Pest infestations tend to spike this time of year

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – You want to enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant with your family or friends, but there is definitely a group you don’t want to be sharing your meal with: rodents.

In the summer, there is a lot of food outdoors — like in peoples’ gardens — that pests are drawn to and love to gobble up.

It is so bad, it is the most common reason a restaurant is shut down in the Lower Mainland.

Richard Taki, regional director of health protection with Vancouver Coastal Health, says the problems have to do with mice, rats, and cockroaches. But he says they are usually scurrying around after hours.

“After a facility is closed, you might see mice running around or you might see signs of cockroaches along the window sills. Most of the activity will take place in the kitchen in the storage areas,” he tells us.

“What you will find are just evidence of them, like the droppings — considerable droppings in and around food products, food ingredients.”

Taki says if you suspect a restaurant has a pest problem, call 604-675-3800 to report it.

Do you have any horror stories from a restaurant visit? Email them to dianne.bankay@news1130.rogers.com

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