Latest news with #ratcontrol
CBC
3 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Toronto's proposed rat reduction plan passes 1st hurdle, could come into effect in 2026
Toronto's proposed rat response plan is one step closer to being implemented after a municipal committee unanimously approved the plan Wednesday. The new plan brought forward by city staff focuses on ways to reduce the use of rodenticides, such as eliminating food and shelter, as well as opting for the use of gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide for rat control. Davenport Coun. Alejandra Bravo said that the plan will need coordination across city departments in order to be effective. "Rats are pests and they require an interdivisional approach to deal with and to manage," Bravo said during the meeting for the economic and community development committee. Bravo also said climate change has allowed rat mating season to be all year, making Toronto's rat problem worse and worse. "We are talking about a single pair of rats being able to produce hundreds of offspring," she said. Additionally, the plan outlines a strengthening of municipal services to improve cleanliness in urban areas and a coordinated rat management response that prioritizes hot spots. But it does not entirely eliminate the use of rodenticides — a source of contention among some speakers at the committee. Allison Hansen, campaign director at Rodenticide Free Ontario, told the committee she lost a pet after it accidentally ingested rat poison. "Pesticides are dangerous," Hansen said, adding that they should be a "temporary and last resort." The plan will now make its way to city council for final approval later this month. If approved, it could take effect next year.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Got rats? MPAJ offers to pay RM3 for each at Pekan Ampang market
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10— The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) has launched a campaign offering cash rewards to those who catch rats at Pasar Pekan Ampang and surrounding areas. The initiative, held in collaboration with the local Zone 8 Residents' Committee, is part of efforts to curb the spread of rat-borne diseases such as leptospirosis. Under the 'Kempen Basmi Tikus MPAJ', participants will receive RM3 for each rat caught during the campaign period. MPAJ said the effort aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goals on good health and sustainable communities. Cash redemption counters will operate from 9.30am to 12.00pm between July 8 and 25 at the Pasar Pekan Ampang compound. Participation is open to traders operating in and around the Ampang market area.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Rat response plan up for debate at Toronto City Hall
A large rat feasts on leftover food scraps outside of the Burrard SkyTrain Station in Vancouver on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns Toronto's plan to tackle its growing rat population will go before a municipal committee on Wednesday. City Manager Paul Johnson released the city's 'Rat Response Plan' last month, following a motion last year by Coun. Alejandra Bravo and Deputy Mayor Amber Morley to address what the pair described at the time as the 'increasing challenge' of large rat populations in Toronto. The plan, which is being reviewed by the Economic and Community Development Committee this morning, would launch in 2026 and include, among other things, the creation of a 'Rat Response' coordination team, responsible for supporting the improved coordination of rat management across the city. Also included is a proposed requirement for contractors to prevent and manage rat infestations at city-led construction sites when they're displaced into neighbuoring properties. Private construction sites, as well as Metrolinx-led projects, would also be advised on how to implement proper pest management and reduce the impact of rats. In a letter published last month, Coun. Paula Fletcher said she's heard from Toronto-Danforth residents near the Ontario Line construction about 'rodent infestations' in and around their homes following the project's start. 'Currently, the pest control process is largely reactive and difficult for residents to access. As the city explores a comprehensive rat management strategy, it is imperative that Metrolinx-led transit projects align with these standards and adopt a preventative approach,' she wrote at the time. The city's plan would cost up to $351,000 to hire two people to implement it, as well as $150,000 for public communication and staff training. Rat-related complaints have more than doubled The report notes that rats in Toronto are not a public health issue, as there is no evidence of disease transmission linked to rats in Toronto, and the rodents should be treated 'as a nuisance.' 'However, they can still pose health risks in food establishments and may contribute to mental health impacts for residents dealing with infestations,' the report read. According to the city, there is no reliable method to estimate the number of rats in any city, so municipalities rely on service request or complaints about rodents to inform their pest management strategy. However, from 2015 to 2024, city data shows that the number of rodent-related complaints climbed from 1,165 to 2,523. As well, a 12-year report released earlier this year found that Toronto has seen a significant increase to its rat population, ranking third among the 16 cities studied, with warming temperatures, growing urban centres, and ongoing construction projects listed as contributing factors.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Toronto's proposed rat attack plan faces 1st hurdle
A Toronto municipal committee is set to look over a newly-proposed rat control plan on Wednesday. Last month, city manager Paul Johnson unveiled his response to the city's growing rat problem — laying out a plan that pushes disparate city departments to work together and focuses on eliminating food and shelter for the rodents, rather than on exterminating them. "Efforts to 'eliminate' rats often result in reactive, short term fixes that miss the root causes. High-quality municipal service delivery is more impactful," says the plan. which came about after councillors requested it last year amid rising complaints from residents. "We're building more and construction shakes the ground, rats are released into neighbourhoods, and we need to figure out how to get ahead of it," said Davenport Coun. Alejandra Bravo at the time. If the economic and community development committee gives the green light, Johnson's plan will next go to city council for a final decision, before possibly being implemented next year. Rats on the rise Toronto residents and business have always had to do battle with rat infestations — with some sharing unpleasant photo evidence along the way — but there are clear signs the problem has been growing in recent years. In 2019, there were 940 property standards-related rodent service requests to the city. After a brief dip during the pandemic, those numbers had surged to 1,600 by 2023. A study early this year also tracked a growing rat population in Toronto and 10 other cities around the world, with the authors linking the population boom to climate change and calling for a "dedicated response team" in the besieged municipalities. A key part of the city's new rat response plan is the creation of a team that coordinates between the many city divisions that deal with rats — from parks and construction to municipal licensing and standards. Johnson says that will come at an initial cost of $351,000, in order to hire two new people. He's also asking council to pony up $150,000 annually to pay for "public communication and staff training related to rat management." The city's plan would also involve advising both private developers and Metrolinx-led transit projects on how to stop rats from moving into neighbouring properties when they're displaced by construction. Looping Metrolinx into the city's approach is something Toronto—Danforth Coun. Paula Fletcher has been vocal about. She said she's been hearing complaints from her constituents about rats showing up in areas near the Ontario Line construction. The city's proposed plan notes that it can't add rat-related conditions to either Metrolinx applications or private building permit applications, but says proactive advising "is an effective way to prevent infestations."
CBC
5 days ago
- General
- CBC
Toronto's proposed rat attack plan faces 1st hurdle
Social Sharing A Toronto municipal committee is set to look over a newly-proposed rat control plan on Wednesday. Last month, city manager Paul Johnson unveiled his response to the city's growing rat problem — laying out a plan that pushes disparate city departments to work together and focuses on eliminating food and shelter for the rodents, rather than on exterminating them. "Efforts to 'eliminate' rats often result in reactive, short term fixes that miss the root causes. High-quality municipal service delivery is more impactful," says the plan. which came about after councillors requested it last year amid rising complaints from residents. "We're building more and construction shakes the ground, rats are released into neighbourhoods, and we need to figure out how to get ahead of it," said Davenport Coun. Alejandra Bravo at the time. If the economic and community development committee gives the green light, Johnson's plan will next go to city council for a final decision, before possibly being implemented next year. Rats on the rise Toronto residents and business have always had to do battle with rat infestations — with some sharing unpleasant photo evidence along the way — but there are clear signs the problem has been growing in recent years. In 2019, there were 940 property standards-related rodent service requests to the city. After a brief dip during the pandemic, those numbers had surged to 1,600 by 2023. A study early this year also tracked a growing rat population in Toronto and 10 other cities around the world, with the authors linking the population boom to climate change and calling for a "dedicated response team" in the besieged municipalities. A key part of the city's new rat response plan is the creation of a team that coordinates between the many city divisions that deal with rats — from parks and construction to municipal licensing and standards. Johnson says that will come at an initial cost of $351,000, in order to hire two new people. He's also asking council to pony up $150,000 annually to pay for "public communication and staff training related to rat management." The city's plan would also involve advising both private developers and Metrolinx-led transit projects on how to stop rats from moving into neighbouring properties when they're displaced by construction. Looping Metrolinx into the city's approach is something Toronto—Danforth Coun. Paula Fletcher has been vocal about. She said she's been hearing complaints from her constituents about rats showing up in areas near the Ontario Line construction.
