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.
Showing posts with label coldwater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coldwater. Show all posts
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
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.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Bed Bugs and Landlords
As a follow up to the post on bed bugs and tenants, today's post will be about some of the steps that a landlord should take in the event that bed bugs become an issue.
1. Plan ahead-talk to a pest control business in your area to get an idea about pricing and to also get a better idea of what will have to be done in the event that bed bugs become an issue. They should be able to give you some information about what they do for bed bugs, what has to be done before they can come in and treat and what has to be done after to ensure that their treatment is effective.
2. Be willing to hire professionals. All to often people are resistant to hiring a professional, which can lead to the problem becoming more expensive and difficult to treat. By treating the problem correctly the first time, you can potentially save money in the long run.
3. Be proactive. Provide your tenants with information before bed bugs become a problem. If they know what bed bugs are and what to look for, you can treat the problem sooner if and when there is an infestation.
4. Do not blame your tenants. Bed bugs can happen to anyone at anytime. They can travel on furniture, clothing, in luggage, etc.
5. Do repairs. Bed bugs do not always stay on beds. They can hide out in cracks, holes and gaps found around pipes, in baseboards, around electrical covers and more. By making these repairs you can reduce the number of places bed bugs could go.
6. Conduct inspections. If you've had a previous infestation of bed bugs then it's a good idea to do inspections every 4-6 months to ensure that the treatment is still working and that there hasn't been a new infestation.
It's important to know that these are just some of the things you should consider as a landlord. If you have any questions or want to book an appointment give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.
1. Plan ahead-talk to a pest control business in your area to get an idea about pricing and to also get a better idea of what will have to be done in the event that bed bugs become an issue. They should be able to give you some information about what they do for bed bugs, what has to be done before they can come in and treat and what has to be done after to ensure that their treatment is effective.
2. Be willing to hire professionals. All to often people are resistant to hiring a professional, which can lead to the problem becoming more expensive and difficult to treat. By treating the problem correctly the first time, you can potentially save money in the long run.
3. Be proactive. Provide your tenants with information before bed bugs become a problem. If they know what bed bugs are and what to look for, you can treat the problem sooner if and when there is an infestation.
4. Do not blame your tenants. Bed bugs can happen to anyone at anytime. They can travel on furniture, clothing, in luggage, etc.
5. Do repairs. Bed bugs do not always stay on beds. They can hide out in cracks, holes and gaps found around pipes, in baseboards, around electrical covers and more. By making these repairs you can reduce the number of places bed bugs could go.
6. Conduct inspections. If you've had a previous infestation of bed bugs then it's a good idea to do inspections every 4-6 months to ensure that the treatment is still working and that there hasn't been a new infestation.
It's important to know that these are just some of the things you should consider as a landlord. If you have any questions or want to book an appointment give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Do's and Don'ts of Bed Bugs
If you suspect an infestation of bed bugs or you know you have a problem:
DO NOT rule out that the bites may be caused by something else--an allergy, other insects, etc. Check your mattresses for signs of an infestation and if you are not sure or you can confirm you have them call a professional, such as Cottage Country Pest Control.
DO NOT begin sleeping in a spare bed, on your couch or at a friends or with family. You may spread the infestation to other parts of your home or to your friend's or family's home as bed bugs can travel in luggage, on clothing, etc.
DO NOT assume that the bed bugs will be just in your bed. Bed bugs can be found in sofas, baseboards, coffee tables, electrical sockets, bathrooms, kitchens, closets, carpets, etc.
DO NOT assume that you will be able to solve the problem in just one day. It may take multiple treatments through a pest control company such as Cottage Country Pest Control to rid your home of the infestation.
DO NOT set off a bug bomb or fogger to try and treat the infestation.
DO start dealing with cleaning your clothing and bedding. Wash what you can in the hottest water possible, followed by drying them in the dryer on hot for between 1-2 hours.
DO bag clothes and bedding immediately after washing a drying to prevent bed bugs from once again making their way onto the clothes and bedding.
DO ask questions and take notes. This can help you to remember what the pest control company tells you, what is being done to treat the infestation, what steps you need to take to help treat the problem, etc.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Cottage Country Pest Control. Give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us to book your appointment or if you have any questions or concerns.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Weird Wasp Nest
The locations that wasps choose to build their nest varies from species to species. Some prefer to build nests in trees and shrubs while some prefer holes in the ground, spaces in walls and in spaces under homes, cottages or other buildings such as garages or sheds.
Sometimes however,wasps can AND will build their nests in weird locations. Recently, Ross went on a wasp job where the wasps had built their nest in the pole of a basketball hoop! They had entered the pole through some holes in the pole and gone about building their nest.
It's really important that you take notice of an excessive amount of wasps. Chances are if you are noticing an excessive amount during the day, then there is likely a nest somewhere close by. If you (or someone in your family have allergies), then you have to be really careful around wasps and their nest. They can and usually will become aggressive if they, or their nest is disturbed so it's a good idea to call Cottage Country Pest Control at 705-534-7863 or email us if you suspect or if you know there is a nest around your home.
Sometimes however,wasps can AND will build their nests in weird locations. Recently, Ross went on a wasp job where the wasps had built their nest in the pole of a basketball hoop! They had entered the pole through some holes in the pole and gone about building their nest.
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| Front of the pole. Look carefully and you can see the hole they use to enter and leave their nest. |
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| Back of the pole. There is again a hole that they use to enter and leave their nest. |
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| An after shot. Notice the white powder? This is one method used to deal with a wasp problem |
Monday, July 9, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Friday Link Round Up
thestar.com- West Nile virus found in Toronto mosquitoes
thestar.com- Hazel McCallion wants to ban plastic bags
betterfarming.com- Bee deaths prompt insecticide re-evaluation
North Shore News- Take holistic approach to pest control
The Province- Time to rethink unenforceable pesticide bylaws
thestar.com- Gypsy moth outbreak took city's forestry department by surprise
thestar.com- It's a food web, not a food chain
thestar.com- Montreal takes aim at spread of bedbugs on moving day
thestar.com-Ticks that can carry Lyme disease agent spreading
thestar.com- Hazel McCallion wants to ban plastic bags
betterfarming.com- Bee deaths prompt insecticide re-evaluation
North Shore News- Take holistic approach to pest control
The Province- Time to rethink unenforceable pesticide bylaws
thestar.com- Gypsy moth outbreak took city's forestry department by surprise
thestar.com- It's a food web, not a food chain
thestar.com- Montreal takes aim at spread of bedbugs on moving day
thestar.com-Ticks that can carry Lyme disease agent spreading
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Mosquitos
Today's post is all about mosquitoes. Specifically what they are and their life cycle and tomorrow's post will cover disease and control.
Mosquitoes are a family of small, midge-like flies that are called Culicidae. Most species of mosquitoes are harmless and even considered useful to humanity. Some species are nuisances because they will feed on blood from living vertabrates, including humans.
A major problem with mosquitoes is that when they feed on the blood of humans and livestock they can transmit some of the most harmful diseases, which is something you can read more about tomorrow.
There are over 3.500 species of mosquitoes found worldwide, except for Antarctica.In warmer temperatures (tropical regions for example), mosquitoes are active year round. In colder temperatures, they will hibernate over the winter months.
Mosquitoes, like all flies go through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa and adult. In most species, the female adult will lay their eggs in standing water. Some species will lay their eggs near the water's edge and other species attach their eggs to aquatic plants.
The first three stages of a mosquitoes life cycle are mainly aquatic and these stages generally take anywhere from 5-14 days depending on the species and the ambient temperature.
Mosquitoes that live in some regions where there is cold temperatures and lack of water, can spend part of the year in dispause, meaning they can delay their development and continue on with their life cycle only when conditions are ideal for them to continue.
The eggs hatch into larvae, which then grow until they are able to change in pupae. Following the pupae stage, the adult mosquitoes will emerge from the mature pupa as it floats on the surface of the water.
Mosquitoes that feed on blood, have the potential life spans of a week to several months.
If you are having a pest problem, remember it is better to deal with is sooner rather than later as it can quickly become a very expensive problem to deal with. To book an appointment with Cottage Country Pest Control, give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.
Mosquitoes are a family of small, midge-like flies that are called Culicidae. Most species of mosquitoes are harmless and even considered useful to humanity. Some species are nuisances because they will feed on blood from living vertabrates, including humans.
A major problem with mosquitoes is that when they feed on the blood of humans and livestock they can transmit some of the most harmful diseases, which is something you can read more about tomorrow.
There are over 3.500 species of mosquitoes found worldwide, except for Antarctica.In warmer temperatures (tropical regions for example), mosquitoes are active year round. In colder temperatures, they will hibernate over the winter months.
Mosquitoes, like all flies go through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa and adult. In most species, the female adult will lay their eggs in standing water. Some species will lay their eggs near the water's edge and other species attach their eggs to aquatic plants.
The first three stages of a mosquitoes life cycle are mainly aquatic and these stages generally take anywhere from 5-14 days depending on the species and the ambient temperature.
Mosquitoes that live in some regions where there is cold temperatures and lack of water, can spend part of the year in dispause, meaning they can delay their development and continue on with their life cycle only when conditions are ideal for them to continue.
The eggs hatch into larvae, which then grow until they are able to change in pupae. Following the pupae stage, the adult mosquitoes will emerge from the mature pupa as it floats on the surface of the water.
Mosquitoes that feed on blood, have the potential life spans of a week to several months.
If you are having a pest problem, remember it is better to deal with is sooner rather than later as it can quickly become a very expensive problem to deal with. To book an appointment with Cottage Country Pest Control, give us a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Phorid Flies
This is the first of two posts about Phorid Flies.
Phoridae is a family of small and hump-back flies that are known to commonly resemble fruit flies. They can be identified (and distinguished) from a fruit fly by the specific way of escape--they run quickly across the surface they are on, instead of flying. It is this behaviour that also gives them their alternate name "scuttle flies".
There are approximately 4,000 species of phorid flies in 230 genera. The most well-known species is the Megaselia scalaris or the "coffin fly"
Phorid flies are small at only about 1/2-6 mm in length and when they are viewed from the side they have a visible hump. Their colouring ranges from black or brown to yellowish.
Phorid flies are classified into six subfamilies:
However, in 1992 Alamirinae was abolished when it was shown that they were the "missing" males if the Termitoxeniinae family, which until then was known to only be females.
We cover a broad area - Tiny & Tay townships, Simcoe, Muskoka and beyond. We're also available at your convenience - weekend service available at no extra charge, and we do island calls.
For more information or to book and appointment, call us at 705-534-7863 or email us today.
There are approximately 4,000 species of phorid flies in 230 genera. The most well-known species is the Megaselia scalaris or the "coffin fly"
Phorid flies are small at only about 1/2-6 mm in length and when they are viewed from the side they have a visible hump. Their colouring ranges from black or brown to yellowish.
Phorid flies are classified into six subfamilies:
- Phorinae
- Aenigmatiinae
- Metopininae
- Alamirinae
- Termitoxeniinae
- Thaumatoxeninae
However, in 1992 Alamirinae was abolished when it was shown that they were the "missing" males if the Termitoxeniinae family, which until then was known to only be females.
We cover a broad area - Tiny & Tay townships, Simcoe, Muskoka and beyond. We're also available at your convenience - weekend service available at no extra charge, and we do island calls.
For more information or to book and appointment, call us at 705-534-7863 or email us today.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
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:
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.
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, April 20, 2012
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.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Salmonellosis
So after writing yesterday's blog post on Mice, I decided to do a quick follow up on salmonellosis, which is one of the most common illnesses caused by mice in humans.
Salmonellosis is a bacterial food poisoning that is caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella. Symptoms can appear 12-72 hours after ingesting the bacteria, which can be passed from mice to humans through infected stool. Basically this means that if you have a mouse infestation and 1 (or more of them have this bacteria) and they use the food in your cupboards as a bathroom and you well...hopefully you get the idea.
Generally, the illness will only last 4-7 days and most people will recover without the treatment of a doctor, however sometimes the patient can become severely dehydrated and should seek treatment at a hospital. Patients who end up in the hospital may receive I.V. fluids to treat the dehydration, and may be given medications to provide symptomatic relief.
In very severe cases, the infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and could continue spreading to other body sites which if left untreated, could cause death.
The people most likely to suffer from severe cases of salmonellosis include the elderly, infants and small children and anyone with a weakened or impaired immune systems.
Symptoms of salmonellosis include:
In order to prevent possibly getting salmonellosis (at least from mice), it's important you take steps to get rid of an infestation if you know you have one and if you aren't quite sure, take the steps to confirm or not. Cottage Country Pest Control can help and we can do it using environmentally responsible ways. Contact us through email or call us at 705-534-7863 to book your appointment today.
Salmonellosis is a bacterial food poisoning that is caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella. Symptoms can appear 12-72 hours after ingesting the bacteria, which can be passed from mice to humans through infected stool. Basically this means that if you have a mouse infestation and 1 (or more of them have this bacteria) and they use the food in your cupboards as a bathroom and you well...hopefully you get the idea.
Generally, the illness will only last 4-7 days and most people will recover without the treatment of a doctor, however sometimes the patient can become severely dehydrated and should seek treatment at a hospital. Patients who end up in the hospital may receive I.V. fluids to treat the dehydration, and may be given medications to provide symptomatic relief.
In very severe cases, the infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and could continue spreading to other body sites which if left untreated, could cause death.
The people most likely to suffer from severe cases of salmonellosis include the elderly, infants and small children and anyone with a weakened or impaired immune systems.
Symptoms of salmonellosis include:
- Gastrointentinal
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Rose spots
In order to prevent possibly getting salmonellosis (at least from mice), it's important you take steps to get rid of an infestation if you know you have one and if you aren't quite sure, take the steps to confirm or not. Cottage Country Pest Control can help and we can do it using environmentally responsible ways. Contact us through email or call us at 705-534-7863 to book your appointment today.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Winding Down ....
...but not really.
We do tend to slow down a bit as we head into the fall - but really, it is more a matter of change.
Instead of running around doing spider sprays and carpenter ants, these days Ross is more likely to be in an attic somewhere looking for bat guano or on a roof doing bat exclusion. Or crawling around under a cottage making sure that mice and other furry friends can't get in. Or dealing with fleas. They seem to be particularly bad this year.
And of course, there are the bees... hornets...wasps.... fun stuff, those! He has the necessary equipment to protect himself from stings but over the years, he's never really needed it - until last week, when - because he's never really needed it, he didn't bother to put it on. Somehow I doubt he'll make that mistake again! He got stung on Friday and spent the weekend with his eyes pretty much swollen shut. Fun times! I would post a picture but I don't think he would appreciate that much :)
He's looking much better now and was back to work yesterday though, so he is available to help you solve your pest problems. Give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at (705)534-7863 or send us an email at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com and I will be happy to send him in your direction.
We do tend to slow down a bit as we head into the fall - but really, it is more a matter of change.
Instead of running around doing spider sprays and carpenter ants, these days Ross is more likely to be in an attic somewhere looking for bat guano or on a roof doing bat exclusion. Or crawling around under a cottage making sure that mice and other furry friends can't get in. Or dealing with fleas. They seem to be particularly bad this year.
And of course, there are the bees... hornets...wasps.... fun stuff, those! He has the necessary equipment to protect himself from stings but over the years, he's never really needed it - until last week, when - because he's never really needed it, he didn't bother to put it on. Somehow I doubt he'll make that mistake again! He got stung on Friday and spent the weekend with his eyes pretty much swollen shut. Fun times! I would post a picture but I don't think he would appreciate that much :)
He's looking much better now and was back to work yesterday though, so he is available to help you solve your pest problems. Give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at (705)534-7863 or send us an email at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com and I will be happy to send him in your direction.
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