Image Credit: Shutterstock
October 19, 2022 - 6:00 PM
Kelowna is the third rattiest city in B.C. and the fourth rattiest in Canada.
A new list compiled by pest control company Orkin Canada, puts both Kelowna and Vernon in the top 15 cities nationwide for rats.
Vernon comes in 13 place nationwide in front of much bigger cities such as Ottawa, Moncton and St. John's.
When it comes to B.C., Kelowna takes third place, with Vernon at number seven, Kamloops at 12th place and Penticton at number 19 on the list.
The ranking sees Kelowna move up one spot from fifth place in 2021. Vernon remains in seventh place as it was in 2021, while Kamloops was in the 20 spot in 2021.
READ MORE: If poison isn't the answer, how should the Interior get rid of its rat infestation?
Orkin Canada says lockdowns during the pandemic saw "bolder rodent activity" as rats and other rodents moved to residential neighbourhoods. As the pandemic draws to a close cities are getting back to normal and food sources are becoming abundantly available in urban areas again for rats and mice.
"With more available food, there will be exponential population growth. Food availability favours population growth since there will be less competition for food, which also will result in high reproductive potential, high survival and healthy thriving populations," Orkin Canada entomologist Alice Sinia said in a media release.
Orkin Canada says as food becomes more available in commercial areas, some of the aggressive behaviours among rats and mice that was seen during lockdowns, such as "cannibalism" and "street fights" will likely reduce.
"However, with population growth, there will also be increased activities and sightings," the media release says.
According to Orkin Canada, the rattiest place in the country is Toronto, with Vancouver coming in second and Burnaby third.
In B.C., Vancouver takes the top spot followed by Burnaby, Kelowna, Victoria, Richmond, Surrey, with Vernon in seventh place.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2022