Belmont's Summer Pests Are Now Out And About

Living in the suburbs in the summer months can bring much pleasure, according to the Belmont Health Department. But unfortunately, there are "critters" that residents must sometimes contend with.

Mosquitoes

Avoiding mosquitoes and the threat of West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a prime concern for us in this area. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are everywhere, but not all mosquitoes carry WNV and EEE. 

The East Middlesex Mosquito Control District does trap and test mosquitoes for these two diseases every year. So far, we have not had any mosquitoes that have tested positive, but we have had a higher than normal rate of dead birds reported to us, which may be indicative that WNV is in the area. 

You can avoid mosquito bites by following the “standard” regime of covering exposed skin during prime mosquito biting time (dusk to dawn), using repellants, mosquito proofing your house and of course, ensuring that you don’t provide a favorable environment for mosquito breeding on your property.   

Information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on WNV and EEE can be found here http://www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito 

Rats and other rodents 

Unfortunately, rats and mice like the suburbs as much as the city. Given the large amount of construction and the disturbance of areas where rodents live, travel and breed, we have seen more rodents than in previous years. The warmer weather and abundance of food supplies also can make some areas more attractive to rodents. 

Homeowners should consider the following, place your trash and garbage out for collection in cans or barrels with tight fitting lids, not in plastic bags on the sidewalk. Never leave food for pets out in your yard or deck. Trimming plants and bushes, getting rid of excess wood piles and “junk” in your yard that rodents find attractive harborage areas. 

If you do discover burrows in your yard or around the foundation to your property, you should call a pest control company to assess and determine if you have rodents or other four-legged pests like woodchucks or moles.

The Centers for Disease Control has a handy informational link on prevention of rodents at http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent_infestations/index.html 

Bats

As much as most people fear bats, they do serve a purpose in nature and do consume many insects during their travels. That doesn’t mean of course that you should welcome them in your house. It is also important to know that contrary to all beliefs, not all bats are rabid. 

With that said, getting rid of a bat in your house is a bit tricky and there are cases where if you have been exposed to a bat, you may need to have the bat tested for rabies just to be sure. These links can give you more information on bats and rabies at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/education.  

From Cornell University is information on removing bats from your home  at http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/gotpests/othercritters/factsheets/bats-cornell.pdf 

Please call the Belmont Health Department at 617-993-2720 and one of our staff will be more than happy to give you more information and answer any questions you may have on avoiding these unwelcome pests in our environment.