Latest news with #pestControl
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rats, beware: Toronto outlines new plan to attack its growing rodent problem
Toronto could soon see a plan to address the growing number of rats in the city as major construction projects and climate change contribute to its pest problem. Late last month, Toronto's city manager Paul Johnson outlined a rat response plan that would focus on environmental changes to minimize the conditions for rats to thrive in. Johnson will present the plan the economic and community development committee at its next meeting on July 9. Coun. Alejandra Bravo, who was one of the councillors to ask the city to create the strategy, says she's been hearing from families who live near construction sites and have been impacted by the rodents. "We got a call from a mother who lives in an apartment close to a construction area. Her daughter was awoken in the middle of the night as a rat jumped onto her bed in her bedroom," Bravo said at a news conference Wednesday. Can you imagine what that does to a family?" Last year, the city's infrastructure committee directed the city manager and medical officer of health to report back with a rat response plan by this summer. If approved, the plan will include several actions, such as a response coordination team and a response enforcement table to lead work within the public service through inspection and enforcement blitzes. WATCH | How climate change is contributing to Toronto's growing rat population: As part of the new plan the city says it will need an associate director and an project coordinator starting in 2026, at a price tag of $351,000. It says an additional $150,000 will be required annually to support public communication and staff training related to rat management. In January, a study from a group of global rodent and public health scientists found growing rat populations are correlated with rising temperatures driven by global warming. Last summer, councillors asked Johnson to consult with other North American cities on their approach to rat reduction. Bravo said Wednesday the new plan would bring Toronto in line with other major North American municipalities that have a coordinated approach to managing rats, like New York City and Chicago. She says some of the complaints she's received from businesses and tenants stress that the cost of getting rid of the rats is also a problem. "It's really expensive to get rid of rats in a business or in a home. Not everybody has access to that, but the toll on people, the mental health toll, the fear, is all too real," said Bravo. This isn't the first time city council has tried to tackle Toronto's rat problem. In 2018, former councillor Ana Bailão spearheaded a push for staff to create a rat reduction plan. That was adopted by council, but work on the report was scuttled by resource constraints during the pandemic.
CBS News
02-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Asian needle ant's sting left Massachusetts man feeling sick: "I could feel the pain spreading."
Man says he was stung by Asian needle ant near his backyard pool Man says he was stung by Asian needle ant near his backyard pool Man says he was stung by Asian needle ant near his backyard pool A Massachusetts man said the sting of an Asian needle ant left him feeling sick. The invasive insect has been spreading across the U.S., and experts say their venomous sting can potentially be deadly. Norman Chipman was cleaning his backyard pool in Bridgewater in June when he felt a pain in his hand. "I didn't really pay attention to it until it kept stinging me," he said. "That's when I looked down and saw that it was an ant." Painful sting He shook the ant off and kept going about his business - but the sting kept hurting. "I could feel the pain spreading a little bit throughout my hand," Chipman said. "After about 20 minutes I started to just not feel well. I got a little bit of a headache, just felt lethargic." He said he continued to feel sick the next day, but has felt fine since then. Chipman said it was a "good-sized" ant, and he fished more out of his pool. He said pest control company Terminix confirmed he had Asian needle ants on his property. "I thought, this might be the one of those needle ants that are showing up on my Facebook feed," he said. "When Terminix came out, he looked at it and said, 'yeah, that looks like what we've been told about.'" The invasive Asian needle ant. American Association for the Advancement of Science Asian needle ants A Terminix scientist told WBZ-TV that Asian needle ants are outcompeting native ants in local ecosystems, and reports of them in the northeast are on the rise. They say the ants prefer wet areas like pools, and homeowners should limit moisture around their home by checking hose faucets and air conditioning for any leaks. A U.S. Forest Service report from 2021 says the ants are "beginning to cause problems in North America." It said the most troubling characteristic of the invasive species is their sting. "While they are not terribly aggressive, like the more familiar red imported fire ants, their stings are painful, often affecting different people in different ways," the report said. "In fact, the sting can result in life-threatening anaphylaxis, an acute allergic response." People who are sensitive to ant or bee stings should always keep an epinephrine auto-injection device on hand, experts say. "Unfortunately, as with many invasive species, it appears Asian needle ants are here to stay," the Forest Service said.
The Sun
28-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Tesco is selling a £6.99 buy that'll get rid of pesky flies in seconds, and it's completely chemical-free too
WHEN you spend long summer days in the garden, keeping pesky flies and mosquitos at bay is a top priority. Fortunately, there are many great repellent options available if you're tired of the constant buzzing by your ears. 3 3 However, for pest control that also makes your outdoor space look better, it's worth considering adding a special plant that will kill the unwelcome visitors. Most of us have heard that adding basil or rosemary to the greenery works wonders. But turns out, there's another plant worth snapping up from your local Tesco - the Venus Fly Trap. The ultimate natural pest control is this carnivorous plant that captures pesky insects and spiders in its claw-like, clamshell-shaped leaves. Once the pest has been trapped, the plant snaps them shut, and then "eats" its unsuspecting prey by releasing digestive enzymes. While these plants are certainly fascinating and entertaining to watch, the Venus Fly Trap requires rather specific conditions. For best results, you should plant it outside for full sun - however, if that's not an option, you can keep it on a sunny windowsill with an additional artificial light nearby. The fly-munching trap also likes wet soil, meaning if in a pot, its roots must always be sitting in water. As the plant can't handle hard water that comes from most taps in the UK, it's strongly advised to keep it hydrated with distilled or clean rainwater. If the trap is unable to catch food on its own, green-fingered Brits should keep it fed with insects, blood worms, or fish food. The 2C method which stops flies plaguing your home and ruining your BBQ Keen to see whether this chemical-free solution works? Shoppers can snap up Venus Fly Trap in a Tin from Tesco for just £6.99, order it from Amazon for £13.99 or buy it from their local B&Q on sale for £16.35. One person who was recently amazed by how well the plant worked was Irish lass and TikToker Hannah Tuite - her plant caught a fly just an hour after purchasing it. ''Wasn't expecting this to work, let alone so quick,'' she told fellow social media users in the now-viral video. Why do flies come out in summer? Flies are present all year round, but all of a sudden when summer comes, they are just EVERYWHERE! The main contributing factors are the breeding cycle of flies and the soaring temperatures. Insects are cold blooded and in summer, when their body temperature rises from the external heat, they become more active. The hotter weather also let's them seek out cool moist spots, like inside your home, to escape from the sweltering heat and to lay their eggs. House Fly eggs take around 20 hours to hatch, but when the temperature rises above 37 degrees, can hatch within 8 hours! In extreme hot weather the eggs can mature from larvae to adult fly in as little as four days. The average lifespan of a housefly is 21 days, so each female can lay up to 900 eggs during the summer months! However, if you're on the lookout for a less barbaric option, the stunning lavender works a treat too - and it will leave your garden smelling amazing. Although lavender is one of the most beloved scents for humans, flies can't stand the scent of it. Therefore, if you plant the fragrant flower near the entrance to your home or on the windowsill, it will act as a barrier against flies. Plus, lavender also attracts bees, which will give your garden a wildlife boost. lavender plant for just £3.79. The bargain bloom will be available at stores across the UK from June 12, so flower fans had better set their alarms to be in with the chance of snagging the product.
Fox News
27-06-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Ticks spread to new regions across America, bringing dangerous diseases and need for vigilance
Ticks are spreading outside their comfort zone – and into ours, according to experts. As cooler regions experience milder winters, those areas are becoming more hospitable to many tick species, Bob Hottel, an entomologist with Orkin, the pest control company, told Fox News Digital. This is because ticks prefer warmer climates. While the insects previously would go dormant in the cold — leaving them unable to travel very far — they're now able to stay active longer, clinging to hosts that carry them outside their typical regions. In recent years, experts at Binghamton University Tick-borne Disease Center in New York have reported that tick-borne illnesses - typically confined to specific regions – are beginning to show up in other parts of the country. "Deer ticks are active any time it's over 39 degrees, so we have a lot longer active periods for ticks now, unfortunately," Yetrib Hathout, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and director of the tick-born disease center, told Binghamton University previously. The number of concerning tick species has risen from one to five in the last 15 years, according to experts at Ohio State University. Given the spread of ticks, Ohio State University's Buckeye Tick Test Lab is now identifying "the most dangerous ticks that spread diseases." Hottel of Orkin said it's important for people to stay vigilant as they're frequently outdoors at this time of year. He said people need to exercise caution regarding certain species, the bites they can deliver and the disease they can cause. "Tick surveillance and tick screening are important." The blacklegged tick (or deer tick) is best known for transmitting Lyme disease, especially in the Northeast, Midwest, and Appalachian regions. While many people are aware of Lyme disease carried by the deer tick, fewer are aware of other dangerous diseases such as alpha-gal syndrome, which is spread by the lone star tick; it can trigger an allergy to red meat. The American dog tick, found mostly east of the Rockies, can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and even cause tick paralysis. Its cousin, the Rocky Mountain wood tick, poses similar risks in high-elevation areas of the Rockies. "Some of the pathogens that are only found in the South, like the Rickettsia species that causes spotted fever, are migrating up north," according to Hathout. "That's why tick surveillance and tick screening for other things are important. And I think it's important to do it regularly." Hottel told Fox News Digital, "Awareness is the first step in protecting yourself from tick-borne illness." Among the precautionary steps to take, say experts: Wear long clothing, use tick repellents and check for ticks after outdoor activity. Knowing which species to watch for can also help prevent serious tick-borne illness. For more Lifestyle articles, visit "Another reason for the spread of ticks is the expansion of human developments into wildlife habitats, which helps ticks more easily find human hosts," said Hottel. Ticks find their hosts by detecting animals' breath and body odors, or by sensing body heat, moisture and vibrations, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). "Some species can even recognize a shadow," the CDC site says. In addition, ticks pick a place to wait by identifying well-used paths. Then they wait for a host, resting on the tips of grasses and shrubs. Ticks can't fly or jump — but many tick species wait in this position known as "questing."
BBC News
23-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Raptors keep £14m Scarborough station repairs on track
Two so-called "winged sentries" have been employed to ensure a £14m project to improve a Grade II listed railway station is completed on roof renovation at Scarborough station is due to be finished by next March and two Harris hawks have been taken on to discourage other birds aiming to use it for nesting and laying Rail said Maverick and Lily patrolled the site for an hour each visit, keeping gulls and crows from settling on the soon-to-be-replaced How, the hawks' handler, said: "Flying birds of prey over the station roof deters the gulls from wanting to nest there, as they see them as a threat and so will look at other locations in which to breed." A Network Rail spokesperson said the hawks were kept "under close control", only eating pre-made food from their keeper. Mr How, from Rentokil, said: "With it being the breeding season for gulls right now, we're using birds of prey as a natural form of pest control."Maverick "knows when he's on site and he's ready to go pretty much as soon as he comes out of the van," he explained."He knows he's off to work and he's rewarded with food, so it means dinner time." Network Rail said the work being carried out at Scarborough Railway Station would preserve the building's construction work would include a full repair of the roof, drainage upgrades and restoration of exterior stonework. Ann Shannon, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said the roofing project would make "a massive difference to this historical station". However, she said nesting birds could mean work having to stop work "during the critical summer months", which would incur "phenomenal" costs. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
