Termite trouble: Fears pests may have spread through downtown Guelph

CTV Kitchener: Unwelcome guests The discovery of termites at the River Run Centre has the rest of downtown Guelph hoping they haven’t spread. Krista Simpson has the story.

There’s evidence of termites in the River Run Centre, and that has the rest of downtown Guelph hoping the insects have yet to make it to their homes and businesses.

“They’re the most destructive structural insects that there are,” Tim Myles, the city’s termite control officer, tells CTV News.

Termite damage has been spotted in the bar area of the River Run Centre – the first such case in downtown Guelph.

Facility manager Danna Evans says that while there is decorative wood in the building, its structure is made of concrete and cinderblocks.

“All the wood here is cosmetic. It’s to make it look pretty,” she says.

Pest control groups have inspected the facility, and cleanup work has begun, but more aggreesive treatment may be necessary. Some chemical treatments can cost more than $10,000.

“In almost all cases, it’s manageable at a much smaller cost than that,” says Myles.

Still, the uncertainty has nearby businesses concerned about the potential for pests on the move.

“Nobody’s seen termites yet, but they move pretty quickly and they’re in the area,” says Rev. Ralph Blackman of St. George’s Anglican Church, which is less than 100 metres from the River Run Centre.

The city is now moving to inspect 300 downtown businesses to get a handle on exactly where termites have and have not made their presence felt in the area.

Last summer, 450 properties north of the downtown were inspected after termites were found in that area.

For anyone looking to prevent termites from entering their property, Myles says the biggest issue is the use of wood chip mulch and suggests bark mulch as a substitute.