Orkin Canada released its annual list of the nation’s rattiest cities, as well as the ones in B.C.
The claim is a little flawed because it’s only based on Orkin’s customers, but it does get people at least talking about how to prevent the rat population from growing.
It also riles up people like Tracy Wilson, a Mission resident who couldn’t believe that Abbotsford made the list (at No. 15), but not her own community.
“I see rats everywhere,” Wilson told the Record in a phone call after she read the list online. “All down our street and in the downtown area. People just don’t take care of their garbage. I really am begging people to be better.”
Multiple lockdowns during the pandemic saw bolder rodent activity and migration to residential neighbourhoods last year. As pandemic fears wane, and Canadian cities are back in business, food sources are abundantly available in urban areas again for rats and mice.
“With more available food, there will be exponential population growth. Food availability favours population growth since there will be less competition for food, which also will result in high reproductive potential, high survival and healthy thriving populations,” said Alice Sinia, Ph.D. entomologist with Orkin Canada, in a news release.
The pest control company has released its annual national list of the top 25 “rattiest” cities in Canada, with the City of Toronto taking the lead.
Orkin Canada experts report that with food more abundantly available in commercial areas, some of the aggressive behaviours among rats and mice that were noted during the lockdowns, such as cannibalism, “street fights” and territorialism, will likely lessen. However, with population growth, there will also be increased activities and sightings.
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City rankings are based on the number of commercial and residential rodent (rats and mice) treatments that Orkin Canada carried out from Aug. 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022.
The top 10 rattiest cities in Canada in 2022 are:
Toronto
Vancouver
Burnaby
Kelowna
Mississauga
Calgary (mice only)
Victoria
Richmond
Edmonton (mice only)
St. John’s
As the cooler weather approaches and rodents may be looking for warm shelter, Orkin Canada suggests you do a basic inspection and implement some rodent-proofing tactics to prevent rats and mice from entering your homes and frequenting your property:
Seal cracks or holes in your foundation, in walls, and in expansion joints
Install weather stripping around windows and doors
Screen open vents and repair worn out window screens
Where possible, keep shrubbery at least a metre away from exterior walls of your home
Remove moisture sources such as clogged gutters
Practice proper garbage storage, be diligent in keeping garbage and old food away from your house, use tight-fitting lid containers and do not overflow
Do not store objects near exterior walls, instead store them distanced away from the wall and about 18 inches off the ground
Rodent proof shed if present. Sheds can be major breeding and harbourage spots during the winter
@shinebox44
chris.campbell@missioncityrecord.com
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