Above Watch: With the mild winter in southern Alberta there were many critters who decided to make an early appearance, but what does that mean for other pesky pests? Stefan Keyes takes a look.
With the mild winter we had this year, the critters came out early, but what does it mean for the creepy crawlies and other pests that spring up at this time of year?
The city’s pest management team said they do not expect this season to be above-average for pests.
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In mid-May, the city usually starts trying to control the mosquito population, but dry temperatures are keeping the count low, so they are delaying spraying.
But it does not take long to bring on a boom.
“If you have good temperatures and good moisture, it could be as short as a week,” said Lincoln Julie with the City of Calgary.
According to pest control expert Nicholas Holland, there have been many false starts.
Stretches of warm weather have been followed by cold snaps, keeping numbers of spiders, ants and bees low as well.
“When we’re getting down to zero, not much is happening for them,” said Holland.
“Even though we get a lot of nice temperatures in the low teens, it’s not necessarily enough to get them going for the season.”
Dandelions are on the rise though, and some people embrace the often unwanted plant pest.
According to registered holistic nutritionist Madde Laberge, dandelions help stimulate the liver, which helps support overall digestion.
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