Pest control in Stratford

Stratford is a theatre town built around a river. The Avon River and Lake Victoria run through its parks, and visitors fill its restaurants and inns each season. That mix of water, green space and food draws pests of its own.

What pests are common in Stratford

Mice in fall. Farm fields sit close to the edge of town. When crops come off and nights cool, mice look for warm, dry places. Garages, basements and kitchens are easy targets. Read about mice and how they get in.

Wasps near the water. Parks, riverbanks, hedges and old sheds give wasps shelter and food. Nests near a door or patio are a job for wasp nest removal.

Cockroaches and ants. Food premises and shared buildings keep them going, especially where a kitchen is busy most of the day.

Bed bugs. They ride in on luggage, which matters in a town with many short stays.

Homes in Stratford and what each tends to see

• Older brick and frame homes. Stone or brick foundations, old pipe holes and worn door sweeps give mice and ants small openings.
• Homes near the Avon River and Lake Victoria. Damp ground, thick shrubs and mature trees suit wasps and ants.
• Newer homes at the edge of town. Fields nearby mean mice are more likely to test garage doors and utility gaps.
• Rental units and apartments. Shared walls can pass cockroaches and bed bugs between units.

Restaurants, B&Bs and theatres

Stratford Festival runs four theatres, and the town around them is full of restaurants, inns and B&Bs. A pest sighting in a dining room or guest room can hurt a business fast. Regular checks, tidy storage and sealed entry points make the difference. Read about commercial pest control.

Renting in Stratford: what the by-law says

Stratford’s Maintenance and Occupancy By-law 141-2002 says all buildings must be kept free of vermin at all times. Any extermination must follow Ontario’s Pesticides Act. Basement windows and other basement openings, including floor drains, that could let vermin in must be screened with a durable material.

The by-law also says yards must be kept free of nests of bees, wasps, hornets, termites and rodents.

If you rent, tell your landlord in writing and keep a copy.

For bed bugs, Huron Perth Public Health tells renters to contact their landlord. Public health inspectors do not visit homes for bed bugs, but you can bring a specimen to a Huron Perth location to be identified. See our page on bed bug treatment.

Pests through the Stratford year

• October to March: Rodent control calls rise as mice move in from cold fields.
• April to June: Ants wake with spring warmth.
• July to September: Wasp nests are at their biggest, just as patios and festival crowds peak.

Why do mice come in from the fields in fall?

Mice need three things: food, warmth and cover. Cut fields offer less of all three by October. A house offers all of them. A mouse can pass through a gap about the width of a pencil, so small holes count.

Walk the outside of your home and look at:

• Gaps around pipes, vents and cables
• Worn weatherstripping on garage and side doors
• Foundation cracks and gaps under siding
• Firewood or clutter stacked against walls

Seal what you can. If you hear scratching in a wall, or find droppings in more than one room, call a professional. Entry points need to be found and closed, or new mice will follow.

Why are there so many wasps near the river?

Wasps build where it is sheltered and close to food. Riverside parks, picnic areas and patios give them insects early in the season and sugar later. By August they swarm drinks and desserts.

Do not swat at a nest or spray it with a hose. A disturbed nest can sting many times. Keep children and pets away and ask for help.

Nearby cities

We also serve Kitchener and Waterloo.

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