Oakville has gone to the rats.
Well, at least according to Orkin Canada.
The town’s issues with the pesky rodents has put it on Ontario’s Top 25 “Rattiest” Cities list provided by the pest control company.
The annual list ranks cities by the number of rodent (rat and mice) treatments (residential and commercial) the company performed from Aug. 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022.
Oakville was ranked 10th on the list of “Rattiest” Cities. Toronto topped the rankings, with Mississauga and Scarborough falling in just behind.
The multiple lockdowns during the pandemic brought out the rodents to local neighbourhoods and with things returning to normal food sources are abundantly available in urban areas again for rats and mice.
“With more available food, there will be exponential population growth,” said Alice Sinia, Ph.D. entomologist with Orkin Canada.
“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.”
The rats and mice featured more aggressive behaviours during the lockdown such as cannibalism, “street fights” and territorialism.
While those will likely lessen, there will also be increased rodent activity and sightings with population growth.
Rodent Prevention Tips
- Trim the Trees: Landscaping can be a big-rodent attractant. Keep shrubbery cut back at least one meter from the exterior walls of your home to eliminate any hiding spots for rodents and to avoid giving them a “jumping off” point.
- Cut Off the Water: Eliminate any moisture sources, necessary for pests’ survival, such as clogged gutters or water gathering in trash or recycling bins.
- Inspect both inside and outside your property for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The more quickly rodents are detected, the better.
- Close the Gap: Look for possible entry points outside the home, seal all cracks larger than 1/4 of an inch and install weather strips at the bottom of exterior doors.
- Keep your property clean, inside and out. Clean up crumbs and spills as soon as they happen to avoid leaving food residue or sugary substances that can attract rodents. Store all food (including pet food) in tightly-sealed containers like plastic bins, and never leave food or dishes sitting out overnight.
