Jackie Davis

Toronto

Senior Editor at Cottage Life

Featured in: Favicon

cottagelife.com Favicon

snapmunk.com Favicon

modernmarketingtoday.com Favicon

retailtechnologyinsider.com Favicon

financialtechnologytoday.com

Articles

Cottage Q&A: What attacked me in the lake?

2 weeks ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

Last year when putting in my dock, I was attacked by what I presumed were bugs. I was at first terribly itchy; I was left with a rash, which morphed into spots within a couple of days. The itching became a burning sensation. I now think aquatic plants were responsible. Do your experts have an opinion as to the culprit?—Tom Scanlan, Lake St. Peter, Ont.
Cottage Q&A: Is there an ideal water level for a lake?

2 weeks ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

There appears to be a debate between our lake residents as to whether increased lake water levels are a good thing. In one camp, they like the higher water level. They believe less aquatic and perhaps invasive plants are present, and they prefer the overall aesthetic. Others argue that higher levels are eroding the shoreline; more trees and retaining walls are undermined and fall into the lake. Who is right?—Michel Bourque, Val-des-Lacs, Que. Nobody.
Cottage Q&A: How do I get rid of the moss growing on my steel roof?

3 weeks ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

How do you remove moss from a steel roof?—Chris Gunther, via emailWait, moss grows on steel? Yes. Because moss grows wherever it damn well wants. All it needs is moisture and a little food. “Even though there’s no nutrition in steel, there is in the debris that falls on it,” says Gregg McBurnie, a former trained roofer and the owner of ROTban Ultra Cleaning in Coquitlam, B.C. Combine that with rain and shade, and moss can make a home for itself.
Cottage Q&A: Why did this slimy algae appear on our lake?

1 month ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

We got this weird green stuff in our lake this year. What is it?—Name Withheld, via emailWithout analyzing a sample under a microscope, it’s impossible to know for sure, but the experts we asked all believe that it’s likely filamentous green algae. Don’t panic: filamentous green algae—composed of hair-like strands that accumulate in floating “mats”—isn’t necessarily dangerous.
Cottage Q&A: Should I wear gloves when setting mouse traps?

1 month ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

Is it true that you should wear gloves when setting mouse traps? (Or the mice will smell you on the traps and therefore, avoid them?)—Wilhelmina Joseph, via emailIt’s at least half true. “Wearing gloves is important for hygiene reasons,” says Nate Robertson of Robertson Wildlife and Pest Control in Coldwater, Ont. Rodents carry disease. And if you’re reusing snap traps, your fingers could be getting up close and personal with their bodily fluids.
Cottage Q&A: Does our road association need insurance?

1 month ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

I belong to a road association. We’ve been told that the group should have insurance. Is that a requirement in Ontario?—Francine St. Clair, via emailNo. But it’s a good idea. At the very least, “a road association really should have a general liability policy,” says Catherine Perkins, an insurance advisor with The Shepherd Group in Vaughan, Ont.
Cottage Q&A: What happened to our frog population?

2 months ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

We have a man-made frog pond at our cottage, which has been home to many frogs since we bought our place in 2007. This year, we arrived in the spring to find the water murky, with green slime floating on top. There are no frogs to be found. We have never done maintenance of any kind from year to year, but I did trim out some cedars that were filling in too close to the pond.
Cottage Q&A: How can I keep porcupines from chewing my siding?

2 months ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

How can you deter porcupines from eating siding? Is one material less attractive to them than another?—Mike D., Manitoulin Island, Ont. We can tell you which siding material is most attractive to them: plywood. “Porcupines are herbivores,” says Franco Mariotti, a biologist who worked for 32 years at Science North in Sudbury, Ont.
Cottage Q&A: Will a white winter coat keep you warmer?

Feb 14, 2025 | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

When it comes to winter clothing, does the colour of the outer layer have any effect on heat emissivity? For example, is white a better colour than black?—George Waters, via emailWe understand why you’re asking the question. “Everyone knows that in the summer, wearing white is better than wearing black,” says Stephen Morris, a professor emeritus in the department of physics at the University of Toronto. But that’s because dark colours absorb more heat than light colours.
Cottage Q&A: Why is my solar power conking out in the cold?

Feb 2, 2025 | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

We use solar power. One circuit appears to have become weather-sensitive. It works when the weather is warm, but conks out in the cold. What’s happening? Can I fix it?—Gerry Dust, via emailThere are a number of issues that could be causing the problem, but Francois Byrne, the CEO of Hybrid Power Solutions in Etobicoke, Ont., thinks that an increase in power demand is the culprit. Multiple heat sources are probably plugged into the same circuit.