Downtown Halifax has a rat problem. There are multiple reasons this might be occurring. Maybe it’s the mild winter weather. Or the commotion caused by excessive downtown construction. Halifax is a port town so they have always had problems with rats. The tons of moving ships from all over the world carrying different materials and objects. It’s simple for rats to stow away in large ships.
It appears to be larger than a couple of rat holes in the wall. People are actually avoiding downtown and restaurants are feeling the brunt of it. It’s not good for businesses, tourism or anyone’s health. People are afraid. Especially tourists. It’s not as if rats are dangerous, but they can startle people or given the impression of unsanitary surroundings. It's not very becoming of one of Canada’s major cities.
Professionals predict to be about 40 to 50 rats per square Halifax city block.
The city has been taking steps to try and control the problem. The municipality has been setting traps in major rat hotspots such as Victoria Park, the Central Library and Grafton Park. However, these traps are are struggling to deal with the numbers of rats around Halifax. Other ideas are being explored such as the dry ice technique. An approach taken by many U.S. cities. The premise is to drop dry ice into rat nests and smoke out the inhabitants.
How rats can affect your business.
Restaurants offer the top three needs for rats: food, water and shelter. Rats are common pests in the hospitality industry. They can really affect the reputation of your restaurant. Online reviews and blogs can fly around the web and soon enough your business can be drowning in negativity. When the weather gets cold rats are looking for a cozy place to hideout. Rats eat anything. So, left over food makes perfect meal for rodents.
Rat infestation communicates an unsanitary environment to others, which can be a huge negative to restaurants. Also, dirty kitchens and dining areas can result in certain shutdowns and costly rodent removal. Rats can also threaten food safety. They can cause damage to your property by gnawing wires and other soft materials. Also, they contaminate food areas with droppings.
Prevention is much less costly than removal.
Regularly check outdoor walls and roof for entry points or materials than can be manipulated by eager rats. Holes in foundation, soffit and shingles can be an invitation for rats to easily gain access. Make sure all these areas are properly sealed off. Use wire screen to block off areas rats can get in. A tough material will make it difficult for rats to chew their way in. They can chew and climb almost anything.
Keep areas clean. Especially in restaurants make sure nothing goes overlooked. Properly sanitize all surfaces and clean all crumbs. Any small pieces of food can be a reason for rats to start building nests and living in your restaurant. It sounds simple, but in a restaurant lots of things can go unnoticed. There’s food everywhere.
Signs of rat infestation
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- Rat droppings. Dark brown pellets like a grain of rice.
- Bite marks. Rats chew on everything especially things made of plastic and wood.
- Rub marks. Grease and dirt on their bodies leaves smudges.
- Scratching noises. You may hear scratching sounds of rts scurrying or climbing.
- Rat holes. Rats often build elaborate nests and burrows.
- Rat nests. Some materials will be strewn around the area.
- Footprints. Rat foot marks in dust and dirt.
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