book an appointment or if you have any questions.