Jackie Davis

Toronto

Senior Editor at Cottage Life

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Articles

Cottage Q&A: Why do we have so many watersnakes?

1 week ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

I’ve been on a lake in the Kawarthas for more than 60 years. Last summer, there seemed to be an abundance of watersnakes descending on my waterfront. Frogs too, seemed to be more plentiful, which I am sure contributed to the snake population. Should I expect another summer of higher-than-normal snake activity this year? How can I get them to go somewhere else?—Rick Seto, via emailTo answer your first question…that’s pretty impossible to know.
Cottage Q&A: Will this ownership trick avoid the capital gains tax?

3 weeks ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

Can a husband buy a house in his name, a wife buy a cottage in her name, and have both exempt from capital gains by claiming separate principal residences?—Ed Vandersterre, via emailNot unless they go back in time. (Quick, to the DeLorean!) Before 1981, it was possible to do that, says Karen Slezak, a partner with the tax group at Crowe Soberman in Toronto.
Cottage Q&A: Why is this bird attacking our windows?

3 weeks ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

I have a problem with a robin hitting our west-facing windows. This has been going on since the middle of April. We have tried everything: discs in the windows, blinds closed, etc. It hits at least 10 times a day from early morning to late afternoon, and still it lives. I assume it is the same bird. Is this bird sick?—F. Barnes, Huntsville, Ont. Sick? No. But it’s possibly lovesick. (Hormone surges can cause bonkers behaviour.
Cottage Q&A: What attacked me in the lake?

1 month 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?

1 month 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?

1 month 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?

2 months 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?

2 months 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.