When it comes to top 20’s lists involving Vancouver Island, this one is truly under-rat-ed.
Where other lists on the internet might focus on hikes or parks or restaurants, Orkin Canada’s latest release centres around rats.
The pest control company has released its annual ‘Top 20 Rattiest Cities’ in British Columbia list – a source that ranks cities based on the number of commercial and residential rodent (rats and mice) treatments carried out by Orkin Canada between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.
Cracking the top 20 are four communities located on Vancouver Island: Victoria, Duncan, Sidney and Nanaimo.
Victoria comes in at second on Orkin Canada’s rankings, behind only Vancouver, while Duncan ranks 14th, Sidney 16th, and Nanaimo slots into the 17th spot.
According to the pest control company, the last six months have presented a shift in where rodents are being spotted. More rodents have been re-locating to neighbourhoods within that time span as a result of a “higher-than-usual” amount of waste from people who are working or studying from home due to COVID-19.
At the same time, waste from restaurants and other businesses has significantly reduced as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
With more rats in residential areas, Orkin Canada is recommending that homeowners take preventative steps such as seal cracks with caulk and install weather stripping around windows and doors. In addition, the pest control company says to keep shrubbery cut back at least one meter from the exterior walls of your home to eliminate any hiding spots for rodents.
Other measures that Orkin Canada recommends is to keep food preparation areas clean inside the home, thoroughly clean spills and crumbs, and ensure trash cans regularly are covered tightly.
The full top 20 list can be found below:
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Burnaby
- Richmond
- Surrey
- Kelowna
- Langley
- North Vancouver
- Coquitlam
- Abbotsford
- Vernon
- Delta
- Port Coquitlam
- Duncan
- Chilliwack
- Sidney
- Nanaimo
- Maple Ridge
- Terrace
- Powell River
Graham Cox
