Are unwanted furry visitors scurrying around your home, leaving you feeling uneasy and frustrated? In this comprehensive post, we’ll delve into the best ways to get rid of rats for good. From understanding the habits and preferences of rats to implementing humane yet efficient removal techniques, we’ve got you covered. Key Takeaways:To prevent a rat infestation seal cracks in the outside of your home, declutter and thoroughly clean your home and seal all food and garbage containers. To get rid of rats set traps in high-traffic locations and monitor the traps frequently. Chemical rat control methods should be left to the professionals as they can easily be used incorrectly. If you need help with rat removal give Terminix Canada a call.Summary:Sign of a rat infestation in your homeAre rats dangerous? What damage can rats cause?How to get rid of ratsSigns of a Rat Infestation in Your HomeDetecting a rat infestation early is crucial for effective elimination. Here are some common signs that rats may have invaded your home:Droppings: Rats leave behind small, dark droppings resembling grains of rice. Check areas near food sources, along walls, and in hidden corners.Gnaw Marks: Rats have strong, sharp teeth that continuously grow. Look for gnaw marks on furniture, food packaging, electrical wires, and structural elements.Grease Marks: Rats have oily fur that leaves smudges along their regular paths. Grease marks may appear as dark streaks on walls, baseboards, and other surfaces. Nests: Roof rats build nests using shredded materials such as paper, fabric, and insulation. Check hidden or less frequently accessed areas like attics, basements, and crawl spaces for rat nests.Burrows and Holes: Norway rats create burrows in gardens, under debris, or in hidden outdoor areas. Look for holes in the ground, especially near entry points to your home.Unusual Noises: Rats are often active at night. Listen for scratching or scurrying sounds, especially in the walls, ceiling, or under the floorboards.Foul Odour: Rats leave behind a distinct musky odour. If you notice an unpleasant smell in specific areas, it could be a sign of a rat infestation.If you identify one or more of these signs in your home it’s important to take prompt action. Setting rat traps is an easy way for homeowners to get rid of a couple of rats. The traps should be set where you see the most signs of rat activity. However, for more severe infestations traps alone will likely not be enough to eliminate the issue and professional pest control should be contacted.Are rats dangerous? What damage can rats cause?Rat infestations can pose a variety of dangers to both property and human health such as: Disease Transmission: Rats are infamous for their ability to carry and spread disease to humans. Such diseases include but are not limited to hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, tularemia and salmonella. When a home is infested with rats they can leave trace amounts of urine, saliva, blood or feces around the home (even in food or water) and infect individuals with these diseases even without direct contact with the rat. Property Damage: Rats have strong teeth that continuously grow, leading them to gnaw on various materials around the home including wood furniture, electrical wiring, plastic garbage bins, wooden joists, insulation, shingles and more. This gnawing behavior can result in structural damage to the home, a lot of property damage around the home and even fire hazards if electrical wires are damaged. Allergies and Asthma: Rat droppings, hair, saliva, urine and feces can contain allergens that may trigger allergies or exacerbate asthma symptoms in susceptible individuals.Pet Health: Rats can also carry parasites and diseases that may affect household pets. Additionally, encounters between rats and pets can lead to injuries, especially if the pet attempts to catch or confront the rat.For all of these reasons it’s important to deal with a rat infestation quickly. Rats reproduce quickly and in a short time a small annoyance can turn into a major issue. Read on to learn the best ways to get rid of rats quickly. How to get rid of ratsGetting rid of rats requires a comprehensive approach that combines preventive measures, sanitation, and targeted elimination strategies. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you effectively deal with a rat infestation:Identification:Look for signs of a rat infestation, including droppings, gnaw marks, nests, and unusual noises.Confirm the presence of rats before proceeding with elimination methods.Sanitation & Organization:Remove potential food sources, and store food in airtight containers.Clean up spills promptly and ensure that garbage bins are sealed.Reduce clutter and organize storage areas to eliminate hiding spots.Store pet food in sealed containers and avoid leaving it out overnight.Clean pet bowls regularly to remove food residue.Outdoor Maintenance:Trim vegetation and eliminate potential hiding spots around the exterior of your home.Secure outdoor garbage bins and remove debris that may attract rats.Seal Entry Points:Identify and seal gaps, cracks, and holes in walls, floors, and foundations using materials like steel wool, caulk, or expandable foam.Ensure doors have robust weatherstripping and windows are properly screened.Traps:Set rat traps in locations where you find the most signs of rats.Bait traps with enticing food such as peanut butter.Chemical rat control methods should be left to the professionals as they can easily be used incorrectly. Often, when used improperly, rats will consume the rodenticide and go hide in the walls before dying. Leaving your with a foul smelling issue to deal with. Professional Pest Control:If the infestation is severe or persistent, consider hiring professional pest control services.Professionals can assess the situation, provide effective treatments including chemical rat control, and offer advice on preventive measures.Regular Monitoring:Continuously monitor for signs of rat activity even after initial elimination efforts.Address new entry points promptly and maintain a clean environment.Termites near me TermitesTermite infestationPests don’t scan their key card on the way in the door, so you’ll never know when they show up at your facility — especially if they’re already inside. Crawling critters are always looking for a way to make themselves at home if your building offers any food, water or shelter. Chances are, it contains a bit of all three. That’s why it’s important to take preventive measures to keep pests where they belong: outside. Orkin Canada’s exclusion services do just that, using a variety of tools to help fortify your facility at its most vulnerable entry points.Door SealsGaps under doors can make inviting pathways for pests. But door sweeps contain thousands of dense nylon bristles that ensure smaller pests like rats and cockroaches are barred from entry. By sealing these gaps, you can significantly reduce the chance of pests entering through this common access point.Air CurtainsMounted in doorways and windows, air curtains use high-speed fans to create a powerful wall of air that proves a daunting challenge for flying insects. These devices are particularly effective in high-traffic areas where doors frequently open and close, maintaining an invisible barrier that deters pests.Pest-Resistant Sealant Cracks along floors, walls, baseboards, or ceilings can be hard to spot — but if they exist, pests will find them. Orkin Canada uses pest-resistant caulking and sealant to keep crevices sealed. This helps to eliminate potential entry points and nesting sites for pests, ensuring a more secure environment.Rodent Bait StationsThese can be placed around the exterior of the facility to help create a line of defense against rats and mice. Orkin Canada offers locked and anchored, tamper-proof bait stations that protect bait from accidental exposure to other animals or humans.Insect Light Traps (ILTs)Also known as fly lights, these devices are placed around the interior of the facility and use ultraviolet light to attract flying pests to a non-toxic sticky board inside a confined trap unit. ILTs are an excellent addition to an integrated pest management system, helping to control flying insect populations indoors.By implementing these exclusion methods, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of pest infestations in your facility. Remember, proactive measures are always more effective than reactive ones. Need a quick reference guide for all of this? You can also download our expert tip sheet here.​When dealing with rat infestations, understanding how to safely remove and clean rat droppings is crucial to maintaining a healthy environment. This guide covers important aspects, including nesting habits, associated diseases, proper cleaning methods, and potential health risksWhere do rats nest?What diseases do rats carry that could affect humans?How do I properly remove rat droppings?Can I get sick from cleaning up rat droppings?What are the dangers of a rat?What happens if I get bitten by a rat?Where do rats nest?Different species of rats prefer different nesting locations. Roof Rats typically prefer to nest in higher locations, such as ceilings and attics while Norway Rats prefer to nest in lower locations that can include ground burrows and wall voids. If you spot a rodent hole, make sure to follow the key steps in sealing it correctly. What diseases do rats carry that could affect humans?According to the US Center for Disease Control, rodents can directly transmit the following diseases to humans:Hantavirus Pulmonary SyndromeHemorrhagic Fever with Renal SyndromeLassa FeverLeptospirosisLymphocytic Chorio-menengitis (LCM)Omsk Hemorrhagic FeverPlagueRat-bite FeverSalmonellosisSouth American ArenavirusesTularemiaHow do I properly remove rat droppings?Proper removal of rat droppings is crucial to avoid health risks. Here is a step-by-step process:Suit Up: Wear rubber gloves and a face mask. If there are many droppings, use a fitted respirator.Sterilize: Use a spray disinfectant or a mix of one-part bleach with one-part water to sterilize the area. Let it soak for five minutes to ensure the droppings are wet before removal.Throw It Out: Use a paper towel to pick up the droppings and dispose of them in a trash can. Disinfect the area again after removing the droppings.Clean Your Hands: After cleaning, remove your gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.​Can I get sick from cleaning up rat droppings?Yes. It is very important to clean up any rat droppings properly. Disturbing dried rat feces can cause pathogens to aerosolize and enter the body via airways.What are the dangers of a rat?Amongst the many health concerns listed above you should also be aware of potential health risks related to ticks, mites, or fleas that may be carried by rodents. Rats can also cause significant physical destruction to both property and food. Rodents such as mice, rats and squirrels have been known to chew on electric wires, which can lead to fires.What happens if I get bitten by a rat?Rats have large teeth and when threatened can bite. If you are bitten by a rat you should consult with a medical professional right away as well as cleaning and disinfecting the bite area. Rat saliva can carry pathogens that can cause diseases such as leptospirosis.How to Get Rid of FliesWith warmer weather around the corner, Orkin Canada is prepared for the pests that come with the warmer weather and melting snow. Everyone is looking forward to flowers blooming, birds chirping, and flies coming in through the open door. Oh wait, not that last one! Flies are a nuisance that no one likes buzzing around inside their home or business.There are many different species of flies; however, they all can cause a threat to your peace of mind, while some are a threat to your health and wellbeing inside your home or business. Whether it’s cluster flies, house flies, or fruit flies, at Orkin Canada we have 70+ years of expert advice on how to get rid of these unwanted pests. These flies do not stand a chance up against the Orkin Canada technician.Common Types of FliesHouse FliesThe house fly is light grey in colour and around 4mm – 7.5mm long with 4 black strips on thorax. The abdomen is rather pale along the margin and sides and two transparent wings. These flies can be difficult to control once they gain access to your property because they can reproduce very quickly if there is a breeding source. You’ll want to get the fly swatter out immediately as soon as you see one fly into your open door.Fruit FliesFruit Flies are the smallest of the three common property invading flies measuring in between 2.5mm – 4mm. They are light brown/yellow in colour with bright red eyes. The common fruit fly with the bright red eyes is associated with over ripe or fermenting fruits and vegetables. While the dark-eyed fruit fly is associated with decaying organic matter. If there is rotting garbage or overripe fruit, these flies might be close by.Cluster FliesCluster flies can be easily mistaken for house flies; however, they are larger, about 8 mm long and darker in colour with golden yellow hairs on body and the abdomen has light and dark irregular markings. They also fly a lot slower than house flies. In the spring, cluster flies can be a problem because this is when they emerge from overwintering sites to start breeding, gathering, and swarming around the outside windows of your house.Why are Flies so Dangerous?Aside from being annoying, flies are unwanted because they can pose a risk to our health. There are many ways that the common house fly can be a health risk. House flies repeatedly spit out their germ-loaded saliva and suck it back up when feeding, which they do on top of the surfaces inside your property where you might be preparing food, you can imagine how unhygienic this is for humans.Another way they pose a major risk to your health is when a fly lands on feces or rotting garbage, it picks up pathogens onto its body and brings it wherever else it lands. One of the many places that flies might land could be on your food, potentially exposing you to diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, bacillary dysentery, hepatitis, ophthalmia, or infantile diarrhea. It is important to be diligent with prevention to avoid an infestation in your home or business.Tips to Keep Flies OutsideHouse Flies & Fruit FliesThere are a few simple things you can do to prevent flies from coming inside your home or business. This would include some spring cleaning to ensure all drains are cleaned out and free from food and debris. You can also regularly clean out your garbage and compost bins and ensure there are tight-fitting lids for each bin. It is also a good idea to inspect all of your windows and screens for holes or gaps in the caulking where the flies can squeeze themselves in. Lastly, check for any overripe fruit on counters that might be attracting fruit flies. If you follow these tips, it’s a good start to avoid house flies and fruit flies.What You Need To Do:Clean out drains, removing food debris where possible.Regularly empty and clean out garbage and compost bins to prevent breeding.Empty and clean recycling bins regularly to prevent fruit flies breeding.Ensure there are tight-fitting lids to all waste bins.Inspect around windows for cracks and holes in screens and repair where possible.Exclusion:Seal or screen all exterior openings such as vents, cracks in walls, gaps around utilities.Ensure window or door screens are tight-fitting and insect-proof size.Remove overripe fruit from counter tops.Cluster FliesTo avoid cluster flies getting into your home or business you must exclude them to prevent entry; ensure there are no cracks or holes in the windows, screens, and exterior walls. Vacuuming up any cluster flies you do see is a good way to get rid of them in the meantime. The best way, however, is to call a professional to perform a treatment. Your local Orkin professional will also advise on the best times in the year for follow-up treatments, these normally happen in the spring and fall.What You Need To Do:Inspect around door and window pulleys and frames for gaps and if found seal them where possible.Inspect exterior walls for cracks, gaps, and holes, if gaps found, caulk with silicone or foam sealing.Inspect for unscreened vents, gaps in base plates of electrical outlets, etc.Inspect roof level for gaps or cracks or missing tiles in roofing or eaves, if found, seal the gaps.Cluster flies often enter into attics via roof level, so it is important to focus at the roof level too.Vacuum up any cluster flies on your property.Keep Flies OutWhether you are buying an old Victorian or a new, custom-built home, you could be sharing a roof with unwanted visitors—pests. Just like you never know what’s lurking behind the walls, it’s hard to tell what underlying pest problems a home might be hiding.To get a better understanding of what you may be dealing with, ask the seller or realtor these four questions:Did the previous owner have a termite warranty? Many termite warranties are transferable to new owners, and the type of warranty determines the costs that are covered—either retreatment or retreatment plus repairs.When was the roof last replaced? New roofs are less likely to have leaks and are better sealed against the elements, which means more energy savings and fewer pest entry points.Have you had any exclusionary work done? This type of work includes simple maintenance like screening windows, caulking doors and patching holes around the outside of the home—all of which help seal up your home and keep pests outside where they belong.Have you had any pest issues? This may seem like an obvious question, but if you are buying a home outside the typical pest season, it may not come to mind. However, it’s an important one to remember because a history of termite or other pest problems could mean you need more robust, ongoing pest control.Whether your new home has existing pest problems or not, proactive pest control is the best way to keep insects, rodents and wildlife away. To help you settle in, we’ve created a comprehensive guide of the pests to look out for, the warning signs of a pest problem and the to-do’s that should be at the top of your move-in checklist.We’ve all seen them before. They scamper across the floor and the walls, causing panic as they appear around corners or amongst stored food items. But don’t be fooled by the fact that cockroaches are so common—they’re still some of the filthiest pests imaginable.In addition to evoking feelings of surprise and disgust, cockroaches are also a major health concern. They can spread disease, contaminate food, trigger allergies and even cause asthma symptoms. In fact, cockroaches are known for their ability to transmit harmful pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella spp. and typhus, plus viral diseases such as poliomyelitis.But of course, cockroaches aren’t concerned with your health. They’re eager to invade your space, slipping through cracks and spaces as small as 1/6 of a centimetre wide. And once they’re in, they can begin reproducing rapidly. Before you’re even aware of these unwanted visitors, they may have started multi-generational family in your facility.WHERE TO FIND THEMCockroaches are mostly nocturnal insects. They prefer dark, moist places to hide and breed. Because they can flatten their bodies to fit into narrow spaces, cockroaches may be found in:Hidden, protected places like wall voids, false ceilings, beneath floors, and in/under appliances and equipment.Food preparation and dining areas.Employee locker rooms.Storage areas and closets.Laundry areas.Waiting areas.And many other places!PREVENTION TIPSTake the following steps to help prevent cockroaches from invading your facility:In all areas that may involve food, pay special attention to cleaning up any food debris, scraps, and trash. Cockroaches will eat anything provided to them.Sweep and mop regularly to remove debris that attracts cockroaches. Don’t forget to clean underneath machines, other equipment, tables, and beds.Clean any spills and quickly fix any leaking appliances to remove moisture sources attractive to cockroaches.Inspect all incoming shipment boxes thoroughly for droppings as well as live or dead pests.Seal cracks, gaps, and holes in doors, windows, and walls where cockroaches can easily enter.Periodically inspect and clean employee lockers.In food preparation areas, make sure all food is put away in airtight containers.Empty and wash trash bins on a regular schedule.Keep vegetation trimmed back at least two feet from buildings.Establish a routine monitoring program that includes insect monitors and periodic inspections.Want to know more ways to prevent cockroaches? Download our Cockroach Pest Spotlight for expert tips on how to keep these nuisances outside. Subterranean termites are non-native invasive insects that can cause serious structural damage to homes and can be difficult and expensive to control. Termites are wood destroying insects that live in large colonies numbering several million. They forage through the soil and expand the colony’s territory as they encounter new wood items to feed on. Termites tend to spread rather slowly, depending on the availability of surface dead wood, at an estimated rate of about 50 feet per year.Termites at a GlanceSubterranean termites are found in more than 30 Ontario municipalities and are a non-native pest that favours softwoods (pine or spruce) and faster growing hardwoods (aspen). First detected in Elora in the mid-1970s, there are now several knownTermite Management Areas encompassing many properties within Elora and Fergus. Termites are wood-eating social insects thatcan cause a substantial amount of damage to a property – resulting in costly repairs. Preferred habitat for termite colonies is underground, or aboveground in damp or wet areas or sandy soils. Termites build tunnels to reach food and every spring, groups of reproductive termites fly off to start new colonies. Characteristics There are three types of termite colonies:Workers which are approximately 6mm long, light-coloured and wingless.Soldiers have elongated heads with mandibles.Reproductives are dark coloured and have two pairs of equal-length wings.Termites can travel 500 feet (150m) from their nest, while flying termites may travel up to 3000 feet.Termite PreventionThe best possible way to reduce termite infestation is by preventing it.Store any wood on concrete or steel elevated off the ground.When wood soil contact cannot be avoided, use a product treated to resist termites.Elevate sheds with concrete blocks and/or use concrete for floors.Remove dead trees and or any infested live trees immediately. Remove the stump by excavating or grinding ensure all chipped material is disposed of.Use mulch made of 100% bark or stone. Wood chip mulches should be avoided.Remove any landscaping from around buildings that may hide entry points, shelter tubes and make inspections more difficult. A clear area of 18 inches (450 mm) is recommended above the ground.Keep new gardens and flower beds 18 inches (450mm) below the top of foundation.Direct downspouts and rainwater barrel overflow away from the buildings so that water does not pool.Maintain existing drainage. Do not create gardens or plant trees and shrubs in swales.Fix all plumbing leaks, particularly in showers and baths. These often have leaks supplying constant moisture that make the wood just right to be eaten or for nesting.Termites can enter a structure by:Tunneling through woodBuilding shelter tubesEntering cracks as small as 1/32 inch (.003 mm) in foundation wallsHow to detect TermitesDo you think you might have termites?  Here’s some ways to detect them:You can easily leave dents in your baseboards or your wooden floorWooded window frames look spottedYou detect narrow mud tubes inside and outside your walls and foundationWooden door jams sound hollowYou notice strange bits of mud or a thin gritty gray-brown film on the plaster and woodwork throughout your homeYou notice a “swarm” inside your home in the Spring then discarded wings that resemble fish scalesTermite Inspection & DisposalInspect your property regularly for signs of termites. The best time to inspect is between April and November.Lift any movable wood in contact with the ground, examine stumps by removing bark or cutting into them, look in the crevices of large trees for sheltered tubes and examine compost for signs.If you find termites please call a licensed pest control company specializing in termite infestation. Termite Infested Material DisposalThe County of Wellington solid waste services has agreed to accept termite infested wood and materials from Centre Wellington residences. You must identify that it is termite infested material when presenting at a County transfer station. Please take great care in the transfer of potentially infested wood products to ensure that the material is contained within the transfer vehicle.Termites in Centre WellingtonIn the fall of 2020 Termite Research Services Inc. led by Tim Myles, Ph.D. undertook a Termite Survey project in the areas of Fergus and Elora known to contain Termites. The survey was presented to Council for information.  Staff will be preparing a future Report for Council's consideration on next steps and allocation of the 2021 Termite Funding approved by Council in the 2021 Capital Budget.Rats are a common pest in urban areas.  Rats nest in any safe location where food and water are available such as under woodpiles, in abandoned vehicles, between walls or under floors in garages or sheds. Outdoors they will burrow into the ground close to their food source. Rats are nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night. Rats will become active during the day if food and water are scarce, or if large infestations occur.To control rats and keep them off your property and out of your home, you have to get rid of the three things they need to survive: food, water and shelter. Risks from ratsThe risk of rats spreading disease in the community is low. However, rats can be a nuisance. They can do a lot of damage to properties.Steps to control ratsRats can quickly increase in numbers because they are fast breeders. It is unlikely that we will be able to get rid of all the rats but we can try to control the number of them.Step 1: Look for EvidenceLook for other clues that rats are living on or around your property including:Droppings - Rat droppings (feces) are larger than mouse droppings, look like pill capsules and are often found close to garbage.Burrows - Norway rats prefer to live, sleep and raise their young in underground burrows. The entrance to a burrow is a small hole in the ground. Look under shrubs, porches, decks and in long weeds and grasses for entrances to burrows. Each burrow has one entrance and one or two exits.Gnaw marks - Rats can chew and gnaw through many different materials.Trails - Rats are creatures of habit. They use the same pathways many times a day.Grease marks - Whenever a rat rubs up against a surface, such as a wall, it leaves a grease trail.Step 2: Clean-upImportant thing to help keep your home and yard clean and tidy to discourage rats:If you store wood or other items in piles in your yard, keep them away from walls. Elevate any lumber or firewood 12" off the ground.Control grasses, weeds, shrubs and bushesGet rid of vines that rats can use to climb up into your roof.Trim low-lying shrubs and bushes.Keep the ground bare around the foundation of your home.Keep gardens/lawns free of weeds and garbage.Rats communicate and attract each other through urine and droppings:Use a mild bleach solution (one part bleach to 10 parts water) to dampen droppings before you sweep them up.Try to clean-up dark greasy track marks.Wash down areas where rats have been with water and a mild bleach solution.Get rid of garbage and clear out itemsStep 3: Limit Food SourceRats only need one ounce of food per day to survive. They need to drink every day. Do not provide food and water for rats on your property.Keep garbage in a tightly sealed garbage bin made of hard plastic or metal.Make sure rats cannot access your compost.Clean up any fruits or vegetables that fall off trees or plants.Do not use bird feeders. If you want to use bird feeder, put a catch basin under it to collect spilled seeds or clean under the bird feeder at least once a day.Do not leave pet food outside.Clean-up any dog feces on your propertyRemove water sources on your propertyTurn off and dry out water fountains, remove birdbaths and turn over containers that can hold water.Step 4: Keep Rats Out of Your HomeUse approved traps and poison found at hardware stores to eliminate rats. Rats can get througha space the size of a quarter.Seal all holes and cracks in foundations, walls, floors, underneath doors and around windows. Use metal door sweeps under door openings.Make sure rats cannot climb into pipes and other exhausts around the outside of your home.Step 5: Eliminate RatsUse traps and poison found at hardware stores to eliminate rats. It is important that you use caution - traps and poison can be dangerous to people and other animals. Place traps and poison in areas where children and animals cannot access them. If you have a large infestation that you cannot control, hire a licensed pest control company.

Why do Wasps Keep Building Nests Around My House?

Wasps prefer to build their nests in places that are remote and not easily accessible by humans and other possible intruders. If you are constantly finding wasp nests on your property, it may be because you have one of the following ideal spots:

• Overhangs

• Under tree branches

• Inside a shed

• Under wooden decks

• Under porches

• Hollow trees

One trick that may keep wasps away from your property is by setting up a decoy nest somewhere visible on your property.

How to Find a Wasp Nest on Your Property

If you see clusters of wasps close to an entrance of a potential nesting site that could be a sign of a nest. If there are multiple wasps buzzing around, try observing their behavior, and their comings and goings. Some nests are visible but some are hidden in building structures or underground, so always proceed with caution.

Following a wasp or wasps to their nest can be dangerous as wasps are protective of their nests and can become aggressive if they feel threatened. Observe from afar to prevent any painful stings.

Wasp nests come in many different shapes and sizes, if you think there’s a wasp nest in your yard, here are 2 identifiable nests:

1. Paper wasp nest: Resembles an upside down open umbrella, and the hexagonal cells of the nest are made of paper-like material similar to a hornets nest.

2. Mud wasp nest: Tubular in design and constructed with dried mud or clay.

If you encounter an excessive amount of wasps in your yard and you see them constantly flying in and out of a hole, that’s most likely a sign that there is a nest in that area.

If you suspect you have a wasp nest in your yard, read How to find a wasp or hornet nest. Once located, don’t get close and call a professional for removal!

 

Maintain Your Yard to Prevent a Wasp Nest

Once you take care of the obvious wasp nest locations the next step to preventing a wasp nest in your yard is to maintain it throughout the warm months. This would include chores such as pruning your shrubs and trees, and cleaning up any leaves and/or grass clippings. Insects need water to survive just like any other creature, and they will search your yard looking for water. This is why it’s also important to remove standing water from bird baths and rain gutters.

If you’re wondering whether you can still enjoy a nice barbeque in your yard, you can! Here are some tips to keep wasps away while you’re enjoying the summer weather in your yard.

• Ensure that your food and drink items are not left out longer than they need to be

• Keep food covered when not being served

• Don’t leave sugary drinks around once they are finished

There are so many reusable drink containers that will keep your drink cold and also keep wasps out of your drink so you can avoid getting a wasp stuck in your car or accidentally swallowing one.

As you may have noticed, wasps love to hover around garbage cans as they are eagerly waiting to lick any stains that may be on the side. To keep wasps away from your garbage can ensure the garbage can lids are securely closed and are hosed off frequently.

What to do if Wasps Have Already Made a Nest?

• • It is dangerous to even go near an established wasp nest, let alone try to get rid of it yourself. Annoying one wasp or getting too close to a wasp nest can lead to  a whole colony of angry wasps and potential stings.

    There are a lot of methods that people try to get rid of wasp nests that are inaccurate and unsafe. For example, using liquids to drown out a ground nest is ineffective because their tunnels go down lower than expected. The queen will most likely survive this and a nest will be built somewhere else.

    Covering the hole or attempting to vacuum them out will most likely result in a hospital visit than stopping the wasps. The best way to keep wasps away is prevention, but when that fails, Terminix Canada is here to help.

Wasp FAQs:

How do wasps make their nests? 

The queen uses saliva to break down wood fibers until they form a soft paper pulp. She then flies with the pulp in her mouth to the chosen building site to start constructing the nest.

How long does it take to make a wasp nest?

A wasp nest takes about 4-6 months to be fully completed. A nest is usually constructed during the summer months and doesn’t reach its peak size until fall. At that point, the nest is abandoned because only a fertilized queen can survive winter.

Will wasps return to their nest site?

Wasps generally do not return to the same spot every year, but if you have a suitable area to build a wasp nest, they may return to the same area.

What time of day are wasps most active? 

Wasps are most active midday when it’s warmest outside. They are least active between dusk and dawn.

What do wasps eat? 

Most adult wasps only feed on sugars, in the wild, this can come from flower nectar or honeydew. Some wasps capture insects, chop them up and then carry them back to their larvae.

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