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.

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 .

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Pest control in the Fall

Fall is a great time to get your pest control done before the snow comes. There are many insects and bugs that will begin to diminish in numbers once the weather starts to get colder, however in many cases insects, bugs, rodents, etc will try to locate a warmer environment such as your home, cottage, garages and other buildings you may have on your property.

Fall is a good time to not only take steps to prevent pest infestations but to also take care of existing infestations. If you leave a pest problem over the winter (or for any extended period of time), it will be much worse to deal with and also more expensive.

Some helpful hints

• close off & fill any holes found in your foundation, walls, ceilings, etc--rodents especially will look for holes they can use to enter your home or cottage
• seal any food in airtight containers to prevent rodents and insects from being drawn to the food
• turn water off completely at your cottage before leaving for an extended period of time as moisture can draw some insects in
• consider bat proofing--like rodents they will look for holes in your roof or walls to enter your home and cottage, so by finding and filling those holes you can prevent bats from entering.

If you know you you have a pest problem or you want to take preventative measures heading into winter, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Link Round Up

City News Toronto- West Nile case count jumps another 36% in Ontario

CTV News- Environment Canada calls for shellfish closure after storm

Canada.com- Stephen Harper's environment watchdog to investigate 'risks' of federal budget bill

Globe and Mail- Canada and U.S. update protection of Great Lakes

CBC News- Whitehorse gets machine to convert plastic into oil


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.

Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a virus that is found in rodents and is especially prominent in Deer Mice. It is a rare, but extremely serious illness that was first detected in 1993.

Recently, news broke the there was the possibility that up to 10,000 people were exposed to Hantavirus during their stays at Yosemite National Park. To date there have been 8 confirmed cases and 3 deaths.

Since May 1999, Canada has only seen 32 confirmed cases of Hantavirus (20 in Alberta, 5 in Saskatchewan, six in British Columbia and 1 in Manitoba). While there have not been any confirmed human cases of Hantavirus in Ontario, there have been mice that have tested positive for the virus, especially up in the Algonquin Park area.

People can contract Hantavirus through contact with infected mice, their urine, blood, saliva or fecal matter. The virus can also be contracted through inhalation if near a nest or fecal matter.

While there haven't been any human cases to date, it is really important that people are aware of the diseases and illnesses can be contracted through rodents (or any pests in general).

Not only can Hantavirus be caused by mice but there are other illnesses and diseases that can be passed along to humans. To read more about that you can read our previous post about mice.

If you suspect OR know that you have a mouse problem, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

Deer Mice

Today's post is really just a revisit so to speak. While searching the Internet today I came across an article Deer Mice vs. House Mice from Pest Control Technology, that while discusses many of the same topics in previous blog posts about mice (such as this one) it also includes a great photograph that labels characteristics of deer mice.

Given how much Deer Mice and rodents have been in the news lately because of the Hantavirus outbreak in Yosemite National Park, it really is important for people to understand mice (and other rodents) but also what safety and health concerns there are that can be caused by them.

While Hantavirus is not commonly found in Canada or Ontario there have been cases diagnosed in the past, which is why over the next few days I will be writing about Hantavirus and also doing a full revisit of mice and some of the other diseases that can be caused by them

If you find evidence that you have a mouse infestation and you want them gone, give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us to book an appointment. We have environmentally (and people) friendly ways of handling all your pest problems.

Link Round Up

City News- 62 human cases of West Nile in Toronto

CTV News- Up to 10,000 Yosemite visitors at risk of mouse-borne virus

National Geographic- Glowing Cockroach Mimics Toxic Beetle

National Geographic- Black Bears Can "Count" as Well as Primates

The Star Phoenix- Environment Minister announces regulations for coal-fired power

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.

Flea: Revisit

• The most common type of flea found in North America is the Cat flea (ctenocephalides felis) 
• Despite its name can also be found on dogs and humans
• Another type of flea sometime found in North America is the Dog flea (ctenocephalides canis)
• The Dog flea is most commonly found in Europe
• Adult fleas are approximately 1/8-inch long and are dark in colour
• Adult fleas are wingless but can jump large distances because of their 6 legs
• Fleas have 4 stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupae and adult
• An adult female can lay up to 40-50 eggs a day IF she has a good blood meal
• Larva are completely blind, however they are considered negatively phototaxic, which means they can sense light
• Larva will primarily feed on dried blood in adult flea feces, but they will also eat shed skin, fur and feathers
• Following the larva stage is the pupae stage
• In this stage they can remain dormant for several months until the conditions are right for the adult flea to emerge
• For them, the ideal conditions include pressure, vibrations, presence of carbon dioxide, correct temperature and humidity
• When these are right, it means there's a suitable host that the adult fleas can use as a food source
• If your pet is excessively scratching, it would be a good idea to check his or her fur for signs of fleas
• Some signs to look for (aside from the obvious excessive scratching) is reddened skin, flea dirt (which is not actually dirt, but dried blood) and another obvious sign: fleas!
• Just confirming that your pet has fleas will unfortunately not confirm just how bad the infestation is, since adult fleas found on pets only comprise about 5% of the total flea population
• By applying a spot treatment to your pet(s)' fur, you will be able to fight the fleas found on your animal(s). 
• To treat the fleas located in your home, you have 2 options: find a home remedy (which are NOT always effective or hire a professional, such as Cottage Country Pest Control to help rid your home of fleas

Cottage Country Pest Control can help rid your home of fleas at all stages of their life cycle, using one or more of our treatments for fleas. For more information, pricing or to book your appointment call us today at 705-534-7863 or email us today

Link Round Up

CTV news- Scientists find new family of spiders with fearsome claws

Vancouver Sun- Vancouver environmental group accused of 'laundering' by oilsands lobbyists

The Windsor Star- Report: Illegal logging in Mexico's monarch butterfly reserve down to near zero

CBC news- Cod comeback seen off Newfoundland

CBC news- Arctic ice could vanish in 10 years, scientists warn

Vancouver Sun- Rescued sea otter dies at Vancouver Aquarium

CTV news- Has Alberta lost its rat-free status?

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.

Front of the pole. Look carefully and you can see the hole they use to enter and leave their nest.

Back of the pole. There is again a hole that they use to enter and leave their nest.

An after shot. Notice the white powder? This is one method used to deal with a wasp problem

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.

Friday Link Round Up

Toronto Sun- Ontario house a honey pit

mycentraljersey- Bridgewater-based pest control firm IDs, halts possible spread of Asian invasive beetle species

leaderpost- Should city ban cosmetic pesticides?

biofuelsdigest- SemiosBIO receives $485,000 for pest management applications

melodika- Government of Canada invests in green pest management

Vancouver Sun- Canada's greenhouse e for emissions will be higher than promised

Vancouver Sun- Businesses near historic Canadian sites could be asked to pay maintenance fees

Canada Politics- Environmental groups chide Harper government for taking credit emission reductions

Vancouver Sun- Teachers doing harm to the environment, spreading invasive species, study says

Ottawa Citizen- More Environment Canada weather stations fall off the radar

Montreal Gazette- Going squirrelly: Alberta rodents feeling effect of climate change: ecologist

CBCnews- Invasive crab continues P.E.I. shellfish assault

BBC news- Iceberg breaks off from Greenland's Petermann Glacier

Second Spider Spray

Reminder being sent to customers remind them to book their second spider sprays

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