Toronto has a rat problem. Walk into any subway station (or stroll a street late at night) and your chances of spotting furry little critters scurrying across your path are high. An annual report by pest control company Orkin Canada confirmed Toronto’s rodent issues in its national “Rattiest Cities” list, with Toronto once again claiming the top spot as the country’s most rat-infested city.
City rankings are based on the number of commercial and residential rat/mouse treatments that the company carried out from Aug. 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024. Not only did Toronto take the first spot, but a few other GTA areas made the list — Mississauga ranked sixth and Scarborough took the ninth spot. Most of the rattiest cities were found within Ontario and British Columbia, with Vancouver taking the second spot, followed by Kelowna (3), Burnaby (4) and Victoria (5). Richmond and Surrey took the seventh and eighth spots, with St. John’s, Newfoundland rounding out the top 10.
When solely looking at the rattiest cities in Ontario, Toronto is still number 1, followed by Mississauga, Scarborough, Ottawa and Sudbury.
With more regions across Canada seeing a growing rodent population, Orkin Canada suggests some steps to take mitigate critters from targeting your property.
- Cut back shrubs at least one meter from the walls of your home to get rid of hiding spots for rodents, and get rid of any moisture sources, such as clogged gutters or water gathering in trash bins.
- Check out the inside and outside of your property for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along the edges (the faster rodents are detected, the better).
- Seal any cracks larger than 1/4 of an inch to get rid of any entry points for rodents, and make sure you have weather strips installed at the bottom of exterior doors.
- Keep your home clean, from crumbs and spills to any sugary residues — all of which can attract rodents. It’s also recommended you store food (including pet food) in sealed containers.
If Toronto continues experiencing rat problems, perhaps it can follow New York City’s lead and invest in rat tourism.