They’re baaack – but armyworms are nowhere near the ever-present nuisance they were a year ago.
And bears in cottage country? They’re being spotted with the usual frequency.
In recent weeks, a number of residents have reported seeing armyworms dangling from backyard trees and crawling on fences.
But the number of worms appears to be down drastically from May and June of 2015, when a series of Facebook photos showed clumps of worms gorging on trees.
Flin Flon’s Sustainable Development office – formerly known as Manitoba Conservation – reported Monday it had fielded zero calls about the furry worms this year, while staff hadn’t observed a major problem comparable to last year.
Last year marked the worst year for armyworms since 1998, according to several residents.
While some homeowners recommend a mixture of water and vinegar to repel the worms, others have found the best treatment is a pesticide recommended for worms.
In any event, armyworms only remain in worm form for a few weeks, so any problems with them are short-lived.
Meanwhile, Sustainable Development had received 16 reports of post-hibernation bears in cottage country around Flin Flon as of Monday afternoon.
District supervisor Steve Garychuk called that a typical number for this time of year.
A couple of bears had attempted to enter buildings and, once caught, were euthanized.
To deter bears, Garychuk recommended residents put their garbage out the morning of pick-up or take it to the landfill themselves, and remove feed from any bird feeders, as there is already enough natural food to attract birds.
He recommended that after barbecuing, residents burn food remnants off the grill and thoroughly clean out any drip pans.
Garychuk said that due to the mild winter, a lot of smaller bears are being spotted. Smaller bears may not always survive a harsher winter.
Residents who spot a bear on their premises are asked to call Sustainable Development’s tip line at 1-800-782-0076 or, within city limits, the RCMP.
