Image Credit: Shutterstock
August 26, 2019 - 6:00 PM
VERNON - It looks like the Okanagan’s rat problem is here to stay.
That’s the message of Orkin manager Matthew Wright.
“They’ve been migrating up the valley,” said Wright. “It’s easy for them to find nourishment.”
Part of the growing problem, Wright said, is the availability of water and food for the rodents. This is caused by the proximity in urban Okanagan centres as well as the numerous gardens, orchards and vineyards. While the problem has garnered a lot of attention in the North Okanagan, where Wright calls home, he said it’s a much broader issue and one that is difficult to remedy.
When the rodents find a home, it’s common for them to damage gardens and water lines, which can lead to plumbing and flooding issues, Wright said. In addition to the physical damage they cause, rodents can also bring an array of diseases and bacteria that is harmful to humans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists 11 diseases directly transmitted by rats and other rodents, including plague and salmonellosis, among others.
According to Wright, the best way to mitigate the damage caused by rats and other unwanted rodents is through prevention. Common instigators are cracks in a structure’s foundation and poor weather stripping, trees that brush buildings and unnecessary moisture. Baiting programs are also an effective way to reduce the rat population, he said.
“You’re always going to have pockets where they thrive, but we just want to prevent an epidemic,” Wright said. “I can’t see them going away any time soon."
To contact a reporter for this story, email Parker Crook or call (250) 864-7494 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, 2019