According to a major rodent removal company, Greater Sudbury ranked as the ninth-rattiest city in all of Ontario last year.
While Sudbury was ranked as the happiest city in Canada last year, when it comes to rats, we lag behind Toronto, which came first, followed by Ottawa, Mississauga, Scarborough and Hamilton. Sault Ste. Marie came in 18th, while Timmins was 22nd.
“When it comes to rats in Ontario, no city comes close to Toronto,” the company said in a news release. “It has a human population triple the size of Ottawa but a rodent problem more than four times larger than the nation's capital.”
The findings by Orkin Canada are based on the number of commercial and residential rodent (rats and mice) treatments the pest control company has conducted over the year from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2016.
The company urges home owners and business owners to take precautions to keep rodents out and offers a few tips on how:
Close the Gap: Seal any cracks or holes in your foundation with weather-resistant sealant. Install weather stripping around windows and doors, as well as door sweeps.
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.
Cut Off the Water: Eliminate any moisture sources, necessary for pests’ survival, such as clogged gutters or water gathering in trash or recycling bins.
“Rodents are very active at this time of year, as they seek food, water and shelter,” the release said. “Rodents are capable of transmitting a number of serious diseases, and cause millions of dollars of damage to properties every year. Homes with small holes or cracks in perimeter walls are most at risk.”
For more information about rodent prevention, visit orkincanada.ca.
