Victoria ranked the 2nd “rattiest” city in BC for the third year in a row

Out of all the rankings and lists Victoria has topped over the years, this may just be the most unsavoury.

For the third year in a row, the city has ranked #2 in BC for being highly inhabitable to some of the world’s most vexing urban pests: rats.

According to pest control company, Orkin Canada, Victorians are among the likeliest in Canada to have their homes invaded by rodents.

See also:

• WATCH these sledders get intercepted by a giant rat in Victoria (VIDEO)
• Victoria SPCA currently has 97 domestic rats surrendered from a downtown home

Cities are ranked by the number of rodent (rat & mice) treatments the company performed from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

Vancouver took the #1 spot on the “rattiest” cities radar, while third place went to Burnaby. On Vancouver Island, Nanaimo, Sidney, Duncan, and Port Alberni were also featured on Orkin’s top 20 list.

Just in case you haven’t seen proof of Victoria’s “little” rodent situation for yourself, check out this video sent to Victoria Buzz in February which shows a giant rat race across the street, hit two tobogganers, survive its misadventure, and scamper over to the other side of the street.

Here’s the full list of the top 20 rattiest cities in BC:

1. Vancouver
2. Victoria
3. Burnaby
4. Richmond
5. Surrey
6. Langley
7. Kelowna
8. Duncan
9. Abbotsford
10. Coquitlam
11. Delta
12. Nanaimo
13. Sidney
14. Kamloops
15. New Westminster
16. Port Alberni
17. Maple Ridge
18. Port Moody
19. Port Coquitlam
20. Terrace

Along with this enlightening list, Orkin also provides a few tips on how to prevent rats from entering your abode:

• Close the Gap: Seal any cracks or holes in your foundation with weather-resistant sealant. Install weather stripping around windows and doors, as well as door sweeps.
• Trim the Trees: Landscaping can be a big-rodent attractant. Keep shrubbery cut back at least one meter from the exterior walls of your home to eliminate any hiding spots for rodents.
• Cut Off the Water: Eliminate any moisture sources, necessary for pests’ survival, such as clogged gutters or water gathering in trash or recycling bins.
• Inspect both inside and outside your property for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The more quickly rodents are detected, the better.