Have you noticed more rats running around your neighbourhood? It’s easy to blame garbage or construction, but there’s a bigger reason: climate change. Global warming and rats are now closely linked. Rising temperatures are creating the perfect conditions for rats to grow in numbers and thrive.

Scientists have found that climate change rat population growth is happening in cities across Canada and the world. Warmer weather gives rats more chances to breed, find food, and survive winters that used to keep their numbers down. This connection between rat behaviour and global warming means homeowners in places like Oakville are facing bigger problems with rats than ever before.

Understanding how global warming affects rat populations shows why professional wildlife control is so important. Companies like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Oakville are seeing more calls for help as warming temperatures make rodent infestations worse.

Why Warmer Weather Means More Rats

Winter used to act like nature’s pest control. Cold weather killed off many rats each year, keeping their numbers manageable. But global warming and rats have changed this balance. Here’s how:

Longer Breeding Seasons

Rats usually slow down their breeding in the winter. But with milder winters, climate change rat population growth happens because these rodents can breed all year. Females can have up to 12 litters a year when the weather stays warm. This means:

• More breeding cycles each year
• Higher survival rates for baby rats
• Breeding starts earlier in spring
• Breeding continues later into fall

More Time to Find Food

In cold weather, rats spend more energy staying warm and less time looking for food. Warmer temperatures let rats spend more time foraging, which makes them healthier and stronger. This rat behaviour and global warming pattern leads to bigger, tougher populations.

Fewer Are Dying in Winter

Harsh winters used to kill off weaker rats that couldn’t find food or shelter. But with climate change, fewer rats are dying in winter. This means more survive to breed in the spring.

Climate Disasters Push Rats Closer to Homes

Global warming doesn’t just make temperatures rise slowly. It also causes extreme weather events that force these rodents to move closer to people.

• Flooding Forces Rats to Higher Ground: Heavy rains and floods overwhelm sewers, pushing these rodents out of their underground homes. They end up in basements, attics, and walls of nearby buildings. This has happened in many Canadian cities as climate change causes more flooding.
• Storms Destroy Natural Habitats: Severe weather damages the outdoor spaces where rats live. Fallen trees, ruined gardens, and disrupted food sources push them to find new homes—often inside houses.
• Extreme Temperatures Make Rats Seek Shelter: Heat waves and sudden cold snaps send rats looking for stable indoor environments. Your home becomes the perfect place for them to escape extreme weather.

Urban Heat Islands Make Things Worse

Cities are naturally warmer than rural areas because of concrete, asphalt, and fewer trees. This is called the “urban heat island effect.” As global warming continues, this effect gets worse, creating even better conditions for rats.

Urban rats enjoy:

• Warm temperatures year-round
• Plenty of food waste from humans
• Lots of shelter in buildings and infrastructure
• Fewer natural predators
• Multiple food sources close together

How Different Parts of Canada Are Affected

Different parts of Canada are experiencing unique challenges as global warming and rats intersect with local conditions. Here’s a breakdown.

• Ontario and Quebec: These provinces are seeing some of the most significant increases in rat complaints. Warmer winters in cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal allow these rodent populations to maintain higher numbers throughout the year. The climate change rat population effect is particularly noticeable in these urban centres.
• Prairie Provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are experiencing shifting precipitation patterns and warmer temperatures. These changes affect both rural and urban rat populations, with some areas seeing rats establish themselves in regions where they previously couldn’t survive winter conditions.
• Coastal Regions: British Columbia’s mild climate has always supported rat populations, but global warming is expanding their range and activity periods. The province’s wet winters, now often warmer due to climate change, provide ideal conditions for year-round rodent activity.

Health and Property Risks Are Growing

As rat behaviour and global warming lead to more rats, the risks to your health and home increase too.

• Diseases: They carry diseases that can spread more easily in warmer weather because the heat helps bacteria and viruses survive longer. This means illnesses like leptospirosis and salmonella, which they can spread, become a bigger threat to people and pets. Larger rat populations increase the chances of these diseases spreading, especially in areas where rats come into contact with food or water sources. The more rats there are, the harder it becomes to keep them away from places where they can spread harmful germs.
• Property Damage: Rats chew through wires, insulation, and wood because their teeth never stop growing, and they need to gnaw to keep them sharp. This behaviour can lead to serious problems like electrical fires, damaged walls, and weakened structures in your home. Bigger rat populations mean more of them competing for space, which leads to even more chewing and destruction. Over time, this can result in costly repairs and make your home less safe and comfortable.
• Food Contamination: These rodents can contaminate food with their droppings and urine, which can carry harmful bacteria and make the food unsafe to eat. They often sneak into pantries, cupboards, and storage areas, leaving behind messes that are hard to clean. Even one rat can ruin a lot of food, but a larger infestation can make it nearly impossible to keep your food supply safe. This not only wastes money but also puts your family’s health at risk.

Why You Need Professional Help

The link between global warming and these rodents creates problems that need expert solutions. Climate change rat population dynamics are complicated, and DIY methods often fail because they don’t address the root causes.

Professional wildlife control companies, like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, understand how climate change affects rat behaviour. They can figure out what’s causing the infestation and create a plan that works with the environment, not against it.

What Science Tells Us About the Future

Research shows that rat behaviour and global warming will keep causing problems for homeowners. Studies from cities around the world prove that areas with the biggest temperature increases also have the largest rat population growth.

Scientists predict this trend will continue as global temperatures rise. Cities need to prepare for more rodent problems, and homeowners should know that professional wildlife control is more important than ever.

Waiting until you see rats isn’t the best approach. Proactive strategies, like blocking entry points and removing attractants, work better in the long run.

How Skedaddle Can Help

Global warming and rats are a growing problem. Climate change rat population growth means you need reliable, professional help to protect your home and family.

At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Oakville, we know how rat behaviour and global warming create unique challenges. Our humane removal methods use one-way doors that let these rodents leave your home but stop them from coming back. This solves the problem now and prevents it from happening again.

We also focus on long-term solutions by addressing what attracts rats to your property in the first place. Our team understands that climate change has made rat problems more complicated, and we’re here to help.

Don’t let these rodents take over your home. Request an estimate from Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Oakville today. We’ll provide effective, humane solutions to keep your home safe and rodent-free.