July 2025
It started during the pandemic. As we moved indoors and mismanaged our waste, mice came out to play and have stuck around in greater numbers. They find our buildings cozy and have a good supply of food. You may hear them scratching within the walls seeking warmth and security, particularly in areas with heavy development or redevelopment.
Mice are a big problem in Toronto. Wherever digging is occurring we disturb their home and force them to relocate. Without a greater focus on pest control measures, they and other pests remain where they are unwanted. During the summer this means inside garbage, recycling, underground parking areas and gardens. When the weather cools, they move further indoors toward units.
Poor waste management creates conditions that attract mice, flies, spiders, rats, cockroaches, wasps and bees. Much of the waste generated by high-rise communities is not properly bagged or stored prior to collection.
Mice breed quickly. A single female can produce more than 150 babies in a year. Even a few mice can become an infestation if not controlled. They can make their way throughout a building along hallways, inside drop ceilings, and along plumbing pipes and electrical conduits.
Rats are clean animals that live in filthy areas. Spiders, which can be beneficial to control flying insects, prefer dark and dry places which are warmer. Common cockroaches are another concern.
Each type of pest requires a different approach to control and eradication.
When condo residents are personally responsible for dealing with pest control matters, they may not be as quick to address a problem. They may choose less-effective remedies in an effort to save money. Delays and ineffective pest control allow pest problems to grow. Eradication is more difficult and costly. Residents experience more and longer periods of infestation.
Pest control impacts an entire building when not properly handled. A pest infestation in one suite can migrate to neighbouring suites and soon becomes a building-wide concern. Treatment processes can be hampered when residents don’t comply with requests to enter.
To avoid a worsening problem many communities view pest control as a condo corporation responsibility. Residents are expected to report pest control concerns for investigation. The corporation will take measures it deems appropriate to control or eliminate the problem. The corporation can enter units to address pest control with prior notice given.
Effective pest control and waste management systems minimize risk of infestation and disease by deterring and eliminating vermin.
