St. Catharines - Not so Ratty After All

We don't know why, but for some reason, we thought St. Catharines was one of the rattiest cities in Ontario.

Perhaps it stemmed back from an old 2016 article we read about a former GM property on Ontario Street in St. Catharines that was infested with rats ... and then later, our own experience with them outside an old townhouse we used to live in.

So needless to say, we were quite surprised when Orkin came out with their Top 25 'Rattiest' Cities in Ontario and discovered St. Catharines barely made the list. Yay for St. Catharines!

Image: Orkin

According to their website, Orkin ranked the cities by the number of rodents (rat & mice) treatments the company performed from August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021. The ranking included both residential and commercial treatments.

Source(s): Orkin

INFOGRAPHIC: Fascinating RAT Facts

With all the rat talks lately and their ongoing problems in the area, we were curious to learn more about them. Yes, we run and scream when we see a rat scampering by but there's more to these critters than meets the eye. Most of us view them as disgusting, filthy creatures that are associated with disease - while others say they make great, affectionate pets!
The truth is, rats are not only very smart and are known for their problem-solving skills but they aren't as filthy as we think either. Read on to learn more fascinating facts about rats...

"True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus.

• Rats wash themselves several times a day - about as often as most cats, if not more!

VIDEO: Nothing to see here, just a RAT HAVING A SHOWER!!!!!

UPDATE: Apparently this rat is not a rat but a Pacarana, a rare and slow-moving rodent indigenous to South America. However, in the wild, (without the soap of course), they do look like they're bathing as can be seen in the second video below.

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Nothing to see here, just a RAT HAVING A SHOWER... like a human!
The rat was captured lathering it up in a bathroom sink in Peru standing up on its hind legs and washing his armpits, neck, lips, butt...