Orkin Canada has released its annual list of the rattiest cities in Ontario and Cambridge is up there with several cities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Cambridge comes in at 14 on the list of 25 cities with Guelph coming in at 23 and London at 11. Barrie, a city similar in size to Cambridge, is 16 on the list.
Toronto is the rattiest city in Ontario and in Canada where Cambridge doesn't even crack the top 25.
Rats have been a problem in a number of Cambridge neighbourhoods for years but the issue grew in areas around the downtown cores during the pandemic when rodents who had relied on getting their food from restaurants moved into residential areas.
The company says cities were ranked by the number of rodent, rat and mice, treatments the company performed from Aug. 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023. The ranking includes residentical and commercial treatments.
Orkin offers these rodent prevention tips as winter approaches and critters look for ways to get inside your home:
- 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.
