Pests & Wildlife

Cankerworms

What The City Does: 400+ traps monitor the populations of adult cankerworm moths. Crews monitor bands in the spring and fall to determine which areas should be prioritized and sprayed accordingly. Affected areas of trees are sprayed from mid-May to mid-June when worms are hatching and feeding on trees. The City does not go out to individual houses to spray trees, nor do we spray private trees.

What Can You Do: Prevent cankerworms from climbing and laying eggs on your elm, fruit and maple trees by banding trees in the spring (late March to mid-May) and fall (September to mid-November). Cankerworm larvae can move from unbanded trees to banded trees so it’s important we all work together to band now. Do not leave bands up longer than mid-June as the bark can rot if insulation gets wet. If cankerworms are present, spray infestations with BTK.

Dutch Elm Disease

What The City Does: Crews follow an integrated pest management program to prevent the disease from spreading throughout the city and limit the number of local trees lost to this disease. This includes surveillance of trees, monitoring of elm bark beetles, pruning and sanitation, firewood inspections, public awareness and research.

What Can You Do: Do not to transport firewood from other locations into and out of Regina. Prune your elm trees in the fall to avoid attracting elm bark beetles. When pruning is allowed, remove dead and broken branches ensuring to sanitize your equipment with methanol between cuts.

Emerald Ash Borer

What The City Does: Crews set traps to proactively monitor Ash trees from Emerald Ash Borers and educate residents on the importance of not transporting firewood.

What Can You Do: Do not to transport firewood from other locations into and out of Regina. Firewood should be bought local and burned local. Do not buy Ash wood or plant Ash trees supplied from nurseries east of Saskatchewan or the United States. Contact Service Regina at 306-777-7000 if you believe something is wrong with your Ash tree. 

Gophers

What The City Does: In the spring, crews put small amounts of Rozol RTU deep down in gopher holes where it is consumed by the gopher. The application is limited to publicly owned ‘buffer zones’ or rough turf areas throughout the city along storm channels, and roadway and railway buffers. It is not applied to the City’s athletic fields and traditional park spaces.

What You Can Do: Avoid the treated areas marked by yellow signs, particularly with children and pets. Keep dogs on a leash or avoid these posted areas entirely.

Mosquitoes

What The City Does: The City monitors the number of larvae in bodies of water up to 10 km outside the city limits. If larvae are found, the city uses VectoBac™ in ponds, lakes, sloughs, ditches and puddles to kill the mosquito larvae. To monitor and track adult populations, the City places traps throughout the city and empties them daily to count and forecast trends for future management strategies.

What Can You Do: Did you know that one cup of water can produce hundreds of mosquitos? Remove standing water in your yard by filling in any low-lying areas where puddles appear. Check flat roofs and remove objects that collect rainwater such as bird baths, containers, eavestroughs or even tarps. Cover rain barrels with a tight-fitting screen. Think about adding goldfish to your pond or ornamental pool.

Tent Caterpillars

What The City Does: The City monitors tent caterpillar populations and sprays as required.

What Can You Do: Keep your trees as healthy as possible with regular watering, pruning and fertilizing. If you see larvae congregating together in the morning- squish’em.

Fall Webworm

What The City Does: The City monitors fall webworm populations and sprays or prunes infected branches as required.

What Can You Do: Destroy nests when they are small with a gloved hand or prune out the nest before it spreads.

Rabbits

What The City Does: The City is available to provide advice on ways to deter rabbits if you need more help. Call Service Regina at 306-777-7000 to get in touch with one of our Forestry and Pests experts.

What Can You Do: If rabbits are nibbling on your petunias, there are many ways to keep them away. Home remedies like red pepper powder and wrapping trees are common ways of keeping the rabbits away. We recommend hiring a professional pest control company to help in these situations.

Aphids

What The City Does: The City releases thousands of ladybugs in the summer to help control the aphid population. A single ladybug will eat at least 2,400 aphids during its lifetime.

What Can You Do: Introduce ladybugs to your yard. Ladybugs can be ordered through local retailers. If a more immediate solution is required, treat infested plants with an insecticidal soap spray. Make sure to follow the label directions.

Coyotes

What The City Does: The City investigates reported incidents and if a problem exists, a course of action such as scare tactics and coyote removal will be taken.

What Can You Do: Never leave food in your backyard or feed wildlife. Coyotes can also be attracted to pet waste and compost. To report a coyote in your yard, call Service Regina at 306-777-7000.

Dandelions

What The City Does: The City's current program treats athletic fields like soccer pitches and ball diamonds. Dandelions are treated in the fall when they start storing food in their roots for winter. Areas are monitored and prioritized depending on weed density. Not all areas of the city are sprayed every year. ;It is harder for weeds to grow in healthy conditions which is why the City increases practices like fertilizing, aerating and mowing in parks.

What Can You Do: Keep your yard healthy by fertilizing, watering, aerating and regularly mowing your lawn. You can also remove dandelions with a knife or digger, ensuring you get the head as well as the root.

Maple Bugs

What Can You Do: If maple bugs are present, sweep them into a garbage bag or vacuum clusters when they congregate in early morning, making sure to change the bag immediately after.