These folks are hunting down wild parsnip near UPEI — and yes, they have to dress like that
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an hour ago
- CTV News
Pet owners warned of ticks transmitting Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
A Rocky Mountain wood tick (left) and American dog tick (right). (Source: Public Health Agency of Canada) Grand Erie Public Health is urging pet owners to be extra vigilant about tick removal after Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever was found in animals who had recently visited Long Point. 'RMSF can be life-threatening in both humans and animals if not treated early,' the health unit wrote in a social media post Sunday. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, like Lyme disease, is a bacterial illness spread through the bite of an infected tick. It is found in several species, including the American dog tick, the brown dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick. The most common symptoms are fever, headache and rash. Medication can be prescribed once symptoms start but, if left untreated, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is potentially fatal. Preventing tick bites Tips to reduce the risk of tick bites: Avoid tick-infested areas Wear light-coloured long sleeves and pants outdoors, as well as closed-toe shoes Tuck pant legs into socks before walking through long grass Use insect repellents with DEET or Icaridin on skin and clothing Conduct tick checks after outdoor activities, feel for bumps or look for tiny dark spots (ticks can be as small as a sesame seed) Take a shower or bath within two hours of being outdoors Use tick prevention products on pets Removing and disposing of ticks Ticks need to be removed within 24 hours to prevent infection. Here's what to do if you find one: Use tweezers or a specialized tick remover to grab hold of its body as close to the skin as possible Pull it straight out Apply antiseptic ointment on the bite Write down where you found the tick on your body, as well as well as the time and place you may have picked it up Call your doctor if you feel unwell, are unable to remove the tick yourself or if it has buried itself too deeply into the skin Do not: Use petroleum jelly or other products Burn the tick Crush or damage the tick while trying to remove it Experts recommend killing the tick by drowning them in rubbing alcohol or putting them in the freezer for several hours. Once dead, they can be thrown into the garbage. Physical symptoms If you have been bitten by a tick, here are some of the symptoms to watch out for: Circular red rash around the bite Fever Chills Swollen glands Headache Diarrhea Weakness Dry cough Joint pain Muscle ache Stiff neck Reporting ticks If you find a tick, on yourself or your pet, take a photo and submit it to for expert identification within 24 hours. An email will be sent with the results. You can also check out the public tick map for other confirmed sightings.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
UWindsor six years ahead of climate action target
The University of Windsor reached its 2030 climate action target six years earlier than expected. Since 2019, the university has cut greenhouse gas emissions by 47 per cent. UWindsor President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Gordon said the achievement is one of the most significant environmental milestones in the institution's sustainability. 'It is a true testament to the dedication of our cross-campus operational and academic teams, including the students who helped lead the way,' said Gordon. One contributor to the reduction of emissions was the installation of a hybrid electric-steam chiller in 2023. The machine helped reduce natural gas reliance and lower carbon output. According to UWindsor's vice-president, finance and safety operations, Gillian Heisz, the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent dropped by 12,462 tonnes from 2019 to 2024. 'Internal data reporting shows GHG emissions have dropped from approximately 26,300 tonnes CO₂e in 2019 to 13,838 tonnes CO₂e in 2024,' said Heisz. The university also followed low-carbon design principles in new construction and promoted sustainable transportation as part of sustainability initiatives.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Downtown Montreal is up to six degrees hotter than Mount Royal, study finds
Research led by a Montreal student shows that downtown can be up to six degrees hotter than greener parts of the city. Research led by a Montreal student shows that downtown can be up to six degrees hotter than greener parts of the city — a temperature gap with real consequences for health and equity as climate change intensifies. Johanna Arnet is a master's student at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and a member of its Chair on Urban Forests. Her research focuses on how spatial and temporal temperature patterns vary within the city, and how urban forests can help mitigate the effects of heat. Using a bicycle with high-precision sensors — including air and surface temperature sensors, a pyranometer to measure solar radiation, and GPS — Arnet has been pedaling through different Montreal neighbourhoods to collect data at human height. 'We're sampling every second, which means we're gathering readings every few metres,' said Arnet, whose project is carried out in collaboration with both UQAM and Concordia University. 'It's very fine scale, and more relevant to human health than satellite imagery, which mostly captures surface temperatures on rooftops.' Arnet said her routes were designed to capture differences in canopy cover and built environment, two major factors influencing local temperatures. One of her new routes, added this summer, goes from downtown Montreal to Mount-Royal Park. 'Along that stretch, we found an average difference of around six degrees, which is quite significant,' she said. Temperatures are recorded between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., typically the hottest hours of the day in the city. Additional measurements are also taken at night — at least three hours after sunset — when the urban heat island effect tends to peak. Ville-Marie borough looking to make a difference The study is being done in partnership with the Ville-Marie borough and the Quartier des spectacles neighbourhood, both of which are exploring ways to reduce heat through urban greening. 'There's a whole bunch of tree-planting initiatives underway, and they were wondering which areas should be prioritized,' said Arnet. 'This project helps map out the hotter and colder areas in the borough so that decisions can be more targeted.' But cooling dense, downtown areas isn't always simple. In the Quartier des spectacles, Arnet said, the layout changes constantly to accommodate various events such as festivals. Because of this, planting permanent trees isn't always an option. Instead, the neighbourhood has turned to a more flexible solution: mobile greenery. 'They have over 100 trees in pots that can be moved around to work within the changing layout,' said Arnet. 'They even use some of them as road blockers to restrict car access, which is another innovative way to reduce heat without ripping up concrete.' Arnet stressed the importance of mixing strategies — like adding shade structures, green roofs, or green walls — especially in areas where space is limited. The resilience of the city's urban forest is also key, she added, noting the need for species diversity to protect against future pest outbreaks. 'Functional and structural diversity is crucial, trees, shrubs, and ground-level vegetation all play a role,' she said. How heatwaves expose inequality Isabella Richmond is a PhD student in biology at Concordia University researching how urban ecosystems and design can influence heat exposure and health outcomes. 'We define cities by their impervious surfaces, which basically means concrete, and in Montreal that's definitely what comes to mind when you think of downtown,' said Richmond, who is helping with Arnet's project. With fewer trees and more built infrastructure, heat accumulates and radiates through the day and night. Richmond said that a six-degree difference is far from negligible. 'To the human body, that's the difference between comfortable and dangerously hot,' she said. 'Even a half-degree can be felt, so, six degrees is massive.' She pointed to another example: the stark contrast between Park-Extension and the Town of Mount Royal. The two adjacent neighbourhoods show wide differences in canopy cover, housing density, and access to green space — and, as a result, temperature. 'There's a real imbalance in who feels the worst of the heat,' said Richmond. 'Urban design is everything.' The consequences of heat exposure go beyond discomfort. Richmond pointed to studies that have shown links between urban heat and higher risks of cardiovascular and respiratory illness. She noted that wealthier, whiter communities tend to live in cooler areas, a phenomenon she referred to as the 'luxury effect.' 'And the people who live in hotter zones often don't have access to things like air conditioning, either in their homes or even in a vehicle,' she said. 'So not only are they experiencing higher temperatures, but they don't have the same access to relief.' As climate change accelerates, the research team hopes its data will help guide how and where cooling interventions are made and ensure they reach those who need them most.
