The ongoing construction at Union Station is causing dozens of rats to find new homes, according to a Toronto pest control company.
While the transit hub gets a facelift, rats have been forced out of nests in subway tunnels and dark corners, Abell Pest Control's Steven Graff said in a statement released Monday.
Those who live and work in the downtown area are being advised to keep an eye out for the four-legged critters.
Rats often live outdoors during the summer, but start migrating indoors when cool weather approaches.
As the rodent colony from Union Station moves away from the demolition, existing rat populations may be pushed out of the downtown core.
"We're urging businesses and homeowners to be proactive," Graff said.
Abell advises that home and business owners plug all entry points, including damaged door frames and holes left from vents. Rats will search for openings larger than two centimetres in diameter, according to the City of Toronto. Any openings should be covered with metal sheeting, and any vets can be covered with heavy gauge wire mesh.
Garbage and composting containers should not be left outside longer than necessary, and all food should be stored in rodent-proof containers.
The city also recommends residents monitor their property for signs of rats, like capsule-shaped droppings, burrows and chewed food.
They should keep an eye out for any potential nesting areas, like cupboards and closets. Rats can also burrow into walls or under floors.
They can carry diseases including leptospirosis, Lassa fever, rat-bite fever and salmonellosis, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
