How to Keep Raccoons Away from Your Cottage

Posted on by Zoey Adams

Enjoying the wildlife is one of the greatest pleasures of living in a cottage. While all critters have their rightful place, not all of them are a welcome sight. Raccoons have the capability of making your cottage life a bit more challenging and sometimes even dangerous. If you are aware of the damage raccoons can cause then it’s no surprise you are trying to stay clear. We consulted a local company: raccoon removal by raccooncontrol.ca for some advice.

Dave from raccooncontrol.ca went in depth. Raccoons may look cute, but they are a nuisance in your property and worse if you live in a cottage. They will invade your space and steal treats from your garbage creating a mess. They will even cause damage looking for a cozy home for themselves.

Raccoons are truly mischievous critters of the woods, and if they decide to live in your cottage, it can be a nightmare trying to keep them away. Whether they have set camp in your attic, hiding under the cottage during winter or raiding your garbage cans, these pesky critters can be a real pain. Taking a few precautions will make your cottage a little less inviting.

Eliminate food sources

When you are not cooking or eating food, make sure you store the food in an airtight container that has a lid or seal. You also need to consider cups that have caps rather than having open cans, mugs or bottles. Raccoons have a great sense of smell; living leftovers out in the porch or your lawn will attract them from miles.  Practice safe cleaning habits to help keep them away.

Secure your garbage bins

Raccoons are notorious for getting into your garbage cans and tearing out your trash bags making a mess out your lawn. If you live in a cottage, you could invest in a lockable garbage bin or at least secure it with bungee cords. Raccoons are very smart and adaptable critters; over time they have learned how to operate human mechanisms.

Seal off entry points

Depending on whether your cottage has a perimeter fence or not, eliminating potential entry points is essential. If your cottage doesn’t have a wall, then you could start by clearing overhanging branches, sealing off cracks and holes in your eaves and soffits. It is also important that you don’t leave your doors and windows open.

Contact a professional

The best and most effective way to get rid of raccoons is contracting a professional wildlife removal expert. Removal technicians have years of experience. They will first investigate your cottage to determine why, where and how the raccoons got into your property. They will also make sure they remove the raccoons and prevent them from getting back into your property by exclusion.

Other methods

There are several other ways you can get rid of raccoons in your cottage. You could use products that repel, scare or even trap raccoons. However, it’s important to note that all these solutions have downfalls. If you are going to trap a raccoon make sure you have checked with your local authorities on acceptable methods. If you are unsure of what to do at this point, it’s advisable to contact your local wildlife removal service for professional assistance.

Dealing With Wasp Nests Safely

Posted on by Zoey Adams

Wasps in the summer months can quickly become a major nuisance. Wasps are a social insect, forming colonies containing anywhere from 5000 – 10000 wasps per season. The hibernating and fertilized queen will emerge around mid-April time (or sooner, depending on temperatures) and search for a suitable nesting site.

For best results, you will need to contact an exterminator to deal with the nest. You can call:

The nest starts of as a golf ball sized nest made from chewed bark, dried timber mixed with saliva, within this starter nest she lays between 10 and 20 eggs, the first brood of adult workers (sterile females) will take over the development of the nest and providing food for the next lot of eggs being laid by the queen. At the start of the season, wasp poses little or no threat (this can be a different matter if the nest is interfered with) and it is only towards the end of the wasp season that they become a nuisance towards humans that is why important to call wasp control services to deal with this problem.

During the latter part of the summer, the queen will mate and then leave the nest site to find a suitable over-wintering location. The remaining workers and few remaining males become sluggish, and their feeding on over-ripe fruit will produce a “tipsy” behaviour, leading towards aggression towards anyone interfering with them. The on-coming winter will kill off the workers and the remaining males, with only the fertilized queens surviving by hibernating. During this nuisance time, the wasps will be bothering the general public in places like pub gardens and parks etc., they tend to feed off the sweeter food such as children’s lolly-pops, soft drinks alcoholic drinks, and pretty much anything containing sugar.

Obviously, the nest can be treated, but this could mean the area being out of bounds for up to 24 hours, this could in turn lead to loss of business and loss of profits. However other methods for dealing with wasps are available. New wasp treatment systems such as the wasp bane are easily available to obtain from online pest control websites or from your local hardware store.

The was bane is a wasp trap, the wasps are attracted and lured into the trap with specially developed attractants, the wasps enter the chamber of the trap to get to the attractant, once the wasps have entered the trap they cannot escape. The trap can be placed at the bottom of the beer garden, around parks, or hanging from trees. In a recent study at a well-known theme park, it was recorded that after installing the wasp bane trap in various locations around the park, reports of wasp sting went down as much as 95% in 1 year.

How To Keep Raccoons Away From The Campsite

Posted on by Zoey Adams

Not many things can match the joy and excitement of camping outdoor. It has long been and continues to be one of the best and most popular outdoor activities that attract thousands. The most fun part of camping is that it is done in groups and is not confined to a single place. People do with camping tour companies, with friends, with family members in mountains, forests, hills and various exotic places for days, nights and even weeks. The thrill that comes with it is second to none.

As there is a worldwide surge in camping, there has been a lot of emphasis on safety. As it is done in open air, there are many things that camper needs to be wary of. Apart from the different weather conditions, there are also animals that one needs to be careful of especially raccoons. Normally found in forests, near lakes and water streams, raccoons may look tiny but they can be quite dangerous at times. Apart from the fact that they are renowned for stealing and running away with food items, boxes, cameras, bags and anything that can get their hands on, they can be a source of spreading rabies. Therefore, when preparing for camping at a place that is well-known to have raccoons, one must take precautionary measures to keep away raccoons from the campsite.

The first thing to make sure that your food is kept in a secure place. That place should only be opened when its lunch or dinner time otherwise it should be tightly secured. Raccoons get attracted by the smell of food, therefore, it is vital to make your food an unreachable place for them. secondly, dispose of your food waste in a best possible way. Littering is bad anyway but with raccoons around, it can pose a greater threat. Make sure you have sealed trash bins. Raccoons can use their paws to open ordinary trash cans, hence it is vital to have one that is either heavy at the top or locks. And if you want to go one better, hang them from a tree. Raccoons aren’t monkeys plus they are tiny so if the trash bags or cans are hung from the top, they would not be able to reach it.

Spray ammonia or sprinkle chili pepper around the campsite. Raccoons dislike the smell of both so if the act of sprinkling and spray is repeated every day or two then there if s fair chance that these wild creatures would not be able to make it through. And if somehow, they are able to get past the ring then loud music can be played to fend them off. Lastly, never leave your toiletries around. Raccoons have a strong sense of smell and it is important to keep your toiletries in a safe place. Plus, even the smell of toothpaste or the spitting of it in the woods can attract them so be very careful.

So the next time you are planning a weekend out in the woods, secure your belongings and your campsite from a Raccoon invasion.

What Is Glamping? How Is It Different From Camping?

Posted on by Zoey Adams

In the past few years, outdoor enthusiasts have fulfilled their need for adventure through glamping. Not many people are aware of what makes glamping different from the traditional camping experience. It has been a popular trend during the past few years since it’s a more luxurious way to discover the outdoors. Camping generally involves getting out into the wild and setting up tent or a sleeping bag. It usually involves tedious treks and hiking trails before you get to your actual location. You will also have to build a fire pit in order to cook your food which can be very cumbersome. It also requires a lot of time and preparation. You will need to have the appropriate equipment in order to make your camping trip a success. For people who want to know what it feels like to live in an unconventional way, camping is the perfect activity to try. It is very basic and straightforward so anyone can do it. However, not everyone is okay with feeling uncomfortable and not having all of their daily amenities available throughout their trip. This is where glamping comes in to play. It is the ultimate luxury outdoor experience which combines traditional camping with a more glamorous approach.

CAMPING VERSUS GLAMPING

Camping involves the most basic necessities you will be needing to survive a day out in the wild. Most of the time, campers don’t have any bathrooms nearby so they make do with a spot on the soil. Since there is no bathroom, campers also don’t have a place to take a shower amidst the harsh weather conditions in the outdoors. In order to be successful in a camping trip, you would have to bring plenty of essential equipment you will be needing for your trip. It requires a significant amount of time to make sure that everything is ready and prepared for a camping trip. On the other hand, glamping is a fusion between glamour and camping. In glamping, you wouldn’t have to sleep in a tent or a sleeping bag. It also doesn’t require you to build a fire from scratch and feel very exhausted afterwards. It offers an innovative way of experiencing the real outdoors without sacrificing comfort and convenience.

GLAMPING EXPERIENCE

Essentially, glamping allows you to experience the comforts of a traditional hotel while being in an outdoor setting. You will have a flushing toilet, clean shower, hardwood floors and a comfortable bed. There are various forms of glamping and it’s a very popular activity for outdoor enthusiasts. The most common glamping accommodations include tents, igloos, teepees, and forts. Most of the time, these accommodations don’t have electricity so they make use of battery operated lanterns. Since you will be getting better amenities and services in glamping, it also costs much more than traditional camping. The real difference between glamping and camping is the way you experience the outdoors. They are both very enjoyable activities which everyone can enjoy. However, if you’re looking for the more comfortable and luxurious option, glamping is more appropriate for you.