Brampton ranked as eighth-most rat-infested city in Ontario

The City of Brampton is among the more rat-infested cities in Ontario, according to a recent list from Orkin Canada.

Based on the latest data from the pest control company, Brampton ranks as the eighth-most rat-infested city in Ontario.

Over the last 18 months, extended lockdowns have resulted in many Ontarians cooking more frequently, which has increased the production of food waste by 13.5 per cent.

As a result, increased food waste leads to an increase in rodent populations, and it’s a contributing factor in the rise in rat and mice sightings in residential neighbourhoods.

A significant number of rats and mice have migrated from resource-depleted urban centres to food-rich suburban areas, which has allowed them to reproduce and thrive, substantially increasing their population sizes.

Of the 10 most infested cities, eight are in the GTA, including four of the cities in the top five.

The rankings are based on the number of commercial and residential treatments for rats and mice Orkin Canada performed from August 1, 2020, through July 31, 2021.