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Brampton has moved down a peg on an annual roundup of Canada’s “rattiest cities” but it’s still considered one of the most rodent-prone communities in Ontario.

The rankings come from pest control company Orkin Canada, which found that Toronto was once again the rattiest city in the country for 2024, followed up by Vancouver at No. 2 and Kelowna, BC rounding out the top three.

Last year Brampton ranked 5th on the list of Ontario cities but the 2024 ranking has the Flower City bumped down to No. 6 by Sudbury, which now holds the No. 5 spot in the province.

When compared to the national numbers, Brampton ranked 20th on the list of the top 25 rattiest cities in Canada.

Orkin said rodents “continue to run rampant across the country” with Ontario making a significant showing on this year’s list. Mississauga ranked No. 10 on the national list and came in second in Ontario.

In Ontario, the top ten rattiest cities for 2024 are Toronto, Mississauga, Scarborough, Ottawa, Sudbury, Brampton, Hamilton, Etobicoke, North York and London.

The company ranks cities by the number of rats and mice treatments the company performed from Aug. 1 last year to the end of July, 2024. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments, Orkin Canada says.

Rats are a common pest in large urban centers and can carry ticks and fleas, and spread diseases although the risk of disease transmission is low, Orkin says.

The Region of Peel closed submissions for its residential rat control subsidy pilot program earlier this year.

The program helped Mississauga and Brampton homeowners hire Region of Peel-approved pest control vendors to deal with rats on the exterior of residential properties. Residents will be reimbursed for 50 per cent of the cost of hiring a pest control service up to a maximum of $200 per calendar year.

With colder weather on the way, Orkin Canada says rodents will be looking for shelter. Here are some tips from Orkin that can help you protect your property from mice and rats:

• seal cracks or holes in your foundation and install weather stripping around windows and doors
• keep shrubbery at least one meter away from exterior walls of your home
• get rid of moisture sources, such as clogged gutters, and fix leaky pipes or faucets both indoors and outdoors
• be diligent in keeping garbage and old food away from your house
• inspect both inside and outside your property for rodent droppings.
• remove clutter both indoors and outdoors, trim overgrown vegetation and keep grass short

For more tips visit Orkin Canada online.

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