Rodents
Rodent Prevention and Control
Resources and Webinars
Rodent Prevention and Control
Rodents can spread diseases such as Salmonellosis, Hantavirus and Typhoid fever. Cities can provide excellent habitats for rats and mice. They eat almost anything and breed quickly. These diseases can be spread to humans directly, through handling of rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, or through rodent bites.
How do I know if I have an infestation?
Rodents tend to hide during the day. Seeing droppings is the easiest way to detect them. Rat droppings are approximately 1 cm (1/2 in) in length, while mouse droppings are approximately 0.4 cm (1/4 in) in length. Other signs include chewing marks on wood work or hearing noises in the walls, through ticks, mites or fleas that have fed on an infected rodent.
What residents and business can do to ensure rodent and pest control on private property:
- Store garbage in rodent-proof containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Reduce clutter to prevent hiding spots (wood piles, old tires, etc.).
- Eliminate sources of food (fallen fruit, pet food left outdoors, grass seed, etc.).
- Secure composters to prevent rodents from entering.
- Keep areas around bird feeders and bird baths clean.
- Cut tall grass around the house
- Residents should seek private pest control services in case of rat infestation.
Tips on dealing with rodents:
Set rodent traps against walls as rodents travel alongside walls and hard vertical surfaces.
Use extreme caution when using rodent baits as the poison can be dangerous for children and animals. Contact a licensed pest control company for help to deal with large infestations.
Resources:
Rats! What to do with your unwelcome guests – May 18, 2023 Webinar Recording
FACTS about Rodent Control (PPH, December 2020)