Sudbury has once again made pest control company Orkin Canada’s list of Ontario's Top 25 "Rattiest" Cities 2022, taking sixth place in a significant move up the annual list.
Last year Sudbury managed to get out of the top 10, down to No. 19 on Orkin’s list.
The Nickel City is now at No. 6 on the list, so ranked by the number of rodent (rat and mice) treatments Orkin performed from Aug. 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022, including both residential and commercial treatments.
Orkin Canada attributes the rise to lessening of pandemic restrictions. “As pandemic fears wane and Canadian cities are back in business, food sources are abundantly available in urban and commercial areas again for rats and mice,” said the company.
There is also a good chance, said Orkin Canada in their listing, 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 rodent activity and sightings.
Across Ontario, the top four remained the same, Toronto (1), Mississauga (2), Scarborough (3) and Ottawa (4).
- Toronto
- Mississauga
- Scarborough
- Ottawa
- Brampton
- Sudbury
- North York
- Oshawa
- Etobicoke
- Oakville
Orkin’s 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.
