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

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.

Black Widow Spider

Yesterday, I mentioned that it is very rare to see a black widow spider in Ontario. If you know where to look you might be able to find them, but it's rare. But wouldn't you know that just hours after posting the blog, I got a text message that Ross had gotten a call about a black widow spider in Penetanguishene. Ross went out and did his thing and brought the dead spider home and here's the picture that shows the dead spider.

Carpenter Ants: A Revisit

Because of the mild winter we had, carpenter ants are back sooner and stronger than ever. We've done posts on carpenter ants before, which you can read here and here, however given the number of people who are having issues with them now, I think it's time for a little revisit. I won't go into as much detail as the previous posts, but hopefully you can find out a bit of information. Carpenter ants are a large species of ants (not just in their numbers but in their actual size). They general range in size from .25 to 1 inch and can be found worldwide. They have two types of nests, however they can have multiple of the second type. The first is their main nest and the second is the satellite nest. The main nest has to be somewhere damp, preferably in a moist and decaying wood source as this is the best location for the eggs and young. A main nest will be located outside, while the satellite nest will usually but not always be found inside a home. This is because it will be drier which is best for the larvae and pupae. The best places to look for a main nest include rotting trees/stumps or decaying landscape timber while the best places to look for a satellite nest inside include wall voids, eaves, ceilings or under insulation such as in attics or crawl spaces and they can also be found in roof gutters and in downspouts. Carpenter ants, while building their nests do not eat the wood but rather tunnel through it, which is why when investigating to see whether or not you have carpenter ants, it's important to look for piles of a sawdust-like material called frass. Controlling and eliminating carpenter ants can be done and the best prevention is to maintain dry conditions, so that they are unable to find moist and decaying wood to nest in. Remember, anyplace that wood comes in contact with soil, could potentially become infested with carpenter ants. The key to controlling any infestation is to find where the queen is laying eggs (the main nest). This will require a thorough inspection and an effort to follow foraging ants back to their nest. It is recommended that if you see 10-12 ants (or more) in your home during the evening then it is worth investigating. If a carpenter ant infestation treated quickly, carpenter ants are rarely responsible for any serious structural damage to houses and buildings. However, these ants could cause serious damage if they continue undiscovered for an extended period. It is advisable to seek professional help in containing a carpenter ant infestations, as incorrect procedures may allow the colony to grow again when surviving members begin to nest again, which is where Cottage Country Pest Control comes in. If you know you have a carpenter ant problem, think you have an infestation or have any pest problems call us at 705-524-7863 or email us at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com today.

Trapping: Part 2

After some delay, we're finally wrapping up the posts about trapping.

Today's post is about education, licensing and legislation.

In order for trappers to qualify for the license, they MUST successfully complete the Fur Harvest, Fur Management and Conservation Course. This course is administered by the ministry and emphasizes safe and humane trapping, survival, good pelt penetration and sustainable management practices.

Trapping Licenses

Every trapper is required to purchase a license that must be renewed yearly. Every license has a unique number used to identify the trapper and where they trap. This information is used to help monitor animal populations and for setting season and harvest quotas.

Open Seasons

Trappers are only allowed to trap during open seasons which were established in the early 1900's in order to prevent harvesting during times when pelts were considered not "prime" and also to avoid harvesting when young were dependent on their parents.

Harvest Quotas

A harvest quota defines the maximum number of animals a licensed trapper is allowed to harvest. Annual quotas are set for any species that may be affected by either over or under harvesting.

Reporting

Trappers are considered to be the front line of monitoring in regards to Ontario's furbearers and their habits. They provide vital information on wildlife through scientific studies and mandatory year-end harvest reports.

Legislation (*Verbatim from legislation*)

• The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act  (S.O. 1997 c 41) provides the legislative framework for the management and protection of furbearers in Ontario. It includes a List of Furbearers of Ontario (twenty-two species of furbearers and their habitats are found throughout the province).  These are defined under Schedule 1 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, S.O. 1997 and O. Reg. 669/98. 
• The Crown Forest Sustainability Act indirectly provides for the habitat needs of most furbearers in crown forests.
• The Provincial Policy Statement for the Protection of Natural Heritage Features (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 1997) was issued under the Planning Act.  The Provincial Policy Statement provides for the protection of significant wildlife habitat as well as other natural heritage features (e.g. wetlands, forests, endangered/ threatened species habitat, corridors) on lands within organized municipalities in the province.  The majority of lands in the area covered by the Planning Act are privately owned.
• The Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards directs the testing and certification of trapping systems used in Ontario.  The Fur Institute of Canada coordinates trap testing activities on behalf of Canada's provinces and territories.  Canadian trappers employ the most up-to-date and humane trapping devices available.

 To contact Cottage Country Pest Control 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.

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.
  

Friday Link Round Up

• CTV- Pesticide make honeybees get lost, reduce weight
• CTV- Melting Arctic ice could poison ecosystem, experts say
• CBCNews- Up to 6.7 million bats dead of fungus
• CTV- Pine beetles defying anti-infestation efforts in Alberta
• CBCNews- Ontario could lose its maple trees, watchdog warns
• Toronto Star - Toronto Groups Protest Loss of BedBug Project funding

Friday Link Round Up

CBCnews- Great Lakes show massive ice loss, study says

CBCnews- 10 invasive species threatening Canadian habitats

CTVnews- Coal, not oilsands, causes global warming: study

CTVnews- Disappearing sea ice enticing more killer whales to Arctic

CTVnews- Climate change drying out forests in western Canada

CBCnews- Alberta First Nation outraged at lack of caribou protection

Bed Bugs: A Follow Up

So I've noticed that previous bed bug posts are still getting lots of hits daily and I know that bed bugs are still a major concern, so I thought I would do a quick follow up post with some pictures to help give people an idea of what to look for if they aren't sure whether or not they have bed bugs.

Bed bugs under and around carpet

Bed bugs, eggs and bed bug feces on a mattress

Bed bug bites

Bed bug bites

If you know you have bed bugs or you aren't sure, call us at 705-534-7863 or email Cottage Country Pest Control and we can can come in and using IPM methods we can solve your pest problems. 

Friday Link Round-up

National Post- Killing skunks not the answer to Windsor's smelly pest problem, critics claim

Physorg.com- Spider mite genome sequence establishes tools to tackle pest resistence

Maclean.ca- Manitoba should think twice before banning pesticides

Guelphmercury.com- Coyotes are coming into city often at our invitation

Friday Link Round-up

Every Friday we'll be posting links to news articles and websites that our readers will hopefully find interesting, so read on.

Toronto Star 2 Toronto restaurants closed for rodent infestation

The Vancouver Sun Fungus poses 'imminent threat' to survival of Canada's bats

Marketwatch.com Insecticide Chalk Contains a Highly Toxic Substance

Examiner.com New Eco Safe Grass Seed Expected to be a Hit at the Ontario Turfgrass Symposium

Have fun reading and maybe you'll learn something and if anyone reading, has suggestions for articles to post in upcoming link round-ups, please feel free to email them to us.

 

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:

• Gastrointentinal
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Rose spots

More severe cases can sometimes be complicated by septicemia, menegitis, endocarditis and various focial lesions (such as on kidneys).

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.

Mice

Deer Mouse

 Aren't mice cute? Maybe a little, but that doesn't mean you want them running around your home. There is a variety of small rodents found in Ontario but for today, I'll be talking about mice. Specifically deer mice and house mice.

Both these species can be found in Urban and Rural areas and often in close contact with humans.
First up: Deer Mice

Deer mice (peromyscus) are usually about 5-8 inches long and can be distinguished from common house mice by their larger eyes and two-toned bodies. Generally, a deer mouse will have a darker colour over their backs with white on their abdominals and limbs.

Their name is in reference to their agility and deer mice are known to be accomplished jumpers and runners, especially in comparison to house mice.

While mice can be cute, they are a pain, because not only will they gnaw on food storage and leave little brown "presents" for you, they can be a health problem. Deer mice are the primary reservoirs for Hantavirus and they can carry lyme disease and they can also be carries of Ehrlichiosis (tick-borne bacterial infection), Babesiosis (maleria-like parasitic disease), salmonellosis (baterial food poisoning) and bubonic plague.
Now: House Mice

House mice are considerably smaller than deer mice at only about 2 inches long. This species is the most common rodent pest in most parts of the world because they are able to adapt to changing conditions and they breed throughout the year.

They are the most domesticated and as pets, fancy or labratory mice. As labratory mice, they are one of the most important model organisms in medicine and biology and they are the most used genetically altered labratory mammal.

Their appearance can vary in colour from white to grey or light brown to black and they have short hair with very little hair on their tails and ears.

House mice are adept at thriving under a variety of conditions and can be found in and around homes and commerical structures as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. They can live anywhere in a house--they will nest in wall spaces, under floors and around cupboards or under counters.

There are diseases that house mice can carry and potentially pass along to humans. These include:

• Leptospirosis-aka. Weil's Syndrome, 7-day fever, canicola fever, canefield fever, nanukayami fever, Rat Catcher's Yellow, Fort Bragg fever, black jaundice and Pretribal fever. It is one of the most common diseases transmitted from animals to people, however it is a relatively rare bacterial infection in humans. The infection is commonly transmitted to humans by allowing water that has been contaminated by animal urine to come in contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes or with the mucous membranes.
• Murine typhus-aka. endemic fever. This is a form of typhus
• Rickettsialpox- This is an illness caused by a bacteria of Rickettsia
• Tularemia-aka. Pahvant valley plague, rabbit fever, deer fly fever and Ohara's fever- this is a serious infectious disease caused by bacterium Francisella Tularensis.
• Lymphocytic choriomengitis- this is a rodent-borne viral infectious disease the presents as aseptic meningitis, ensephalitis or meningencephalitis.
• Salonellosis- bacterial food poisoning, infection with or disease caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella typically marked by gastroenteritis but often complicated by septicemia, meningitis, endocarditis, and various focal lesions (as in the kidneys) when food is contaminated with infected rodent feces.
• Bubonic plague.

 Signs of a mouse infestation

• Live sightings (obvious right?)
• Droppings
• Tracks/footprints
• Gnaw marks
• Rub marks
• Nests
• Damaged goods such as food

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.

Pesticides

Today, we're going to take a break from talking about creepy crawlies and give you some information about pesticides.

In Canada, the use of pesticides is regulated by Health Canada under the Pest Control Products Act, and are among the most heavily regulated substances in Canada.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency is the branch within Health Canada that administers the Act on behalf of the Minister of Health.

Did you know it's a criminal offense to bring pesticides into Canada that were purchased in another country? It's also (obviously) illegal to use pesticides in Canada that were purchased in another country. Any pesticide that is not regulated by Health Canada is illegal to use. Ontario also has legislation that prohibits the sale or use of many pesticides unless you are a licensed pest control person.

General Information

According to Health Canada, a pesticide is "any product, device, organism, substance or thing that is manufactured, represented, sold or used as a means for directly or indirectly controlling, preventing, destroying, mitigating, attracting or repelling any pest".

So, by following that definition, pesticides include:

• Herbicides-used against plants
• Insecticides-used against bugs
• Fungicides & antimicrobacterial agents-used against fungus and other micro organisms
• Material & wood preservatives
• Animal & insect repellents
• Insect & rodent-controlling devices: such as mosquito zappers and mouse traps
• Algicides-used to control algae in pools and spas

Why are Pesticides Necessary?

If pests are not properly managed, they can affect the quality of life in many ways. One easy example of this is termites. If left alone, termites will cause structural damage to homes and other buildings.

Pests, while sometimes benerficial, can represent a threat to public health and the environment, so sometimes pesticides are necessary.

In addition to regulating pesticides, Health Canada also promotes and encourages the use of many pesticide-free methods (which Cottage Country Pest Control fully supports) for controlling pests by using strategies such as:

Answer the question: Do I really have a pest problem?

Understand pest behaviour

Modify your physical environment to make it less attractive to pests; and

Modify your physical environment to altogether repel the pest
*please note, the previous strategies are verbatim from the Health Canada website*

If you choose to use pesticides (without calling a professional), it is very important that you follow all labels, warnings and directions and ALWAYS use them according to regulations. Should you decide to hire a professional who is reputable, such as CCPC, who is willing to discuss all your options and concerns with you in order to rid your home of pests.

When it comes down to it, using pesticides can be a solution to ridding your home from an infestation. However, it's important to know that there are other options available these days before automatically turning to the use of pesticides.

Cottage Country Pest Control has environmentally responsible solutions to solving your pest problem, that are not harmful to you, your family or your pets.




Quick Note: If you are interested in reading the whole Pest Control Products Act, you can find it online here.

Carpenter Ants: Treatment

You cannot get rid of an infestation simply by killing the visible ants because up to 90% of the colony doesn't even leave the nest. The only to fully treat a carpenter ant infestation is to find the nest and treat it, which Cottage Country Pest Control can do using the IPM approach.

If a carpenter ant infestation treated quickly, carpenter ants are rarely responsible for any serious structural damage to houses and buildings. However, these ants could cause serious damage if they continue undiscovered for an extended period. That's why it really is a good idea to contact a pest control professional such as Cottage Country Pest Control in the event of an infestation. It is advisable to seek professional help in containing a carpenter ant infestations, as incorrect procedures may allow the colony to grow again when surviving members begin to nest again.

Preventing an  infestation (whether or not you've had one before) can be done by following some steps:

• Seal all cracks on the home's exterior including utility service entrances.
• Dry up leaks outside and inside the home and repair or replace any moisture-damaged wood.
• Chip stumps in the yard, ensuring that the wood debris is mulched or located far away from the home.
• Similarly, locate firewood piles away from the home, so that they do not touch the home or garage wall.
• Trim tree branches so that they do not touch the home, roof or attic.
• Maintain a clearance of six inches between wood siding and the soil to make sure that the siding does not "wick" moisture from the ground and provide ants another route into the home.

If you have any questions or concerns or to book an appointment please contact us.

Spider Sprays 2

Ross has started the second round of spider sprays for the season .... if you've had a spray and are ready for another, please do let us know.

If you haven't had a spray but want one, feel free to give us a call at (705)534-7863 or drop us an email at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com and he'll be happy to fit you in as well.

And/of, of course, he is always available to solve your other pest problems.

We are still getting quite a few calls for carpenter ants, and now fleas as well... not so many bed bugs right now though... good thing, that!