KAWARTHA LAKES – Rats. Those dirty, furry rodents with infamous, long, scaly tails have taken the top spot for the most common house pest in Kawartha Lakes and beyond.
According to Dave Thorne, Owner and Operator of Dave’s Quality Pest Control, his business has seen a significant increase of the rat population in the last three years. These dreaded pests are large and unwanted and are capable of scaring anyone, as they lurk around homes, trying to find a warm place to reside.
“A lot of people are very fearful of rats and I get it, it’s not something that I enjoy either but it’s part of my job,” laughed Thorne. “Rats this time of year, we are doing a ton of them. In the last three years there has been such an increase.”
Thorne noted that the most common allure for rats is bird feeders. Rats are known to be hoarders so as they gather overflow from the feeders, make their way closer to the home to burrow around it, eventually making their way inside.
“In a week we are probably doing on average 5 houses,” said Thorne, noting that he has seen an infestation of up to 30 rats on one residential property. “The biggest thing, I love birds too, but you just have to be very cautious with bird feeders, their spillage, keep an eye on that.”
Thorne noted that homeowners often keep seed in the garage, stored in a bag. Any food such as seed, dog or cat food should always be in kept in a sealed container.
“They’re hoarders, they want to take food and hoard it,” explained Thorne. “Harborage around the house, old tires, old wood, anything where there is harborage, where they can get comfortable, they love all of that.”
As a first step to combat the problem, Dave’s Quality Pest Control begins with a thorough inspection.
“People don’t know, that’s for us to go in and determine what exactly is going on,” said Thorne. “We come out and do an inspection and everything we use is approved from the ministry and under lock and key.”
The team will then set up bait stations around the exterior of the house, hopeful the rats feed on the product that the team places inside of the burrows. Entry points for the rats are then located. Often, holes around pipes, or new holes that were done for a new air conditioner or other projects are left without properly being filled.
“That happens quite a bit,” he said.
According to Thorne, homeowners can also bring the rats into the home themselves as they often burrow inside outdoor cushions and furniture.
Exterior bait stations are only used on the exterior of the home and rat snap traps are used inside. Once a rat is caught, a professional will return to remove the pest. According to Thorne, it is also common for rats to be present if livestock is on the property.
“Any where there is livestock, chances are you may end up having a rat issue,” said Thorne. “Rats are very, very smart, the smartest pests that I have dealt with.”
And while rats are ambitious in finding food and warm shelters, they often cause significant damage at the same time. Even though they hoard and thrive on food, they are capable of going without it for long periods of time, unlike water. Often if an infestation is present, fridge and dishwasher water lines are damaged and chewed as they attempt to come in contact with fluids.
“I’ve seen rats go through cement, they need water, they can go a long time without food but they need water,” said Thorne.
Once the rats are caught, the team will then seal the hole where they have gained entry. Rats can be a complex issue that requires a six-week service program.
“After that, after we know the rats are gone, that is our goal, we don’t take any money until you’re happy,” said Thorne. “You pay when the problem is fixed.”
For Patrick Sexsmith, he experienced just that after he suffered through a rat infestation in his home and at his workplace.
“They’re creepy but they’re not the big rats like in New York city, it’s a smaller version, but he got rid of them, so I was pretty happy with what he did, being in the country, you’re going to get them,” said Sexsmith.
Sexsmith worked at a local resort that was situated near the water with a lot of food on the premises. Before they called Dave’s Quality Pest Control, the establishment had approximately six rats running wild.
“He’s (Thorne) a great guy, very professional, he got rid of them, it was great,” said Sexsmith.
Mice are also a common pest that require expert advice but according to Thorne, traditionally, mice were more common as the cold weather approached but have become an issue for homeowners 12 months a year.
“Mice are right there but again, mice are so common that it’s not that we forget about them but with the amount of rats we are doing it seems to be overwhelming,” said Thorne. “Mice used to be a fall thing, September, October, November, we are doing mice 12 months a year now.”
According to Thorne, the weather has greatly impacted the situation. As our winters are gradually warming up and the amount of snow increases, it provides mice with insulation on the ground, allowing them ample space and warmth to breed.
“We are way above average, temperature wise, we are way above where we should be, it affects a lot of things, I’m smelling skunks again, in February which is very odd, our season used to slow down by end or middle of October, now it’s like we are right into December and we are still busy.”
A common sign of a vast mice population can be seen on lawns after the snow has melted and diminished. According to Thorne, lines can often be found running through residential properties, called voles. While the mice burrowed between the snow and the ground, they create city-like communities under the ground.
And as the snow begins to melt and spring slowly approaches, the team at Dave’s Quality Pest Control face a whole new challenge of wild life, raccoons, squirrels, skunks and more commonly, bats.
“Bats are very common in spring and summer and you can’t really avoid them,” said Thorne. “The best thing to do if you think you have them is to have a professional do an inspection.”
Thorne noted that his team of professionals do not enter the attic for inspections as bats carry disease. Their experts can determine if there is a problem from inspecting the exterior of the home.
The team often sees staining from where they bats are going in and out. Droppings are also commonly found. Most commonly, bats gain entry by squeezing in between the brick or the siding and the soffit on the roofline of the home.
“We seal the exterior of the home with clear caulking and install one-way doors to allow the bats to exit, which stay in place for 15 days,” explained Thorne.
A bat house is then installed on the property on a tree or a post that often sees direct sunlight for warmth, in hopes the bats will relocate.
“That’s what our hope is, you want to keep the bats on the property to control insects, that’s why they’re good, one bat will eat its body weight in insects a night, up to 3,000 a night,” he added. “Bats are good to have for the environment, just not so good in the house.”
Dave’s Quality Pest Control opened 14 years ago and has assisted countless home and business owners in saying goodbye to unwanted house guests.
“It’s been amazing, we employ seven people, we are not a big firm, but we aren’t small,” said a passionate Thorne.
Dave’s Quality Pest Control services all of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, Port Perry, Port Hope and beyond.
For more information visit davesqualitypestcontrol.ca or call 1-866-984-2434.
