PETS

Animal Control Officer

In 2020, it's Max Kolb, who is also an Egremont Policeman. Call the Egremont PD (528-2160) or Officer Kolb at home, 413-854-2877. If these don't work, call the Town Hall, 528-0182.

Cat Sitters

• Gary Fretwell: very responsible and loves dogs and cats. 413-528-9331 (4/13)

• Deb Dodge, Creature Comfort. 528-0105. Doesn't stay at your house, but is a terrific cat sitter. (3/14)

• Yvonne Borsody 413-344-5813. "Pet care in my home or yours." Yvonne used to be director of Animal Dreams (feral cat rescue/spay/neuter). (3/14)

• Sand Road Animal Hospital (Falls Village, CT) http://sandroadanimals.com/ 860-824-5223 (10/15)

• Linda Fass, 413-248-4004, southcountypets@gmail.com, New Marlborough. Certified Professional Pet Sitter, American Red Cross certified in dog and cat first aid, and bonded and insured. Loves and understands animals. (9/16)

• Richard Daris, 413-717-1779 or 413-429-7796; rldaris@yahoo.com. Egremonter -- very nice, trustworthy. (9/21)

• Julia Nevid, FB, @preciouspawssittingwithjulia, 845-475-5525. Wonderful and caring. She cared for our cat while we went on a vacation and was great! She visited him each day to water, feed, and take care of his potty. She also stayed with him to cuddle and play. He really bonded with her! She sent daily texts, photos, and videos so we knew he was okay and we could relax. She truly loves animals and animals love her! High rec! Best of the best! (9/21, 6/24)

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Dog Boarding/Sitters/Walkers (see also Pet & House Sitters)

• Olivia Van Sant http://www.leaveemwithliv.com 413-528-1533. Daytime care. I was impressed by her dog savvy, expertise, gentleness, and proactive concern for dog welfare. (5/13, 7/21)

• Deb Dodge -- Creature Comfort. 528-0105. Deb's been in business for quite a few years and has excellent references. She also can be hired to come to your house and walk your dog(s). Very trustworthy!

• MaryBeth McDonough -- dog walking, dog care. 528-4270

• Don and Barbara Percy: Happy Tails, the crème-de-la-crème boarding (i.e., expensive!), in Sheffield. 229-8933. They usually take only one dog at a time (or a single client's two dogs), and the dogs live in their house with them as if they were their own.

• Lynn Nemec, breeder and dog boarder (528-6334), on Rte 23 between South Eg and GB. Dogs love her so much they want to stay. We highly recommend.

• Lena Leonardson pyrodachs@fairpoint.net At her home. (2/15)

• Robin Mallory at Wash and Wag in GB. 413-329-6435. We'd be lost without her. Our boys are so happy to go stay with her. She has a giant fenced-in backyard for dogs to play. She accepts dogs for boarding only if she has met and spent time with them. (7/18, 7/19)

• Melissa Preston, Monterey, 413-854-5151. Walks dogs. Great with cats, dogs, and farm animals. Has good animal husbandry skills. (10/18, 6/19) 

• Rebecca Wagner, New Marlborough, 413-717-2143, with references. (1/19)

• Erica Bell, https://www.petsit.com/pet-sitter-otis-ma-southern-berkshire-pet-sitting, 413-269-6249. She is wonderful! (9/20)

• Nikki Flores, 413-854-1867. Pet sitting, dog walking. (She's an Egremonter who worked at Mom’s Country Cafe and the Egremont Market.) (11/20)

• Kathy O'Malley, Egremont, 528-0982, 413-717-2458. Wonderful! Pet sitter and dog walker. (3/21)

• Kathy at Berkshire Pet Pals, www.berkshirepetpals.com/Home, call or text 413-446-8099. "The finest I have ever encountered. Ever. My dog adores her." (9/21)

• Nancy Crawford, nancybirch@yahoo.com, 413-229-9935. References available. Extremely reliable & professional. Happy to care for your dog -- feeding, walking, overnight care. (12/21)

• Sand Road Animal Hosp, Falls Village, CT, 860-824-5223. http://sandroadanimals.com/ (6/22)

• Jin Fernbacher, jrosefern.4@gmail.com. Dog sitter. (9/22)

• Meredith O'Connor, 508-280-0679, oconnor.mer@gmail.com. Wonderful as a trainer and will even board/train -- train while boarding! (many, latest 2/22)

• Elke runs Summer Camp for Dogs All Year Long, in Hillsdale, 212-741-9093. Terrific! Have used her for many years and highly recommend. (11/22)

• Sasha Sunshine, 203-520-0572.  The best. She walks, sits, everything. (12/22, 4/23)

• Alice Tortoriello, text to 413-717-7418. Will take care of your dog in your home. (4/23)

• Amanda's Canine Inn, now run by Claudia & Andrew, 413-329-4872 (text is best), in SoEg. Dogs return happy! (5/23)

• Gina's K-9 B&B, in Copake. 518-329-4675. Gina Hosier often boards a number of dogs, which she keeps segregated as needed: a room for for small dogs, another for invalid dogs, etc. She has a fenced-in backyard. Highly recommended. (most recent: 6/23)

• Pooch Palace in East Canaan, CT, https://poochpalaceresort.net/, 860-453-4478. Daycare & boarding. High rec. (7/23)

• Bow Meow Regency, Sheffield.  For playcare. they separate big dogs (Mon & Wed) and little dogs (Tu & Th). Caring and loving staff. (7/23)

• Melissa Howard, All Paws Nation, 917-952-5252, Melissa@allpawsnation.com. In the business for 11 years in Manhattan and has relocated to South Egremont. She's incredibly good with dogs, trustworthy and charming. She took care of our two huskies, stayed at our house for a number of nights a couple months ago. She made my life much easier by being dependable, easy to work with, and great with our dog. (Many raves; latest, 10/23) 

• Jenni-fur Andrews, Camp Wagalot, Stockbridge. 413-298-5300, lovecampwagalot@gmail.com, www.lovecampwagalot.com. Boarding and daycare. Wonderful and caring, and they post photos. (6/22, 2/24)

• Love Us and Leave Us, 413-464-9200, https://loveusandleaveus.com/, luludogdaycare@gmail.com. Daycare and boarding for all pets. Excellent! (2/24) {Lee location CLOSED in fall 2024. Still open in Pittsfield.) 

• Linda Fass, 413-248-6101, southcountypets@gmail.com, southcountypetsitting.com, New Marlborough. Certified Professional Pet Sitter, American Red Cross certified in dog and cat first aid, and bonded and insured. Loves and understands animals. (9/16, 3/24)

• Claire Gennari, 413-429-7116, clairegennari@yahoo.com. Pet sitting, dog walking. She is great. A cut above the average dog & puppy sitter. (11/20, 3/22, 5/24)

• Julia Nevid, FB:@preciouspawssittingwithjulia, 845-475-5525, nevidjulia@gmail.com. In SoEg. She is wonderful and caring. Super responsible and great with all animals! (8/23, 5/24)

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Dog Grooming

• Poochinis in Copake, 518-325-4150. Robin does a very good job at a very good price. (1/19)

• PetCo next to Big Y did a terrific job on our golden. (5/19)

• Sandroad Veterinary Hospital, Canaan, CT (5/19)

• Kathi Scafuro, Ghent, NY, 518-392-6644‬. She's great. (11/21)

• Wash & Wag in Gt. Barrington, 528-3509. (6/15 to 1/24)

• Love Us and Leave Us, on Rte 102 in Lee, 413-394-5823. They do dog daycare, and also grooming. I highly recommend them for both. (5/22, 1/24)

• Colleen at VCA All Caring in GB, 413-528-8020, https://vcahospitals.com/all-caring/team/colleen. Recommended! (6/24)

• Ultimate Dog Spa (next to Beebe and Decker), Rte 7, Canaan, CT. UltimateDog@att.net, 860-499-8875, www.ultimatedog.net. (2/23, 8/24)

• Bow Meow, Sheffield, 229-0035. Nice people (we use Ashley), reasonable and clean. Our dogs run to get inside! The least expensive. Lizzie is great. (6/15 to 8/24)

• Pooch HQ LLC, www.facebook.com/poochhq, 518-821-4688, poochhqny@gmail.com. Recommended. (8/24)

Dog Training

• Bow Meow Regency http://bowmeowregency.com/?page_id=496 Dog/puppy classes. (12/17)

• Canine Link Therapy Dogs http://cltherapydogs.org/: Training to become a Therapy Dog team so you can support your community with your dog, visiting hospitals, schools, and other facilities. We have a new trainer who is very good. She does not do a puppy class but she evaluates and fixes issues quickly. We are committed to being responsive to our community, and run purely by volunteers except for our Trainer. (12/17)

• Foranimals, Lenox, 413-445-8843. (4/23) (From Rural Intelligencer, not from NeighborNet member.)

• Lois Platt http://www.reallifeobedience.com/, South Egremont. Puppies, obedience, agility. (Many; latest 4/23)

• Sand Road Animal Hospital, sandroad@mvetpartners.com. Puppy kindergarten, intermediate, and loose leash walking classes. Starts: Saturday, July 15, 2023, 11:00am - noon, for 5 weeks, $175 per dog. Contact Stacielyn Rydingsward, staciesk9coaching@gmail.com or 860-806-9920. (7/23)

• Meredith O'Connor, GB, 508-280-0679, oconnor.mer@gmail.com . Extremely impressed with her knowledge and competence. Lovely to work with. If anyone can do it, she can. She is also the trainer for Canine Link Therapy Dogs. (Many; latest 2/24)

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Donate Dog Accessories No Longer Needed

• Berkshire Humane Society, Barker Rd, Pittsfield, 413-447-7878, info@berkshirehumane.org.

• Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, Crane Avenue, Pittsfield, 413-448-9800, staff@sonsinianimalshelter.org.

• Columbia-Greene Humane Society, Humane Society Road, Hudson, 518-828-6044.

• The Little Guild, Sharon Goshen Turnpike, West Cornwall, CT, 880-672-6346, adopt@littleguild.org.

• Animal Farm Foundation, Bangall, NY, 845-214-6908, info@animalfarmfoundation.org.

Lost and Found Dogs & Cats

• Bonnie Bassis, our South Egremont dog rescuer, bbassis@earthlink.net or 528-9581. She has a chip reader.

• Marge Lineweber and Barbara Costas train dogs ​in eastern CT ​and educate people about how to find missing pets. Their fee was very reasonable. They have formed a (soon-to-be) non-profit called Summit Missing Animal Response Team (SMART). Their website, www.summitsmarteam.org, has their contact info and a (non-working) link to an important site - www.missingpetpartnership.org - with information every dog and cat owner should know about the first steps to finding missing animals, as well as a National Pet ​Detective ​Directory. Marge and Barbara are listed, and 2 people in Mass are listed. (8/14)

• If you've found a dog, call our animal warden, Egremont Police Officer Max Kolb, 413-854-2877. (2020)

• Also, you can use the following link to list your lost or a found pet: www.HelpingLostPets.com/

• Suggestion: a GPS pet tracker. Google it.  (7/20)

• Community Cat Program, Pittsfield formerly Animal D.R.E.A.M.S., now part of  Berkshire Humane Society, will help with feral cats. 413-528-1328 (cell) or 413-447-7878 ext 143 (office). (4/23)

https://getfindster.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImImo1KHD6gIVhJOzCh0NugkXEAAYAyAAEgLKdPD_BwE

•  I just googled and this came up as well as other webpages that sell them 

https://getfindster.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImImo1KHD6gIVhJOzCh0NugkXEAAYAyAAEgLKdPD_BwE

Invisible Fence Installation

• Boundaries for Pets in CT. 860-435-0064. The tech installed the fence and then Steve came to help train us and the dog. Wonderful!! (12/16)

• Dog Guard, Hillsdale, www.dogguardcgb.com, 518-610-5898.

Pet and House Sitters (see also Dog Boarding/Sitters)

• Jill Fleming, Baldwin Hill Rd (NeighborNet member) 528-9462; 518-821-7420 (cell) jillbeanfleming@yahoo.com "Wonderful!" (2/15)

• Deb Dodge, Creature Comfort. 528-0105. I don't know what we would do without her. Reliable, engages with your pet, dependable. (4/13, 3/21)

• Rebecca Wagner, New Marlborough, 413-717-2143, with references. (1/19)

• CATS: Yvonne Borsody 413-344-5813. "Pet care in my home or yours." Yvonne used to be director of Animal Dreams (feral cat rescue/spay/neuter). (3/14)

• Gary Fretwell 528-9331 (h); 413-429-1855 (cell) Lives in GB, sits in your home, has great references and is bonded. Very responsible and loves dogs and cats. (2/15, 11/15)

• Isaac White (Danielle Emlaw's son) is 18 and very caring and responsible. He takes care of our pets when we go away, and those of some other people. 732-833-3537 (cell). (7/15)

• Kathy O'Malley, Egremont, 528-0982, 413-717-2458. Wonderful! Pet sitter and dog walker. (3/21)

• Julia Nevid, FB:@preciouspawssittingwithjulia, 845-475-5525. She is wonderful and caring. She cared for our cat while we went on a vacation and was great! She visited him each day to water, feed, and take care of his potty. She also stayed with him to cuddle and play. He really bonded with her! She sent daily texts, photos, and videos so we knew he was okay and we could relax. She truly loves dogs & cats, and they love her! High rec! (9/21)

• Nan Wile, nanwile@gmail.com. Recommended! (5/22)

Pet Portraits

• Zach Elliston, https://www.petportraitsbyzach.com/, 413-841-6891. He's a sweetheart, local, and and a great artist in oils. (1/21)

• Augusta Rose, https://www.augustarosephoto.com/. She creates amazing photos. She is just releasing a calendar dedicated entirely to people's pets. (1/21)

• Mollie Sage VanSant, https://www.molliesagevansant.com/. (1/21)

Veterinarians

• Berkshire Veterinary Acupuncture, Dr. Stephanie James. In-home or in-office acupuncture, and herbal & food therapy for your pet. www.berkshireveterinaryacupuncture.com, 528-1312. Absolutely terrific! Very thorough. (10/19, 12/20)

• Sand Road Animal Hosp: Amazing! Falls Village, CT, 860-824-5223. http://sandroadanimals.com/ (8/15)

• VCA on Stockbridge Rd. Notably Dr June & Dr Barbara Phillips (use of holistic solutions when possible). 528-8020. (8/15, 1/19) Dr. Phillips is taking new pets. (7/22)

• Dr. Liz Kulik at Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital, 413-499-1580. She’s wonderful. Less than half the cost for things like neutering. (1/19)

• Berkshire Veterinary Hospital, Pittsfield, http://berkshirevet.com/home/, 413-499-2820, berkshirevet2@gmail.com. "Flexible hours." See their website section on 24-hour care. (1/22)

• Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital, www.pittsfieldvet.com, 413-499-1580. Altho not listed as an emergency vet, they took our dog, even as a new patient, to remove porcupine quills. (Emergency clinics had waiting times of 24 hours and 6 hours.) We're especially grateful to Dr. Madeleine Hoog-Crellin (Dr. Mady) and will use them for well visits from now on. (7/22)

• Copake Vets: 518-329-6161, http://copakeveterinaryhospital.vetstreet.com/ Several members have used them for over 30 years -- cats, dogs, large animals. Wonderful people, well trained, mostly from Cornell. (8/15 to 1/24) (Emergency service for large animals only.)

• Dr. Hanan Caine, Emily Newman Stanton, and Dr. Amanda Nee (she listens, explains, is knowledgeable and great to work with) at Bilmar in GB, www.bilmarvet.com, 528-1180. High rec from many. Dr. Caine treated my elderly, over-anxious neighbor with great respect. He did laser eye surgery for my dog with great success! (8/15) Dr Caine: Very pleased. Extremely knowledgeable and excellent follow-up after my older dog’s overnight stay at Upstate in Latham. (5/19 to 7/24)

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24-hour veterinary care - Be sure to call first.

• VCA Boston Road Animal Hospital/ER, 1235 Boston Rd, Springfield, MA, 413-783-1203. Fully staffed 24/7/365, with ICU and great communication. (10/16)

• Foster Hospital for Small Animals, North Grafton -- at Tufts Cumming School, https://vetmed.tufts.edu/foster-hospital-small-animals/, 508-839-5395. A teaching vet hospital about 1 hour and 45 minutes from here. Excellent dog care and all kinds of specialties, including emergency. (~2-hr drive.) (8/21)

• Angell Emergency & Critical Care (ECC) service, Boston/Waltham, 617-522-7282, www.mspca.org/medical-centers/mspca-angell-west-waltham. At this time, for patients experiencing an imminent, life-threatening medical emergency (e.g., cardiac arrest or difficulty breathing). Call first! For other veterinary emergency care options, please call the hospitals listed on www.angell.org/EROptions. For less critical conditions, call 781-902-8400 for an appointment with the Angell West Urgent Care team. (8/21)

• Berkshire Veterinary Hospital, Pittsfield, http://berkshirevet.com/home/, 413-499-2820, berkshirevet2@gmail.com. "Flexible hours." See their website section on 24-hour care. (1/22)

• Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital, https://capitaldistrict.ethosvet.com/emergency-critical-care/, 518-785-1094. For emergencies and critical care. High rec. Not cheap, but excellent. (7/23)

• Leshem Emergency Veterinary Clinic, Canton, CT (45-min drive), 860-693-6992, https://vecofcanton.com/. See hours at bottom of website. Dr. Steve Leshem was terrific. Highly recommend. Nurturing, professional, skilled, plain-talking re billing, every staff member loves animals. They saw my dog in the middle of the night he became lethargic and his paw swelled to the size of a large lemon. It turned out to be Lyme. Perfect diagnosis, full recovery. (5/20, 7/23)

• Upstate Veterinary Specialties Hospital, Latham, NY (near Albany), 518-783-3198, www.uvsonline.com. Responsive & terrific. (11/18) I had a high-quality-care experience when my puppy bruised his internal organs. Large, very hospital-y environment. They met us at the car with a gurney, and care was top of the line all the way. Expensive—even though they suggested no surgery, which turned out to be a good call, clinically. Full recovery. (7/23)

• Avon Veterinary Emergency Referral, Avon, CT, 860-470-7456, https://avonervet.com, open 7 days, 10am to 10pm. 

• VCA Veterinary Specialists of CT, West Hartford, 860-236-3273, https://vcahospitals.com/veterinary-specialists-ct/primary. Open 24 hours.

• Newtown Veterinary Specialists, Newtown, CT, 203-270-8387, https://newtownvets.com/. Open 24 hours.

• Connecticut Veterinary Center, West Hartford, 860-233-8564, www.ctvetcenter.com. Open 24 hours.

• Pieper Veterinary, www.pieperveterinary.com. See website for four sites in CT (Middletown, 860-347-8387; Madison, 203-245-8511; Lebanon, 860-642-7936; Stratford, 475-271-2287).

• Guardian Veterinary Specialists, Brewster, NY, guardianveterinaryspecialists.com, 914-704-3400. Open 24 hours.

• Veterinary Emergency Hospital, South Deerfield, MA, www.veshdeerfield.com, 413-665-4911. Open 24 hours.

Pet Poison Hotline: 800-213-6680.

At-Home Euthanasia & Hospice

Elizabeth Balter, DVM, 413-717-8612, GreenerPasturesVetServices.com, GreenerPasturesVetServices@gmail.com. The best! (10/23)

OTHER ANIMALS

Bear-Proofing

• Trash cans: Bearicuda trash carts at Walmart. The 96-gallon trash cart is about $350, with pickup at the store, or 64-gallon for about $250. (2019)

• Find also at Herrington’s.

• Spray ammonia inside & around the trash can.

• Bearsaver, https://bearsaver.com/, 800-851-3887. A little over the top, but it works. (6/20)

• Put food scraps into large ice cream containers and keep in the freezer until trash day. When you put them out,  they won’t smell. By the time they thaw out, the trash is gone. It works! But doesn't work if you put trash out 2 or 3 days ahead of pick-up. (Not necessary year-round, just when bears are hungry.)

• diy bear-proofing of trash cans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjFd1C9ikFY

• Andrew Madden at Mass Wildlife in Dalton, responsible for Berkshire County, compiles a database of extreme incidents such as a bear trying to enter your house. Do not report bears taking trash or birdseed, but do report a bear trying to enter your house. Call him: 413-684-1646. (7/22)

• Ammonia for gardens: I half-filled a few plastic bottles with ammonia, poked holes in the sides and necks, and hung them from the garden fence posts. The bears never entered the garden again. (5/23)

ALSO: To find out if you qualify for full or nearly full support for the purchase of a bear-proof receptacle, email emagner@mspca.org. (4/24)

Exterminators, Pest Control

Smaller Things

• Eric Ives RETIRED! (9/23)

• For ants, try Combat ant traps first. Also, the newer liquid-bait traps, such as made by Maggie's Farm. Cheaper and safer than exterminators and their products. Look in Big Y, Carr's. They really work!

• Jim March at Northwest Pest Control in Falls Village, 860-824-0218, for all varmints, including carpenter ants and red squirrels. Competent and reliable. Guarantees his work and will return if bugs return. We've never had to ask him to return. (8/14, 8/16) (2 votes) [BOUGHT BY ELIMINATE 'EM (see below)]

• Peerless Since 1945, in Southfield, MA. For controlling deer ticks. 413-229-8689 or peerless1945@aol.com. Excellent service! (12/15)

• BEES: Emerson Martin, 413-854-1626. Successfully removed a huge hive from our house. He settled the bees elsewhere. (8/18)

• Mosquito control: Tom Ingersoll (Ingersoll Land Care) uses a garlic and cedar oil spray. 413-822-1602, or 413-229-2290. (5/20)

• Greenleaf Pest Management, 413-330-1945.  They use environmentally accepted methods.  (7/20)

• BORER BEE traps: https://bestbeebrothers.com/products/. (6/20)

• BEES (not honeybees) in house wall: Brian Carrington, 857-334-5786, brian.carrington@jcehrlich.com. Company is Ehrlich – a Rentokil Steritech Company. Brian, who lives in Becket, responded immediately, and the job was done in less than 8 hours. Nice, efficient, guaranteed work. (9/20)

• New Age Pest Control, 413-441-9369. Ask for Dan Gervais. An excellent choice for bugs and other creatures invading your home. He is sensitive to pets and children in terms of the formulas he uses, and offers honest, professional work in a timely manner. Won't try to sell you on an ongoing monthly plan! Highly recommended! (9/19 thru 10/22)

• Braman, in Lee. 800-338-6757, https://bramanpest.com/. They have a carpenter ant prevention program that has worked for us. Also great for BORER BEES. Honest, professional, & a local Western MA business. The guy volunteered that if you putty and paint the holes carpenter bees make, it will get rid of them for the upcoming season, pesticide free! (10/16 thru 5/23)

• Ehrlich Pest Control, www.jcehrlich.com, 800-837-5520. Responsive but expensive. They can do a monthly plan. (5/23)

• Terminix. 413-297-6014. (6/15 thru 5/21) Try the regional phone number: 508-368-2432. (They seem to be having problems ...?) (6/23)

• Eliminate 'Em Pest Control, aka Eliminate Pest Control, 866-388-8344 & 860-582-9242, www.eliminateem.com. The following have been recommended: John Donahoe, 203-391-1250; Ray, 866-802-7378; and Manny (high rec). Excellent, very fast service. Got rid of the nest and treated the exterior and interior areas. Fair price. Ask for $35 off any service that they advertise in their yellow pages ad, and see if the service also qualifies for a senior or military service discount. You can get a 6-month contract. A pleasure to deal with. (8/14 thru 5/24)

• Action Pest Management, 413-441-0961, ask for Derek Darling. Very reliable and responsive. BORER BEES, bat exclusion, and more. Derek is astounding in his experience and knowledge and years doing this. He guarantees his work for 3 years. $175 for an inspection, applicable to any work contracted. (8/14 thru 3/24) 

•  Meerkat Pest Control, Pittsfield & Albany, www.meerkatpestcontrol.com, 518-869-7378. Reliable service. Expensive but much more professional and responsive to customer needs. Many service people  from the former Catseye company. (5/23, 5/24)

• Orkin, www.orkin.com, ask for Brian in the Pittsfield branch. He will give you his his cell number so you can call him and he will come right over. Brian is very nice, will came as soon as he can, and does his job well. (8/22, 7/23, 7/24)

• Pest Off, Dalton, 413-347-0023, Pestoff2@gmail.com, www.pestoffbc.com. Great results and service. Can't  say enough good stuff about Marcus and his staff -- responsive and reliable. (10/20, 5/21, 7/24)

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Advice about Bats

Bats can carry rabies. If you discover a bat indoors, close it into a room. Open a window, remove the screen, and leave the closed-up room. When night comes, the bat will find its way out.

Use gloves if you must handle one. Keep your pets up to date with the rabies vaccine (don’t let it expire). If your pet has been in contact with a bat, call your vet and local health department. 

If you are bitten by a bat or have any physical contact with the bat (i.e., if the bat touches you), call your health dept or your doctor. If you can, catch the bat so that it can be tested for rabies. Personal contact with an untested bat requires that you get a set of rabies shots. The shots are painful, but there is no cure for rabies if you contract it. 

If you have a colony in your attic, humane bat removal and exclusion are best done in September, after the fledglings have grown. Seal the top of your chimney with bird screen. See Derek Darling, above.

Mice in Your Vehicle's Engine -- Ideas 

• www.vermontcountrystore.com/under-the-hood-animal-chaser/product/79722

• Bag up used kitty litter (just the urine clumps). Use regular baggies (not freezer bags). Place a few on the ground underneath the car. Overnight, I put a few in my engine compartment (cold car). Works great in flower beds too. The deer hate it. 

• As a last resort, when the smell becomes unbearable, Apex Motors deals with all insurance issues and seals the car after fixing the wiring issues and replacing the dashboard.

NB: Poison will kill up and down the food chain. Owls, raptors die after accumulating the poisons consumed by the mice. Too much poison everywhere. Please don't use it. (Exterminators use poisons because they can't afford to return and empty traps.)

Bigger Things

• Eric Ives RETIRED! (9/23)

• East Lee Animal Control, https://www.eastleeanimalcontrol.com/what-we-do, 413-822-9816. Or contact Tim Williams directly, twilliams70@roadrunner.com. He was terrific, responsive, and fair. (7/21)

• Mike Callahan, Beaver Solutions, Southampton, www.beaversolutions.com, 413-695-0484 (cell), 413-527-6472 (office). He installs several beaver deceiver devices, all with great success. (8/21)

• Andrew Madden at Mass Wildlife in Dalton, responsible for Berkshire County, compiles a database of extreme incidents such as a bear trying to enter your house. Do not report bears taking trash or birdseed, but do report a bear trying to enter your house. Call him: 413-684-1646. (7/22)

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Tip: Skunk in the house: Get a Havahart trap, not too large, so that the skunk when caught won't have room to raise its tail and spray. Bait with smelly fresh fish. When (if) caught, take out in bright sunlight to release far from home. Skunks do not see well in bright light, so they will be disoriented and presumably not return any time soon.

Animal Control Officer: In 2020, it's Max Kolb, who is also an Egremont Policeman. Call the Egremont PD (528-2160) or Officer Kolb at home, 413-854-2877. If these don't work, call the Town Hall, 528-0182.

Other Animal Info

Birds

Ben Nickley, Director, Berkshire Bird Observatory (watch his presentation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjRVKIOUzXQ).

Wildlife Problems:

413-684-1646 ... MassWildlife -- For a biologist who can answer your concerns.

800-632-8075 ... Massachusetts Environmental Police, www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-environmental-police

Wildlife Rehabilitators

• Rhonda Leavitt, 518-794-0078 (New Lebanon, NY). Rescues reptiles (e.g., turtles, snakes, lizards) in need.

• Cara Petricca, 413-446-3345, owns a wildlife rehab center in Cheshire and is a licensed rehabber. She'll know what to do or whom to call. (6/18)

• Tracy Zustra, 413-663-4555. Wildlife Rehabilitation at Berkshire County Turtle Rescue. She is the only licensed expert in the Berkshires. (6/22)