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November 02, 2021 - 11:00 AM
Kelowna and Vernon are in the top 10 of the rattiest cities in British Columbia, according to a Canadian pest removal company.
And Kamloops just made the top 20 list coming in at 20th place.
Vernon moved up the list to seventh place from 11, and Kelowna nudged up one place from last year and is now the fifth rattiest city in the province.
The top spot goes to Vancouver, with Burnaby coming second, Victoria third, and Surrey coming fourth.
The rattiest cities list is put together by Orkin Canada and is based on the number of commercial and residential rat and mice treatments the company carried out between Aug. 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021.
According to Orkin Canada, the pandemic meant more people are cooking and eating at home and Canadians produced 13.5 per cent more food waste during the lockdown. This means there's a potential increase in rodent populations, which is why people may see more rats and mice in their neighbourhoods.
Orkin Canada also reports that it has observed bolder behaviour among rodents. While rats and mice are largely nocturnal there has been increased sightings of rodent activity during the day and migrations from urban centres, where is there is less food, to food-rich suburban areas.
Orkin Canada recommends that as the weather gets colder, rats and mice will be looking for shelter and advises residents to employ tactics to mitigate rodents from getting into homes.
The company suggests:
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Sealing cracks or holes in foundations and installing weather stripping around windows and doors.
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Keeping shrubbery at least a metre away from exterior walls to eliminate hiding spots for rodents
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Getting rid of moisture sources, such as clogged gutters
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And be diligent in keeping garbage and old food away from your house
READ MORE: If poison isn't the answer, how should the Interior get rid of its rat infestation?
Image Credit: SUBMITTED:Orkin Canada
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