THUNDER BAY – A rat infestation throughout the city has council trying to exterminate the spread of vermin.
Council on Monday night directed city administration to prepare a report on what can be done to control the rodent population, which has been reported to be skyrocketing over the past few years.
Coun. Joe Virdiramo brought forward the resolution and said it is an issue throughout the city.
“It is here and people are experiencing the population of those rodents increasing at a great rate,” Virdiramo said.
The resolution, which was passed unanimously, calls for administration to outline options to address the rat population while looking at examples from other municipalities that have been in a similar situation. It also includes exploring partnerships with organizations such as the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to educate the public on preventing increases in the rat population.
A map on the health unit’s Facebook page shows reported rat sightings in the city from last September to this past April. Hot spot areas appear to be Westfort, Northwood and throughout the McKellar ward, particularly along Memorial Avenue and in the downtown areas between John Street and Red River Road.
Virdiramo, who represents the Westfort ward, said many residents living along rail routes have reported rats in the tall grass between the tracks and their property.
Coun. Frank Pullia said recently there was a social media post showing a rat bigger than a size 11 shoe in the area of the Canada Games Complex.
Doug Rondeau, owner and operator of Canadian Pest Control, said there have been signs of an infestation going back more than two years.
There would be calls of rats just a few times a week or a month but that is now a daily occurrence, he added.
“Really, nobody understands why,” Rondeau said. “Even the Thunder Bay Health Unit can’t explain why there’s an outbreak that there is, but there sure is.”
Rondeau said keeping a well-maintained yard can help keep rats away. Loose garbage, birdseed, compost piles and animal feces can all serve as food sources to attract vermin.
