Urban areas provide excellent habitats for rats to survive. Rats are usually active at night and generally avoid contact with people. They prefer damp environments and often burrow and nest underground near building foundations, in garbage and in wood piles. Rats are carriers of disease, and health concerns can arise when they enter living spaces. In Ontario, it is most likely that a person would become ill from an infected rat as a result of ingesting food or water that has been contaminated by rat urine or droppings.
This web page was developed using content from Health Canada’s Rats and Mice webpage (external link).
Look for the following signs of a rat infestation. Rats can fit through a hole the size of a quarter. Rat proof your home by eliminating potential entry points:
Rats can fit through a hole the size of a quarter. Rat proof your home by eliminating potential entry points:
You may choose to hire a licensed pest control company due to the challenging nature of rat eradication. A number of physical and chemical control options are available to homeowners.
The safest and most effective method for controlling rat populations is trapping, however a number of chemical products exist as well.
Note: Ultrasonic devices create sound waves that rats dislike. Use these devices in addition to other methods as rats can adapt to them.
Always use caution and practice safe cleanup procedures: