Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: gary yankech on September 29, 2013, 04:26:44 PM

Title: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: gary yankech on September 29, 2013, 04:26:44 PM

I was down at the spit, but did not have a good time. I was trying to get a good shot of a Vireo  in the heart of the "wet woods", but instead was bitten by hungry fire ants. My fault, I undid my tucked-in shirt to wipe off dew that had covered my lens. They bit me on my back, neck, and ankles. I had to remove my shirt and beat them off. A few passing birders looked at me strangely but knew it was the ants. You can't stop and stand for to long....they'll be all over you.

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: paul_reeves on September 29, 2013, 05:38:12 PM

I have had the misfortune of feeding them too; they hurt.

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: Howieh on September 29, 2013, 06:27:52 PM

Hi Gary, I hope you're ok! A little while ago I lucked in at Humber Bay - I was about to walk to the edge of the stream when another photographer warned (and showed me!) about fire ants in the vicinity. Lest anyone doubt their ferocity, I saw firsthand (well, ok, secondhand) what they can do!

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: Rotarran on September 29, 2013, 09:37:24 PM

Yeah I got bit a couple of weeks back too at the Leslie Spit.  It was just one so I didn't think anything of it.  But now it makes sense...it burned for a good half hour.  They're tough to kill too...proper warriors these ants are.

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: gary yankech on September 29, 2013, 09:55:36 PM

For next time, I will tuck my pants into my socks, wear a belt, and long sleeves!

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: Dr. John on October 01, 2013, 12:30:54 PM

I didn't realize fire ants had made it up to Toronto. How far have they spread?

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: Reuven_M on October 01, 2013, 05:02:01 PM

Quote from: "Dr. John"

I didn't realize fire ants had made it up to Toronto. How far have they spread?

The fire ants here are not the same fire ants causing tons of problems in the southern United States, although they are still quite painful!

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: Leslie on October 03, 2013, 10:46:42 PM

If you ever want to join the High Park Stewards (see web site at High Park Nature for details) to help restore High Park--and please do--be sure to wear shoes, socks, tucked in pants, long-sleeved shirt.  There have been red ants around the Himalayan balsam for some time, but they've been found in the tablelands this spring.

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: dawnofthewolf on October 08, 2013, 01:45:23 PM

When do they die off?

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: cosmo3667 on October 17, 2013, 06:58:17 PM

Ive encountered them while trudging through the bush around the lagoons too down by the Scarborough Bluffs

Title: Re: Leslie spit warning....
Post by: gary yankech on October 18, 2013, 04:49:16 PM

wow....at the bluffs?...they're on the march!