This text is a translation of an article from CTV News.
Anyone who has lived in Montreal long enough can tell a story about pests, whether mice, rats, raccoons or a variety of insect species. When it comes to rodents, exterminator Denny Andrade has heard of just about every type.
“The mouse chewed some of the drywall here,” emphasizes Andrade, leaning against a cupboard under the kitchen sink of an apartment in Plateau-Est.
There is a small hole in the back of the cabinet that was gnawed by a mouse and put to good use.
“Here’s the whole thing about mice,” he said, pointing to the closet. By “business” he means eating trash and compost that is often stored under the sink, as well as vacuuming up drips and condensation from water pipes.
He prepared a small trap with poison, closed it, and then made his way to the roof to search for more entry points.
Apartments in Montreal are true havens for mice. Rows of fully connected hutches allow the rodents to move freely from house to house. The old bricks and concrete are full of prefabricated tunnels, the diameter of which can only be the diameter of a little finger so that a mouse can fit through.
In recent years, Andrade has noticed an increase in calls. There seem to be more infestations, more droppings, and more horror stories about encounters with unwanted intruders.
He says it may be related to the city’s recent decision to ban about 30 fungicides, insecticides and rodenticides. In their absence, exterminators must resort to milder chemicals and mechanical traps.
“Some of the natural products aren’t quite enough,” complains Robert Caron, area manager for Orkin Canada, a major pest control company.
Then, in winter, “pests are like us. They will seek shelter indoors,” Caron added.
Pest controllers also pointed out that the pandemic has pushed rats and mice away from their usual playgrounds near restaurant dumpsters, sewers and parks and into homes in search of food during confinement.
There may be another reason for the increase in calls: climate change. Researchers told the Associated Press last summer that rising temperatures are causing more rats and mice to survive the winter.
Despite all of this, there are many things you can do to protect your home or cabin this winter.
How to protect your property
Experts say that while you can never completely protect your home from pests, restricting access is an effective preventative measure against an infestation.
For your home, Andrade recommends making sure there are no holes or openings on your window or door screens. If you have access to the roof, check whether your ventilation is equipped with a rodent protection net and is in good condition.
Take a look at the bricks and trim in your home and look for empty spaces. Remember: If you can get your pinky through, a mouse can get through.
When closing your cabin for the winter, Caron recommends removing any wood that could become damp, such as wood. B. Firewood logs or unused boards should be taken away from your home. Damp wood is an excellent refuge for insects that may find their way onto your property.
For the same reason, it’s also a good idea to prune trees whose branches are too close to your building.
When it comes to humidity, you should be extra careful and turn off the water when you leave the house so that your pipes don’t burst in cold weather. Just like wet outdoor tree trunks, soggy support beams are susceptible to pests infesting the wood.