This is not a list that the Cities of Moncton and Saint John are ready to brag about.
Orkin Canada recently released it list for the Rattiest Cities in Atlantic Canada for 2020.
Moncton came in second after St. John’s Newfoundland, Saint John was fourth.
Technical Director Sean Rollo believes COVID-19 is partly to blame, “You think of a restaurant for example, if it closes down. There’s no more food scraps being throw outside in the dumpster. There’s no food on the inside of the building for them to get at, if the rodents had access to the inside of the building.”
Rollo says more people are also working and eating from home, and rats that have moved to residential areas are finding more scraps in the garbage.
He says dumpsters are not as plentiful and rats have moved onto residential areas to feed instead.
“The other thing we are seeing, is with more people working from home, you’re more likely to spot a pest. Most of us pre-COVID, went to an office or a place of business where we were there for eight hours a day. Now we are spending 24 hours a day at home,” Rollo says.
Riverview was not ranked, because it is a Town, but Rollo says, “We are absolutely seeing an increase in our rodent culls in Riverview. I think it has to do with a lot to do with when you look at the Town of Riverview, all of the commercial businesses are in close proximity to residential.”
Dieppe came in seventh place.
With the colder months upon us, Rollo says it’s important at this time of year to take steps to ensure the rats can’t access your home, because they’ll be looking for a place to nest for the winter.
-Seal cracks or holes with caulk or foam and install weather stripping around windows and doors.
-Keep shrubbery at least a metre away from the home exterior.
-Eliminate moisture sources, such as clogged gutters.
-Keep food preparation areas clean inside the home and thoroughly clean spills and crumbs.
-Clean trash cans regularly and ensure they are covered tightly.
(Photo: Orkin Canada)
