Greater Sudbury ranks fifth in Ontario for rats, Orkin Canada says in its annual report.

Sudbury was beaten out for this dubious distinction by first-place Toronto, followed by Mississauga, Scarborough and Ottawa.

“Cities are ranked based on the number of rodent (rat and mouse) treatments performed by the company from August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024,” Orkin said in a press release.

“This ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.”

Ajax, St. Catharines and Whitby were ranked at the bottom of the 25-city list. Sudbury was the only Northern Ontario community to make the list.

The company offered a number of tips for keeping rodents away, including trimming trees near homes to eliminate hiding places and avoiding giving rodents a path to enter your home.

“Eliminate any sources of moisture necessary for pests to survive, such as clogged gutters or accumulated water in trash or recycling bins,” Orkin said.

“Inspect the interior and exterior of your property for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The sooner rodents are detected, the better.”

Closing entry points into your home is also important, as is keeping floors free of crumbs and food waste.

“Store all food (including pet food) in tightly closed containers like plastic bins and never leave food or dishes out overnight,” Orkin said.