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Day Skate Solving Problems Since 1982 905-845-0701 Email: scott@gasfix.ca POOL HEATER REPAIR WE SERVICE & CARRY PARTS FOR: TD LAARS, JANDY, HAYWARD, RAYPAK, PENTAIR, MINI MAX, STA-RITE Manufacturer Trained Service Technicians Read our client reviews www.gasfixrepair.HomeStars.com Experience is the Difference! NEWS DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com other residents in the area and discovered the problem was more widespread. One nearby resident had called a pest control compa- ny repeatedly to get rats out of her home. Another resident, King said, found rats nesting in- side the engine compart- ment of a vehicle, which hadn't been used in some time. King said another near- by resident has caught sev- eral rats in traps set up out- side his home. She said the discovery of a dead rat in their yard led her to call pest control again. The company placed rat traps in King's backyard and found evidence rats had been eating away at a re- taining wall on the proper- ty. "It's disgusting. We've never had rats," said King. "We lived in the country in Marsville ... We had corn- fields across from us and afields across from us and af forest beside us and wildlifeforest beside us and wildlifef all over the place, but none A Garthdale Court resi- dent is calling on the town to consider adopting some kind of municipal rodent control program following a surge of rat activity in her area. Debbie Shallhorn King said she first realized she had an uninvited guest in her home in mid April when she heard strange noises coming from the ceiling. "I had heard something. A sort of a scratching noise above the front entrance- way, but it didn't last long so I didn't think anything of it," said King. "About a week later I heard the noise over my head in the dining room ... That's when I knew we had something." King said she called a pest control company, which found evidence a rat had been present, but not nesting. It wasn't long before King started talking with ever came into our house." Pest control company Orkin Canada listed Oak- ville and Burlington as be- ing among the "rattiest" cit- ies in Ontario for 2017. Oakville ranked number seven on a list of 25 while Burlington got number 9. Toronto received the ti- tle of rattiest city in Onta- rio. The rankings were based on the number of ro- dent (rat and mice) treat- ments- both commercial and residential. Gary Dagg, Orkin Cana- da service manager, said de- velopment and construc- tion appears to be behind many rat/human conflicts. When an area is devel- oped, he said, the rats living there are displayed and will begin searching for new homes. The approach of a harsh winter will also have rats looking for indoor comfort. Dagg said this fall saw a huge increase in rat-related calls for Orkin. King said she has report- ed the situation to the Town of Oakville and is looking to the town for action on this issue. She wants to see the es- tablishment of some kind of municipal rodent control program to help with the costs of eliminating the rats and making her property unwelcoming to them. A new Residential Rat Control Rebate Pilot Pro- gram in St. Catharines gives residents 50 per cent (to a maximum of $200) for the cost of the services of a li- censed Ontario extermina- tor to assist with the remov- al of rats from the exterior of their residential proper- ty. An identical program was established in Niagara Falls in February 2018. Julie Trites, a senior communications adviser with the Town of Oakville says the town has not expe- rienced a significant in- crease in calls regarding rats. She recommends resi- dents make their properties less attractive to rats by: • Cleaning up spilled seeds under bird feeders .Removing bird feeders if there is a rodent problem • Eliminating water sources such as leaky taps, bird baths and standing wa- ter • Ensuring garbage and green cart lids are tight-fit- ting •Eliminating shelter and nesting sites by cutting tall grass, removing brush and woodpiles Dagg also had sugges- tions for residents. "Check around your home. Anything the size of a toonie, a rat can squeeze through, so make sure gaps around all your pipes, air conditioning lines, electri- cal lines are all filled in," he said. "Keep brush and debris away from the walls of youraway from the walls of youra house, get door seals on your garage and make sure your compost bins are in good condition. Make sure they are not broken away at the bottom so rats can get in them and feed." Oakville 'among rattiest' communities in Ontario "I had heard something. A sort of a scratching noise above the front entranceway, but it didn't last long so I didn't think anything of it. About a week later I heard the noise over my head in the dining room. That's when I knew we had something." Debbie Shallhorn King