The ratty side

By Aaron Lombardi

Windsor has been ranked Ontario’s seventh most rat infested city and experts say it will only get worse after the warm winter.

Rats are omnivorous rodents who make themselves at home anywhere they see fit. These are mainly areas near sources of food, water and shelter. Cities are a prime choice for the animals since dumpstersand abandoned buildings provide all three.

According to a survey done by Orkin Canada Pest Control Services, Windsor is one of the 25 most rat-infested cities in Ontario. Chris Ortner of Orkin Canada in Windsor said he believes the rat problem is solely based on the city’s warm winters.

“Rats are not cold weather animals, so when they get areas where they can be warm year-round they will take advantage and multiply,” said Ortner. “And they multiply quickly. About three to four litters per year.” A litter of rats typically ranges from eight to 12 babies.

The 2016 municipal budget included funding for a rodent trapping program giving any resident of the city free inspections by exterminators until May 2016, when the program was cancelled. It will resume in April as part of a $20,000 item in the 2017 budget. Until then, those with pest problems will have to hire private exterminators.

Rats are usually difficult to spot during the day as most of their scavenging is done at night. The critters can be seen running across Windsor alleyways travelling from one dumpster to the next. Rats live in large groups and usually burrow underground but will sometimes live inside the walls of abandoned buildings and underneath sidewalks.

Mike Heimbach of Abell Pest Control in Windsor suggests ways people can prevent the animals from coming into their space. “Food, water, shelter-that’s what they want and they can find it very easily,”said Heimbach.

“Woodpiles in your backyard, cracks in your foundation, that’s shelter. Compost bins, gardens, garbages with open lids, that’s food. If you get rid of what they want you won’t have a problem.”

Abell Pest Control receives most of its rat based calls in the springtime and although they deal with other animals such as possums and raccoons, Heimbach says rat-related calls are becoming the majority.

Rats carry diseases such as rabies that are harmful to both humans and pets. The rats are usually trapped and destroyed by poison baiting. However, exterminators have begun using dry ice as it cuts the cost of poison and is equally effective. The dry ice is placed in areas where rats are known to burrow and upon melting, lets out a gas that suffocates the rodent.

Anne-Marie Albidone, manager of environmental services in Windsor, said people can do their part in keeping the animals away.

“You have to keep the rats away from the three things they are looking for – food, water, shelter,” said Albidone. “If you have a fruit tree you should always rake up the fallen fruit because the rats will eat that. If you have water nearby or a pond, your chances of having rats are high. If you’re feeding feral cats, the rats will eat the cat food,” said Albidone.

With sightings on the rise, both Heimbach and Ortner believe this coming spring will be one of the most rat infested they have seen in the city.