New Site...

It just crossed my mind that anyone that happens upon THIS blog might be forgiven for thinking that Cottage Country Pest Control isn't on top of things these days....  

cuz how could you possibly be expected to know that we have changed our website and incorporated our blog into it over at ccpestcontrol.com? 

That won't do!

Please do visit us there...  definitely going to have to do something about moving some of the articles from here over there, also ... or at least linking between them!

And do give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com if you happen to have a pest problem we can help you with.

Book Your Spider Sprays Now

It's getting to be that time of year.... 

a bit early to be spraying for spiders - but certainly not too early to be thinking about it....especially if you happen to be in the Penetanguishene area, where black widow spiders seem to be an increasing concern.

The biggest reason for spider sprays is to avoid the unsightly messes that their webs make all over your home or cottage .... best plan, especially for those of us on the waterfront, is to spray before they get started.

Give us a call at (705) 534-7863 or email Lauralee at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com to schedule your spider spray and we'll make sure to fit you in as early as possible.

Flooding in Cottage Country

Have been reading about the flooding in the Muskoka area... we provide pest control services to many people with cottages in the Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville & Parry Sound areas... all of which, it seems, are dealing with plenty of flood related challenges this spring.

Here's hoping that all's well with your cottages and that they'll be dry and ready to use once the roads are cleared up and you're able to get there.

If we can be of any assistance in dealing with pest issues that result from dampness, do give us a call at 705-534-7863, or email us at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com ...as always, Ross is available at your convenience.

Gearing up for another season

... never really geared down though...

not as much to keep us busy over the winter as there is during the summer up here in cottage country, but Ross has been having ~fun~ with squirrels, mice, chipmunks, and the occasional rat. And bedbugs, of course. They are, unfortunately,  a year round issue, even in smaller communities like Midland, Penetanguishene and surrounding areas.

Now that the snow is gone and the lake is open it will soon be time to start thinking about booking your spider spray and dealing with cluster flies, carpenter ants, and any other pest problems.

Cottage Country Pest Control is happy to provide environmentally pest control services in Central Ontario. Give us a call at 707-534-7863, or send us an email at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com .

Friday Link Round Up

We're back with the Friday Link Round Up!

CTVnews- Record loss of Arctic sea ice causing big ecosystem changes: study

CTVnews- Medicines flushed down toilets hurting fish: study

Metro- U.S. attitudes towards climate change fluctuate with the weather: UBC study

CBCnews- Lake Winnipeg most threatened in World in 2013

CBCnews- Shooting of owls OK'd to protect endangered species

The Globe and Mail- Whatever happened to global warming?

CBCnews- Snowy owls starving in southern B.C.

Extreme Tech- Is safe, green thorium power finally ready for prime time?

Crazy Weather & Pest Control

This winter has been, well weird. All over Ontario and Canada the weather is cold and snowy one day and raining and warm-ish the next. Up in and around Muskoka, Victoria Harbour, Orillia, Midland, Barrie just to name a few - the days start out cold and warm up by the time one gets from one place to another for work.

What you may not realize though, is that while the weather is being crazy, it also means that some pests may not behave the way they normally would. You may notice some pests in and around your home that are not usually found until Spring. Unfortunately because of the weather this is "normal" and aside from taking steps to prevent them from entering or remaining in your home there's not much else you can do....but of course, if you have noticed pests in or around your home, you can give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Ross will be happy to come out and solve your pest problems.

Bed Bugs and Public Places (continued)

Today's post will be the follow up the post on Monday "Bed Bugs and Public Places". So if you want to find out the last 5 major public places where bed bugs are a concern, then keep reading.

Quick recap:

1. Hospitals and Nursing Homes
2. Laundry Facilities
3. Retail Stores
4. Movie Theatres
5. Public Libraries

And now for the last five.

6. Public Transportation (planes, buses, trains)- If you've read our previous posts on bed bugs then this one shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Traveling can be a concern with the threat of bed bugs because they can live in the seats and such and you can get them that way. For more information about bed bugs and travel specifically (if you haven't already read it, check out our post on Bed Bugs and Travel).

7. Daycares, Schools and Colleges- When it comes to daycares and schools, kids are likely to share toys, cots, etc and unfortunately sometimes bed bugs. In regards to colleges the biggest concern is dorm living--students who live in dorms can spread bed bugs throughout the dorm through the laundry facilities, by sharing clothes or as discussed in the section on public libaries, we know that bed bugs can be transferred through books as well. Another concern is with visitors, who can pick up or drop of bed bugs in another dorm room and spread them that way. Finally, bed bugs can be brought home (or picked up by the student from their home) when they go home for visits.

8. Businesses and Offices- Bed bugs could be hiding in your office in the carpet or furniture. You may have clients, packages, and employees coming and going which can easily bring in bed bugs or you could pick them up at the office and bring them home.

9. Thrift stores and Yard Sales- The problem with these is that you have no real idea who brought them in and whether or not they brought along something extra. As we've already discussed bed bugs can be spread a number of ways (clothing, furniture, luggage, bedding, etc) so you really have to be careful when shopping at these places.

10. Places of Worship- Who would have thought right? Well unfortunately it does make sense as there is usually a large number of people in and out and it is possible to spread bed bugs in a church or other place of worship.

So that wraps this series up and while it can be a little nervewracking not knowing whether a place is safe or not, as long as you know what to look for in terms of finding signs of a bed bug infestation then you can hopefully catch anything sooner rather than later.

If you do have a problem with bed bugs or you think you might (or any other pests), give Cottage Country Pest Control a call today at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Bed bugs and Public Places

Many people think of bed bugs as only being something they have to worry about in their home. They hear bed bugs and think "bed", but unfortunately bed bugs are not something that is limited to someone's home.

Since bed bugs have been making a well publicized return it is important to remember that bed bugs can be found in many public places and not just at someone homes.

Today's blog post will discuss 5 of the top 10 public bed bug infestation spots. We'll conclude the list tomorrow!

1. Hospitals and Nursing Homes- bed bugs are not really know for disriminating against anyone and that includes the sick, elderly or the employees of these institutions. There have been cases in recent years where some hospitals had to quarantine some rooms and triage centres in order to fight the spread of bed bugs.

2. Laundry Facilities- this one almost seems like a no-brainer...right? Granted washing and drying your clothes and bedding in super hot water is a good start to treating bed bugs, if you are in a laundry in a laundromat you are at risk for picking it up from someone there. It's a good idea to keep your clothing and bedding separate from other people to try and avoid cross contamination.

3. Retail Stores- Another obvious one? right? If you are at a retail store and maybe you are trying on some clothes, it's important to know that while it is rare, it is possible to get bed bugs that way. Bed bugs could also be found on furniture, in shoes. etc. Some stores have had to close down to deal with bed bug infestations after discovering the pesky critters within the stores.

4. Movie theatres- A movie theatre has plushy seats and LOTS of hosts in which they can travel on. See where I'm going with this? Movie theatres are a really good places to catch bed bugs and bring them home with you.

5. Public Libraries- did you see this one coming? Recently bed bugs have been found in a few libraries around Ontario (and probably Canada and the States as well but I cannot confirm nor deny). Anyway bed bugs can be found in books and if you happen to check those books out, you could potentially bring bed bugs into your home. You could also bring bed bugs into your home by visiting the library if you hang around the library reading or using their computers.

Check back tomorrow for the last 5 public places where bed bugs could be an issue.

If you have a problem with bed bugs or any other pests or you think you may, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-54-7863 or email us today.

Bed Bugs and Travel

So today's post is about bed bugs and traveling. With Christmas coming up, more and more people are traveling and with the rush and the stress of traveling so close to the holidays, bed bugs may be not even be a concern.

Traveling should be a big concern for people what with all the stories of bed bugs in hotels,on trains, on cruise ships, etc. There are some very handy tips you can follow when traveling to help prevent bring a creepy crawly souvenir home from your trip.

1. Always inspect the room and furniture for blood spots, bug droppings or live insects--if you find any evidence of possible bed bugs then request a new room. Bedbugs like to hide in places like cracks, crevices, folds, and ruffles. Use a flashlight if you have to in order to thoroughly check for any signs of bed bugs. 

2. Pack your clothing in over sized, resealable plastic bags before packing them and keep your belongings in the bags or hanging up during your trip (don't put things on the floor or bed). Use a luggage rack to store your belongings during your stay in hotels.

3. Before leaving the hotel, inspect all your belongings and luggage carefully

4. When you return home, inspect your luggage and belongings again (it's recommended you do this outside as a precaution) or if its too cold outside, use your bathtub as bed bugs have a hard time climbing smooth surfaces. Always wash your clothing in the hottest water possible before putting them in the dryer for at least 30 minutes.

As stated in previous posts, ANYONE can get bug bugs. It's important that as soon as you think you have an infestation or if you know you do, to treat it quickly and properly. The longer you wait, the harder and more expensive it can be to treat later.

To book an appointment give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Winter Pest Control Tips

Here are some tips for pest control heading into winter.

1. If you have a garage, double check that there are no openings or gaps as this is a common entry for mice and other rodents
2. Store any firewood at least 20 feet away from your house--firewood is a common hangout for pests such as wood roaches
3. Clear clutter from garage, shed and basements as the clutter can be a good hangout for pests
4. Install screens over chimney vents & openings to prevent pests such as squirrels, raccoons, birds or rodents from entering your home or cottage
5. Inspect wires, insulation and walls for signs of gnaw marks--if there are gnaw marks present then chances are VERY good that you have some kind of rodent infesting your home or cottage

If you have any questions or concerns or would like to book and appointment with Cottage Country Pest Control please give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Species in Danger

So today's post is somewhat different than previous ones. Normally, I would post an article like this in the link round up, but seeing as how most of this article is about a topic that has already been written about, I thought I would change things up a bit today.

You can find the article here on the CityNews Toronto website and it's called "Bats, snakes among species in danger in Canada".

So the article talks about how with 10th anniversary of the federal Species At Risk Act approaching, dozens of animals and plants are now considered at-risk. One of the animals added to the list was the Massasuga rattle snake which can be found on the Georgian Bay Islands.

Also on the list of animals in danger is three species of bats. Now this is what we've written about before. If you've read our past blogs then you might have read the one entitled "White Nose Syndrome". If not, then go read it.

Anyway quick recap on White Nose Syndrome...It is a disease named for the distinctive fungal growth around the muzzles and on the wings of hibernating bats. It is a poorly understood disease that has been associated with the deaths of more than 5.5 million bats within North America. The first known case was in Schoharie County, New York cave back in 2006. It has since spread and as of 2010 has been found all over the United States and into Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The first known case in Ontario was in March 2010. Since being discovered research has been done and in late 2011 it was shown that the syndrome appears to be caused by a fungas called Geomyces destructans. Unfortunately, despite knowing the cause there is still no known treatment or means of prevention. There is way more information available here on the blog or you can Google it if you want.

So back to the article. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada released a report card about the species at risk. This committee basically issued a dire warning about the three species of bats (the species being little brown myotis, northern myotis and tri-coloured bats). These species have all declined by about 90 percent in Eastern Canada in the last two years because of White Nose Syndrome.

Graham Forbes, director of the New Brunswick Co-operative Fish and Wildlife Research Centre and professor at the University of New Brunswick was quoted in the article saying "There's virtually no bats left."

Overall there is now a total of 668 wildlife species listed--297 endangered, 159 threatened and 190 are of special concern. Twenty-two species are considered extirpated, which means that they are no longer found in the wild.

There's a lot more to the article but it was specifically the bats and White Nose Syndrome I was interested in sharing. Make sure you go read the full article as it is an interesting read and it's not all bad news either. One species (The Salish sucker) was upgraded from endangered to threatened and the spotted, northern and Atlantic wolffish are all showing signs of recovery.

If you have any pest problems or you want to take some preventative measures for this winter against pests, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us.

Link Round Up

National Geographic- Urban Grasshoppers Sing Louder

TheStar.com- Autism and traffic pollution linked, study finds

TheStar.com- Federal investment in clean energy would create 20,000 new jobs: report

TheStar.com- Why your car battery may as bad as malaria for the developing world

National Geographic- Blood Red Ocean: Not Exactly The End of Days

National Geographic- Polar Ice Sheets Shrinking Worldwide, Study Confirms

National Geographic- Climate Predictions: Worst-Case May Be Most Accurate, Study Finds

CTVNews- UN agency: 2012 warmer than normal despite La Nina

Animal Tracks

In this blog post, I'm going to show you pictures of some animal tracks that it could be good to know. We've already done posts on pest control in the winter; various prevention and maintenance but another way to a preventative measure is by being able to recognize some animal tracks. Each set of pictures will show a picture of the animal tracks and a picture of the animals tracks in snow.

Squirrel tracks

Squirrel tracks in the snow

Skunk tracks

Skunk tracks in the snow

Deer Mice tracks

Deer Mice tracks in the snow

Rabbit tracks

Rabbit tracks in the snow

Chipmunk tracks

Chipmunk tracks in the snow

Raccoon tracks

Raccoon tracks in the snow

Groundhog tracks

Groundhog tracks in the snow

One of the reasons why it is a good idea to be able to recognize tracks is that so in the winter you can be aware of what animals are in your area. It may not be easy to distinguish some tracks in mounds of snow, but it can be easier to spot them and distinguish the type of track in areas such as patios and window sills.

Many areas around Ontario such as Simcoe County, Tiny & Tay Townships, and the Muskoka are home to all of the animals listed here, so people who live or have cottages in these areas should be aware. If you are seeing a number of tracks around your home you may want to consider preventative measures to ensure that they cannot find a way into your home and become a problem. This is more likely to happen with deer mice (rodents in general) and squirrels as they only need small holes to enter your home (or cottage, garage, etc).

If you think you have a pest problem or you know you do, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today to book your appointment. We can come in and handle pest problems responsibly and environmentally friendly or do winter maintenance and prevention measures to prevent possible pest problems.

Link Round Up

thestar.com- Bed bug battles: is fungus the next frontier?


Global News- New hope in the fight against bed bugs

thestar.com- Building owners not responsible for deaths of birds that fly into it, judge rules

Moneyville.ca- How to responsibly dispose of your old tech

thestar.com- Eggshell colour is warning sign for contamination in Great Lakes, study shows

CBCnews- Climate change a 'real and present danger,' Kent says

CBCnews- Galapagos to poison millions of rats

CBCnews- B.C. considering wolf culls in new management plan

As always, if you have a pest problem or just suspect you do, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today to book your appointment or get more information.

Cottage Country Pest Control Winter Maintenance & Prevention

This year, because we've done a few posts about pest control and the colder months, Cottage Country Pest Control is now offering a Winter Maintenance & Prevention service. Check out the ad below and give us a call to book your appointment.

Link Round Up

National Post- Ontario woman turns to Environmental Bill of Rights in bid to silence basketball-playing neighbour

Greenpeace Canada- Oil industry pushing for regulatory changes they've been told violate First Nations rights

Edmonton Journal- UN group issues statement of concern over iron dumping off B.C.'s north coast

CBCNews- New Windsor-Detroit bridge threatens endangered species

CBCNews- West Coast ocean fertilization project defended

CBCNews- Global temperatures matched record for hottest September

CBCNews- B.C.'s Cowichan River in danger of drying up

As always, if you have a pest problem or just suspect you do, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today to book your appointment or get more information.

Another Black Widow Spider

In March, Cottage Country Pest Control did a blog post about black widow spiders and then in May Ross received a customer call about a black widow spider at a house in Penetanguishene, which I did another blog post about. They are native species to the United States, Canada and Mexico and the Northern Black Widow is generally found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. As stated in the previous posts, it is rare to see them and even if you know where to look, you may never see one in the wild. They can generally be found around trash piles, sheds, under rocks, wood piles, etc. Anyplace that is dark and a little damp is a great place for them to hide.

Anyway, a few days ago Ross got another call about a black widow spider again at a house in Penetanguishene, so we thought it would be a good time to do another post about them and what can be done to help prevent spiders in general.

Female black widow spiders are known for their distinctive black and red colouring and a mature female black widow spider is usually around 1.5 inches long and about .25 inches in diameter. Mature male black widow spiders are very different in appearance to the females. Males are much smaller than females with their bodies at less than 1/4 inch, while juveniles have a distinctly different appearance then the females (and some males) in that their abdomens are greyish to black in colour with white stripes running across them spotted with orange or yellow.

Controlling the spider population in and around your home is "easily" done by reducing the number of insects in and around your home. Using IPM is the best way to effectively control spiders (and other pests).

If you have any questions or concerns Call Cottage Country Pest Control at (705)534-7864 or email us to book an appointment--and remember - it's almost always better and cheaper to deal with pest control problems when they are small. 

Link Round Up

Toronto Star- Watch our for zom-bees, a real life sci-fi story

Fox News- M&M-loving bees make blue and green honey

Environment Canada- Winnipeg Man Fined Over $135,000 Under Federal Wildlife Legislation

Environment Canada- Government of Canada Invests in the Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative

The Vancouver Sun- Feds remove water protection from historic law

CTV News- Scientists warn iron dump could have serious consequences for ocean

CBC News- Another earthquake rattles B.C. coast

CBC News- No 'smoking gun' for Fraser River sockeye salmon collapse

CBC News- Transplanted Purcell Mountain caribou failure to survive

Landlords and Tenants: Who is Responsible for Pest Control Costs?

When you are a tenant who is entering into a new rental agreement or lease, you should do some research into local laws about who is responsible for any costs when it comes to pest control. You should also discuss the matter with the landlord prior to their being any pest problems and if there is not any mention of pest control in the agreement or lease you should request that there be something put in.

It is fairly standard across Ontario that landlords are responsible for ensuring that the rental space is inhabitable and pest control falls into this category. This means that generally speaking if there is a pest problem in a rental space the landlord will be the one responsible for the costs associated with bringing in a pest control operator and the costs of treatment.

However, the tenant will also have some responsibilities when it comes to pest control. As the tenant, you will be required to follow any aftercare instructions given after treatment and you will also have to take the steps needed to attempt to prevent any further pest problems. Failure to do so, means that in most cases the landlord will be legally allowed to raise the cost of rent in order to compensate for any excessive pest control costs.

If you are having any issues with pests and you have any questions or want to book an appointment with Cottage Country Pest Control, give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

DIY Pest Control vs Hiring a Professional

Effective pest control requires a person to have the knowledge about a pest, their habits, life cycle, etc. More often than not a person who hasn't trained and isn't licensed as a pest control operator will not know all this information. To properly treat a pest problem you really have to be able to identify a pest properly. For example, say you live in Ontario and you  have an infestation of cockroaches in your home. You know they are cockroaches, but are they German roaches, Oriental roaches, American roaches or Brown-Banded roaches?

Knowing which species you are dealing with is important, so you can use the right treatment options. However, pest treatments you can purchase as a consumer are not necessarily going to work to solve the whole problem. A lot of them may not be strong enough to solve your pest problem effectively and many  may not work on every type of a specific species. Additionally pest control operators have access to treatments that are stronger and can be safer for use around people and pets and can last longer than a store bought treatment.

Finally pest control operators have more training and are licensed (or should be licensed) which means that they will know the treatments that will work on your pest problem and also the safest way to apply the treatment.

Hiring a pest control company can seem like a major investment and it definitely can be. But in the long run it can be cheaper to hire a pest control operator to come in when the pest problem is relatively small than to either attempt to solve the problem yourself (which could take multiple tries) or wait before contacting a pest control company. Waiting can lead to the problem becoming bigger and therefore more difficult to eradicate.

If you have a pest problem, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today. We will be happy to answer any questions your have or to book you an appointment today.