The health unit is reminding the public of some helpful tips when doing your spring clean up around the house and your property.
Cleaning up around the yard such as trimming bush will help reduce the breeding grounds for ticks and mosquitos.
· Wear protective equipment that will protect you from insect bites and rashes from annoying weeds.
· Remove dead brush and cut down long grass.
· Empty and remove containers that hold stagnant water such as old tires, swimming pool covers, clogged gutters, unused toys or vehicles – mosquitos can breed in this water
· Creating a natural physical separation between your yard and wooded areas using a border of wood chips or gravel.
· Cleaning up areas under and around bird feeders to reduce the attraction of small critters such as mice that help transport ticks and are necessary hosts for ticks to complete their life cycle.
· Do a tick check when you return inside. If possible, have someone check you from behind. Check your pets for ticks as well. Promptly remove ticks and nymphs using tweezers or a tick twister.
When cleaning up a cottage or a shed you may come across droppings from various animals such as mice, raccoons and bats. As you clean up the droppings the micro-organisms get released into the air and if you breath them in, it could cause harm. To reduce that:
· Open windows and doors for ventilation for about 30 minutes before your begin cleaning.
· Wear disposable gloves and a face mask to protect from breathing in dust and droppings.
· Wet down areas where droppings have been left with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
· Shovel the wet droppings into a garbage bag along with any cleaning cloths and then seal the bag well for disposal.
· Wash your hands well after you have finished.
Assistance from a professional may be needed for heavy accumulations of droppings or where there is a significant infestation by rodents or other animals.
To avoid wild parsnip always mow lawns and ditches to prevent the plants from spreading it’s seed.
