Rattiest cities in Canada: Kelowna hits the podium after back-to-back years in 4th

Kelowna continues to be ranked as one of the “rattiest cities” in the country by Orkin Canada.

The annual list from one of the country's leading pest control companies ranks Canadian cities on the number of commercial and residential rodent treatments it carries out between Aug. 1-July 31.

In 2021, Kelowna was fifth on the list, but the Central Okanagan city snuck up to fourth over the past two years.

It’s a ratty bronze medal for Kelowna this year thanks to a third place finish behind only Toronto and Vancouver.

British Columbia is well-represented on this year’s list, claiming 12 of the top 25 spots in Canada.

The bulk of those are in the Lower Mainland, however, with Vernon’s 14th-place rank being the only other BC Interior representative on the list.

Orkin Canada claims that most regions across the country are seeing the rodent population grow and offers up the following tips to mitigate rats and mice from targeting your property:

• Eliminate Harbourage: Remove clutter indoors and outdoors, trim overgrown vegetation, and keep grass short.
• Cut Off Water Sources: Eliminate moisture by clearing clogged gutters and fixing leaky pipes or faucets both indoors and outdoors.
• Remove Food Sources: Clean up fallen fruits or vegetables in the yard, store garbage in rodent-proof bins, and prevent overflow.
• Seal Entry Points: Close gaps larger than 1/4 inch with rodent-proof materials, and install weather strips on exterior doors to block entry points.