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13 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,M arch 21,2019 insidehalton.com ERUTINRUF RUOY ENOD laeR !yaW NOTSIRROM - RETSACNA - ELLIVKAO :NI DETACOL SELBAT MOOR GNINID FFO %04 91/03/40 SDNE ELAS - TES RIAHC GNIHCTAM A FO ESAHCRUP EHT HTIW MOC.ERUTINRUFDOOWNEP those living in rural areas. Eric Guiry and Michael Buckley studied the bones of Rattus norvegicus speci- mens from the years 1790 to 1890 that were preserved in Canadian museums, uni- versities and other collec- tions. Guiry and Buckley found that urban rats had a wide-ranging, stable diet that included plenty of meat, while country rats had a limited diet with very little meat. The findings suggest country rats have to compete with other for- agers for food, while in the city, it's easy pickings. Levesque recommends some exterior decluttering for those who would like to make their homes less at- tractive to rats. Trimming vegetation, shrubbery and trees around the house mean rats are less likely to get close enough to find any small holes allowing them to squeeze inside. "They only need the size of a quarter," he said. He also recommends filling in any gaps and holes, including under the siding, at the bot- tom of garage doors, and near any other door seals. Fix any water leaks to prevent thirsty rats from seeking out a dripping fau- cet. A backyard composter can be a blessing or a curse when it comes to rats, de- pending on its location. If too close to the house, it can lure rats indoors, while those at the back of one's lot tend to act as a de- coy, said Levesque. If they do make it in- doors, rats can be very de- structive. "They are constantly sharpening their teeth, and can chew holes through wood beams," he said, add- ing rats can also chew through plastic and electri- cal wires, causing a fire hazard. "Once they get into your house, they can get in- to your food supply and contaminate it with their droppings ... Their drop- pings are a lot larger (than mice). They are blunt and about half an inch long. If you see those droppings and chewing, you know you have rats." Rat sightings tend to be more frequent in spring, when they're foraging for newly-exposed food, and fall, when they're looking for a place to hide from the elements. Levesque says mild winters can lead to a spike in rat infestations. "This year, we may be in luck." NEWS Continued from page 12 "During years with a lot of construction, we're modifying their habitat, forcing them to find other places to live." - Bruno Levesque, Orkin Canada's Ontario regional manager DUCT CLEANING SPECIAL Call for details! 289-205-3443 $150* OFF *Restrictions apply, Valid fromMarch 22nd to March 28th. Can not be combined with any other offer.