Richmond has been been ranked the fourth "rattiest city in B.C." by pest control company Orkin Canada. Meanwhile, Vancouver received the top spot for the second year in a row.
“A lot of it comes down to Vancouver being a port city. We have a lot of ships coming and going and rats are really attracted to water. Our organics recycling and composting also attracts rats. Dense populations, new construction and older buildings also play a role,” says Orkin Vancouver branch manager Trine Butler.
Victoria, Burnaby and Surrey were also in the top five.
Orkin is warning homeowners that rodents are actively seeking food, water and shelter at this time of year and can transmit a number of diseases.
To reduce the likelihood of rats or mice entering a building the company suggests sealing cracks and installing weather stripping around windows and doors.
Trimming trees and shrubs back at least one metre from the walls of the house can help eliminate rodent hiding spots and unclogging gutters or removing water in trash bins can make the area less inviting to the animals.
In Richmond, the Health Department, a division of Richmond Health Services, is responsible for controlling rodents on city-owned properties. The health department also provides a free pest control service for rats and mice to residents.
Rankings are based on the number of rodent treatments the company conducted in 2017 at commercial and residential buildings.
With files from Melissa Shaw
