Infestations of rats and mice on the rise in Quebec

Several pest management experts have warned that infestations of rats and mice are on the rise this year in Quebec and the problem will inevitably increase in the coming years.

Extermination specialists see requests for intervention in the region increasing by 30% to 65% compared to August and September of last year.

“In Quebec, we see it as contrasting with the business as a whole,” notes Michel Maheu, general manager at Maheu and Maheu, compared to the situation in other regions.

Eric Sirois, a pest management specialist, estimates that requests for intervention have increased by about 35%, in the month of September alone.

Sirois specializes in smoke testing, which helps find where rodents are able to enter the building.

In the past year, we’ve had one or two smoking tests per month. Currently, I already have 11 schemes,” he notes.

At Exterminapro, the orders are also increasing.

“We’re likely to have a record year in terms of rodents and rats,” says Guillaume Nantel, supervisor and chief technician within the company.

Exploration, pandemic and heat

According to experts, excavation work, long summers and aging sewage structures are among the factors that explain these increases in incidence. It was not over, in their opinion.

“With everything that is going to happen in the coming months and years in terms of excavation, we can expect to see the rat problem increasing,” warns Mr. Siruis.

He believes that with the tram working, further displacements of the rat population are expected.

Mr. Miho points out that wherever there is work, there will necessarily be a displacement of rodent populations.

millimeter. Nantel and Cerro also refer to the epidemic that has led to the closure of many tall buildings.

“This has also contributed to the spread of insects,” Sirois argues. They had free access to food and no one bothered them. »

“During COVID, there were more people trying to solve problems on their own, which means that this year and last year, we’ve had a lot more calls than before,” adds Mr. Nantel.

Bad surprises

millimeter. Nantel and Maheu add that many plumbing structures are nearing completion in Quebec. It can cause some nasty surprises.

“These networks can start to crack and allow mice to break out and start invading certain places that they didn’t even have a rat problem,” warns Mr. Nantel.

What do you do if there are mice?

• Do not poison the mice because they will die in the affected building and the access breach will not be found and the problem will not be solved.
• Be sure to carry out sealing work in infested buildings, so as not to allow access to mice and other rodents.
• Prevent rather than interact in and around residential plumbing maintenance, to ensure structures do not crack, thus discouraging rat infestation.