Our Approach to Rat Control

What are the risks of rats?

Similar to mice, rats can cause

  1. Disease and illness such as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS),Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) by exposure to their droppings and urine.

  2. All rodents gnaw to maintain their teeth. Rats are even more likely to cause property damage than mice because of their larger teeth are more capable of chewing, and are capable of chewing through wires, chewing through pressure treated wood or even chewing through aluminum.

What unique issues do rats present?

  1. Rats are more intelligent than mice, and are more likely to be bait averse. This may require cutting down on more appealing food sources (such as bird feeders), or using a more palatable soft bait for outdoor control of rats.

  2. Because rats bodies have significantly more mass than mice, if a rat dies inside the home, it is more likely to smell stronger, and for longer. To overcome this issue, rats should be captured in traps inside the home, instead of baiting.

What type of rats are present in ontario? Where do they live?

The most common type of rat in Ontario is the Norway rat. These rats live in burrows under the ground, and most often live

  1. Beneath sheds

  2. Under low lying decks

  3. Under barns and chicken coops

  4. In burrows around the foundation of homes/businesses

What does a rat control program look like?

  1. Bait the exterior of the building, with rodent stations containing a soft bait.

  2. Reduce conducive factors (remove bird feeders, reduce fresh water sources, screen off low lying structures with galvanized steel screen or gravel).

  3. If rats have made entry into home or business, bait and set snap traps in building, and regularly follow-up and reset traps

  4. Once rats have been eradicated from building, block off any entry points to prevent re-entry into the building. Or alternatively a one way door can be installed to allow rats to leave the building, but not re-enter.