Island Pest Control

🦇 White-Nose Syndrome Surveillance Alert! 🦇

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a devastating disease caused by a fungus that looks like a white fuzz. It grows on the nose and bodies of infected bats and has resulted in devastating losses to bat populations across North America. WNS has not been observed in B.C. yet, but the fungus that causes it was detected in the Grand Forks area earlier this year.

November 1 to May 31 is the WNS surveillance period and we need your help to track and monitor unusual bat activity. 📊🦇

It’s up to us to be vigilant and help bats. Here's how you can get involved:

1️⃣ Keep an eye out for bats in your area, especially if they are active when they should be hibernating over winter.

2️⃣ Take note of their behavior and any signs of disease, like white fungus on their noses or wings. Remember to never touch a bat and to make observations from a distance.

3️⃣ Report dead bats or unusual activity to the BC Community Bat Program by calling 1-855-922-2287 or visiting https://ow.ly/uGKI50Q3FYa

4️⃣ Share this post to raise awareness among your friends and followers. Knowledge is key in the fight against WNS!

Bats play a crucial role in our ecosystem, from pest control to pollination. 🌍 Let's work together to protect them from the devastating impacts of White-Nose Syndrome. 💪

To learn more visit: https://ow.ly/ecoX50Q3FYb

Photo: From US Fish & Wildlife Service

https://twitter.com/cbsnews/status/1575668316571635713?s=21&t=j8La-Ye3KAi6tguWwGtMGw

CBS News on Twitter “In New York City, the rats go viral for eating pizza – and the hawks go viral for eating rats. Watch this bird shock onlookers in the Upper West Side by descending into a trash can and pulling out a sizable "snack."”

We need to stay on high alert. In BC, call 1-888-933-3722. Invasive Species Council of BC

It is about time to keep an eye out for queens again! Take part in our Spring Queen Visual Survey. It is easy! When outdoors, keep your eyes open and a camera on-hand. If you think you spot a hornet, snap a photo and report it at agr.wa.gov/hornets or email us at [email protected]. (Washington residents only, please.)

This photo compares an Asian giant hornet queen with a queen bald faced hornet (not actually a hornet but a black and white yellow jacket).

This will become a regular summer issue and really sad news
For us beekeepers.

Washington State Department of Agriculture Washington State Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Building P.O. Box 42560 1111 Washington ST SE Olympia, WA 98504-2560

Summer can be a batty time as young start to roam, says B.C. biologist - Cowichan Valley Citizen Bats may fly into homes, be found on the ground or appear roosting in unusual locations

This is at the Canadian border.

UPDATE: Yesterday our team was able to capture a live east of Blaine and they got another one this morning. Both hornets were tagged, given a pre-flight strawberry jam meal, and released.

After staying in the area for a couple of hours, the hornets took off. Our team has been tracking them this afternoon but have not yet located a nest. The radio tags will run for up to two weeks, and we will continue to search the area in an attempt to locate the nest.

We are ok with this. We work with our customers to fix and exclude entry points and best practices when landscaping and gardening. We teach our customers how to manage the exterior perimeter of their homes and not to depend on monthly baiting programs.
As part of the Structual Pest Management Association of BC and the Canadian Pest Management Association we are up to date with the true and accurate data on concerns such as rodenticide. Governments have been tracking the effects of secondary poisoning long before social media. There is no doubt, science is trying hard to come up more reliable, safer alternatives to rodenticides and all Pest Control companies will gladly switch for the good of our environment and the animals we live with. If you have any questions or concerns, please call and I’ll gladly fill you in with factual government data.

North Cowichan bans use of rat poisons in municipal properties - Cowichan Valley Citizen The rodent poison has been linked to poisoning of other species