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?

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.

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

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.

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.

Why you don't want to wait to call...

Perhaps you've seen this story already but if not, I suggest you go read the story "Ontario house a honey pit"

Done? okay, this story is a perfect example for why you shouldn't wait to call a pest control company if you've got a pest. Granted, not every pest is going to cause this type of damage, but if left long enough the damage caused by many pests can get not only bad (or worse than the damage in the story)  but also expensive too.

Why would you want to have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars fixing the problem and damage caused by something that could have been solved for way less money and in less time??

So, if you think you have a pest or you know you have a pest problem give Cottage Country Pest Control a call at 705-534-7863 or email us today.

For more information about bees (and wasps and hornets) you can check out the past posts:
Bees, hornets & wasps...oh my!
Hornets
Wasp
Bug Bites: Part Two

Don't put it off!

Friday Link Roundup

www.bedbugremoval.ca- New Research Reveals Bed Bugs' ability to transfer harmful bacteria

thestar.com- Bedbug problem triggers $250,000 funding from Toronto Council

CBCnews- Bedbug battle being won in Winnipeg

CBCnews- Bed bugs a cottage problem, too

thestar.com- Environmental commissioner: Ontario not prepared for heavy costs of climate change

news.ontario.ca- Ontario named Canada's Greenest Province

news.ontario.ca- Restoring Great Lakes to protect Ontario's future
 
thestar.com-  Beware a staggering squirrel in your backyard

As always, if you have any suggestions for our Friday Link Roundup, have any questions or want to book an appointment, you can email us or give us a call at 705-534-7863.

Friday Link Round Up

CBCnews- Giant algae blooms thriving under thinning Arctic sea ice

CTVnews- Shipping change puts right whale back on healthy course

The Globe and Mail- Cleanup of latest Alberta oil spill could take all summer

Newscanada.com- Fruits in abundance for Canadians due to pest control products

Newscanada.com- Do what you can to save the honey bee

Newscanada.com- How to deal with local wildlife the right way

The Globe and Mail- Former Reform MP rakes Harper over environmental coals

The Toronto Star - How the family cat infected an Oregon man with Black Death

Raccoons

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

Raccoon

 

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

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

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

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

Raccoon babies

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

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

Skunks

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

Striped skunk

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

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

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

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

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

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.
  

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. 

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.

Twitter

We are now on Twitter! Find us @C_C_PestControl

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.

And We're Back! With Bats!

After taking some time off, we are back with a brand new post all about bats and what we can do if you have them.

Bats

Bats will soon be starting to return and that means it's time to start bat proofing for the Spring and Summer.

Did you know that there are 8 species of bats in Ontario, but only 2 species are commonly found in homes? These 2 species are the big brown bat(Eptesicus fuscus) and the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus).

Both these bats will hibernate in places such as caves and old mines, but they can also be found in attics and during the hot summer months they can also be found behind shutters, under porch overhangs and other cool dark spaces.

Bats are nocturnal, so you likely won't see them during the day. They also have poor vision and rely on echolocation to catch their prey.

Their prey consists of live insects that they will catch while flying and at night they can consume very large amounts of insects.

If you think you have bats in your home it's important to know how to handle their removal. Bat droppings (or guano) are linked to several health concerns. Guano can cause a persistent and strong odor and old droppings carry the potential to harbor histoplasmosis, which is an infection that occurs from breathing in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Bat guano can often be found where the bats are roosting such as attics and under roof peaks or outside lights where they will sit at night.


So what can Cottage Country Pest Control do for you?

We can come in and bat proof, which is the best and most permanent way of eliminating a bat colony from your home. To do this, sealing all the openings where they can enter is very important. Little brown bats only need a 1 cm hole to enter, so we can locate and seal these holes. We also ensure that all existing guano is removed and that the area is disinfected.

Having bats around isn't always so bad, you just don't want them in your house. So we also offer seasoned bat houses for sale. Bat houses are great to have around because bats will be attracted to them and will be more than happy to hang out in one. The benefit for you? It means there will be bats around in the summer to take care of those pesky mosquitoes and other insects and they won't be in your house!

Call Cottage Country Pest Control at (705)534-7863 today or email us at ccpestcontrol@gmail.com to book your appointment!

Quick Facts - Woodroaches

Wood roaches like to hide in stumps, under bark and in wood piles. They eat fungi, sweet substances and organic matter.

For help in solving all of your pest control problems,
Please call or email us at
Cottage Country Pest Control (705) 534-7863
ccpestcontrol@gmail.com.

Quick Facts - Bed Bugs

Bed bugs can survive up to six months without feeding. Both males and females bite.

For help in solving all of your pest control problems,
Please call or email us at
Cottage Country Pest Control (705) 534-7863
ccpestcontrol@gmail.com.