Increase in rat complaints in Niagara Falls

A Niagara Falls city councillor says an increase in rat complaints has led to a crisis situation and the city will be considering a budget for rat extermination in the next few weeks.

Niagara Public Health says much of Southern Ontario has had an increase in rat complaints. In Hamilton there have been 303 so far this year, already a big jump from last years 242 and the year isn’t over yet. Niagara Falls has only had 55 rat complaints but the city says that number is worrisome.

“It’s a concern. We are under a lot of construction here in Niagara Falls. So based on the construction we are concerned that we have disturbed the habitat of the rats.” Gerald Spencer, City of Niagara Falls.

The city has been bating sewers for a month now but councillor Wayne Thomson says that’s not enough to solve the problem.

“We are trying to set up a budget so that the city will pay for the exterminators to go in during this crisis situation.”

It’s a homeowners responsibility to get rid of rats in their home and on their property but Thomson says this budget would help homeowners exterminate rats in their yards, to get the problem under control. The city says they’ve received complaints from all ends of the town.

Public Health says rats pose a greater risk to human health when they are inside the home because they leave their urine and droppings everywhere.