How to deal with rats on your property
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with an unprecedented rat infestation and are asking the city to step in and help.
This comes after dozens of rats took over Kylia White and her husband Kelly O’Neill’s property over the past couple of months.
"Thousands of dollars of property is being destroyed, like thousands," White told CTV News Ottawa’s Dave Charbonneau Monday.
Here's what you need to know about rat infestations:
Rats typically come out when they feel safe, according to Jason Constantini, service manager from Orkin Canada.
"If you're seeing them during the day, that usually means there's a larger infestation than a smaller infestation," Constantini told CTV Morning Live's Stefan Keyes Wednesday morning.
Some areas are more infested than others, said Constantini, citing multiple factors, including sanitation and construction in the area.
He notes that infestation picks up in the spring or fall compared to winter.
Constantini shared some tips to deal with the issue.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Look for evidence
Although you may have already seen rats, he suggests looking for further evidence such as droppings around the foundation and runways of the house.
Clean up
"If you do see the droppings, you may need to clean them," he said.
The more clutter you remove, the better, he said, noting that rats shelter under clutter and hidden areas.
He suggests keeping your grass short, having the bushes away from the house and most importantly, having the neighbours on board with you.
Starve them
Get rid of the feeding sources, such as putting the garbage out close to the time it’s getting picked up and always closing your garbage bins.
He notes that the bird feeder is also an issue when it comes to feeding rats, suggesting the use of specialized devices to remove the seeds.
Shut them out
This is the most important step, according to Constantini.
"This is called exclusion," he said. They can use a hole maybe the size of a quarter to get into the foundation.
While you can seal the open area leading to the foundation of your house by yourself, there are companies specialized to do this kind of work, he notes.
There are many materials that can be used to seal open areas, such as cement, he says.
Wipe them out
While there are a lot of laws and stipulations in place around the use of chemicals to wipe rats out, Constantini suggests hiring professional pest control companies.
"Each place is a very unique situation and is treated as such," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Republicans join Trump's attacks on justice system and campaign of vengeance after guilty verdict
Embracing Donald Trump's strategy of blaming the U.S. justice system after his historic guilty verdict, Republicans in Congress are fervently enlisting themselves in his campaign of vengeance and political retribution in the GOP bid to reclaim the White House.
Daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt files court petition to remove father's last name
A daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filed paperwork to legally remove "Pitt" from her name on the day she turned 18.
Ex-husband charged with murder in death of Lumby, B.C., woman
The ex-husband of Tatjana Stefanski – the woman whose disappearance and death set the small town of Lumby, B.C., on edge last month – has been charged with her murder.
U.K. ambassador to Mexico out after video allegedly shows him pointing a rifle at a colleague
The U.K.’s ambassador to Mexico has left his post after a video was posted on social media that purportedly shows him pointing an assault rifle at an embassy employee.
Hezbollah fighters shoot down an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon
The militant Hezbollah group said it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon on Saturday, after hours Israeli drone strikes killed at least one person and wounded others.
Is intermittent fasting better than counting calories? Maybe not, but you might stick with it
As weight-loss plans go, it's easy to see the allure of intermittent fasting: Eat what you want, but only during certain windows of time — often just eight hours a day.
U.S. defense secretary says war with China neither imminent nor unavoidable, stressing need for talks
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told a gathering of top security officials Saturday that war with China was neither imminent nor unavoidable, despite rapidly escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing the importance of renewed dialogue between him and his Chinese counterpart in avoiding "miscalculations and misunderstandings."
Oilers beat Stars, one win away from Stanley Cup berth
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two power-play goals as Edmonton smothered the Dallas Stars 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the NHL's Western Conference final on Friday.