Rat sightings may be commonplace in many New West neighbourhoods, but it’s not even in the Top 20 rattiest cities in B.C.
Each year, Orkin Canada issues a list of the Top 20 rattiest cities in British Columbia. Cities are ranked by the number of rat and mice treatments the company performed at residential and commercial premises from Aug. 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022.
Vancouver took the top spot on this year’s list of B.C.’s Rattiest Cities, followed by Burnaby and Kelowna.
Also making the Top 10 were: Victoria; Richmond; Surrey; Vernon; Coquitlam; Port Coquitlam; and Langley. Rounding out the Top 20 “rattiest” cities in 2022 are: Delta; Kamloops; Chilliwack; North Vancouver; Abbotsford; Maple Ridge; Prince George; West Vancouver; Penticton; and Nanaimo.
New Westminster may not have made the list, but from uptown to downtown, from Sapperton to Queensborough – in private homes, local parks and city streets – reports of local rat sightings abound on various social media platforms.
One New West resident took to a local Facebook group in June to seek advice about an infestation in her neighbourhood, which seemed to be spreading from a nearby building. She said “hundreds” of rats were in the neighbourhood.
“People are scared to have their patio doors open in that building and ours,” she wrote. “The dumpster at the building in question is always full of rats, and the last time the garbage truck came they had rats sliding down their windshield.”
Another resident also took to social media in June to inquire whether there is a rat problem in New West. She was sitting in a small plaza near Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street and saw four large rats “scurrying around” within a few minutes.
New West may not have made Orkin Canada’s Top 20 list of the rattiest cities in B.C., but the pest and wildlife control company is reminding homeowners and business owners to take precautions to help keep rodents out.
“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 an Orkin Canada press release. “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.”
Here are some rodent prevention tips, courtesy of Orkin Canada:
* Trim the Trees: Landscaping can be a big rodent attractant. Keep shrubbery cut back at least one metre 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, which are necessary for pests’ survival. This includes 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 one-quarter 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.
