Image of a rat, courtesy of Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/brown-rat-animal-rodent-rat-feed-2115585/)
Two Halton municipalities made the list of ‘Rattiest Places in Ontario’.
Pest control leader Orkin Canada puts together the list every year to remind homeowners and business owners to take precautions to help keep rodents out.
Cities are ranked by the number of rodent (rat and mice) treatments the company performed from August 1st, 2023 through July 31st, 2024. This ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.
Here’s the Top 25 list:
- Toronto
- Mississauga
- Scarborough
- Ottawa
- Sudbury
- Brampton
- Hamilton
- Etobicoke
- North York
- London
- Markham
- Oshawa
- Oakville
- Cambridge
- Richmond Hill
- Barrie
- Burlington
- Niagara Falls
- Kitchener
- Windsor
- Sarnia
- Guelph
- Ajax
- St. Catherines
- Whitby
(Bold means the municipality is within Halton)
The good news is that neither Oakville nor Burlington made the Top 25 list for all of Canada!
Orkin also provided a list of prevention tips to follow:
- 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.
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