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.

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