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January 14, 2016 - 1:00 PM
KELOWNA - Winter is the perfect time to trap and kill rats and mice, the City of Kelowna says.
Cold weather limits food sources forcing the rodents to search further afield for food, including inside houses, urban forestry supervisor Blair Stewart says in a media release.
Baited traps are more effective during food scarcity, Stewart says, making it easier to control the pests before they become established.
If you find rodents droppings or other signs they are present, the city advises you seal up holes and gaps around your home or business as both mice and rats can squeeze though very small spaces.
Use snap traps, not poison, the city says, as they can hurt other animals that may eat a poisoned rat or mouse.
Clean up and reduce attractants and sources of food and water as well as items that may provide shelter.
Rats have become a growing problem in the Okanagan, with populations emerging in places where there once was none. The city provides detection tips and prevention methods on its website but is not responsible for rodent control on private property
To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016