Mississauga is once again the second-most rat infested city in Ontario

When it comes to having a rat problem, at least Mississauga is consistent.

For the fourth-straight year, Canada’s seventh-largest city has been identified as the second-rattiest city in Ontario. 

As far as rodent infestations go, Mississauga plays second fiddle only to Toronto once again, according to Orkin Canada, which this week released its annual top 25 “Rattiest Cities in Ontario” list.  

Based on the number of commercial and residential rodent (rats and mice) treatments it provided from Aug. 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022, Orkin, the country’s largest pest control company, identified Toronto as the “rattiest” city in the province once again. 

Mississauga is second, Scarborough third, Ottawa fourth and Brampton (eighth on last year’s list) took fifth spot in 2022 on the not-so-desirable list. Rounding out the top 10 are Sudbury, North York, Oshawa, Etobicoke and Oakville.

The biggest jump from last year to this year was made by Sudbury, which moved from 19th last year to sixth spot in 2022, according to Mississauga-based Orkin.

Orkin noted in a press release that as COVID-19 pandemic fears wane “…and Canadian cities are back in business, food sources are abundantly available in urban and commercial areas again for rats and mice.

“With food more abundantly available in commercial areas, some of the aggressive behaviours among rats and mice that were noted during the lockdowns, such as cannibalism, street fights and territorialism, will likely lessen. However, with population growth, there will also be increased rodent activity and sightings.”

Top 25 “Rattiest” Ontario cities (Source: Orkin Canada)

Prior to jumping into second spot on the list in 2019, Mississauga recorded back-to-back third-place rankings on the rodent list in 2017 and 2018. 

Orkin officials say they’ve also noticed bolder behaviour in rodents the past couple of years or so. 

“Mainly nocturnal, increased sightings of rodent activity during the day have become more common, as well as migrations from resource-depleted urban centres to food-rich suburban areas, where rats and mice may have been able to reproduce and drive up the population,” they said.  

Orkin Canada says with the colder weather approaching, and rodents looking for shelter, there are a number of things people can do to keep rats and mice from entering their homes and property:  

• seal cracks or holes in your foundation and install weather stripping around windows and doors
• keep shrubbery at least one metre away from exterior walls of your home 
• get rid of moisture sources, such as clogged gutters
• be diligent in keeping garbage and old food away from your house
• inspect both inside and outside your property for rodent droppings. The more quickly rodents are detected, the better, says Orkin