Pest-Specific Information
Mosquitoes/West Nile virus
The Ontario government's action plan to combat West Nile virus emphasizes that avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to battle the virus. However, many municipalities are preparing to carry out activities to control mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus as part of their mandate to protect public health. Public health units will make the decision on what mosquito control activities will be carried out.
Health Canada has registered a number of pesticides used to control mosquitoes. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment for its part regulates the sale, use, transportation, storage and disposal of federally registered pesticides in Ontario under the Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 63/09.
Resources: West Nile virus-related documents and information
Bedbugs
Please check out the Ontario government's bedbugsinfo.ca site for information and tools to help you prevent, identify and act to control bed bugs infestations.
Pest bird control and the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program in Ontario
The Peregrine Falcon is a threatened bird of prey in Ontario and there's a potential for secondary poisoning of these birds when certain chemicals are used to control pigeons – a favourite prey of the Peregrine Falcon – and other pest birds such as European Starlings and House Sparrows. Please see this pesticides memorandum for details including:
- areas in Ontario where non-chemical bird control methods must be used
- information on alternative bird control
