Spike in rat infestation in Hamilton

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Hamilton Public Health officials have seen a spike in rat complaints. In 2014 alone, the city received 121 rat complaints, that’s more than double than the year before. “The numbers are going up and where they are occuring is expanding across the city…so we are seeing rat complaints all across downtown and all along the mountain as well” says Susan Harding-Cruz from Public Health. The question is – why? “It could be climate change we have had a few severe winters and when it’s very cold the rats like to stay in their nests…they are protected…they can breed and they can multiply.” Or it could be due to an increase in urban and suburban development. “If they get displaced they can be going through different areas there they weren’t seen previously.”

Bill Dowd from Skedaddle says he’s not surprised. “We have seen rat and mouse calls pretty much double in the last year year and a half. With mice and rats they can reproduce in 21 days so if you have one or two mice or rats that infestation can get quite large fairly quickly. Mice and rats are in about 75-80 percent of homes.” In a typical home there are 30-50 spots animals can enter through. They only need a hole about the size of a quarter. Droppings… and scratch marks are all signs you may have some unwelcome tenants.

Bill Dowd’s advice? “Get out and inspect your home”. Also, don’t leave any food or water sources around, and seal any holes that would allow access to your home.

This of course isn’t a problem specific to Hamilton. Every city has issues with rodents. On Monday Public Health will present the findings of their report to the city and board of health. They are hoping to develop additional rat control resources to hand out to homeowners.