This Ottawa woman trapped more than 100 rats in three months
Rats are becoming more of a problem in some residential neighbourhoods in Ottawa.
They seem to be suddenly showing up out of nowhere in places they haven’t been seen in years past and that’s exactly what Heron Park resident Melanie Giroux is dealing with this summer.
“Over 100 since May,” says Giroux, when asked how many she's caught.
For the past three months, Giroux has been on a mission, setting rat traps every night in her back yard, in hopes of getting rid of the rodents.
“On average, two per night,” says Giroux, “and a maximum of eight I think that I’ve caught, maybe nine one night.”
A rat infestation in her neighbourhood has residents worried and wondering where these critters could be coming from.
“This neighbourhood has never had a colony of rats living in it,” says Giroux. “This is a brand new problem.”
Melanie Giroux setting one of her rat traps with peanut butter bait. (Dave Charbonneau / CTV News Ottawa)
Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 6, the City of Ottawa’s 311 line has received 576 service requests regarding rats, compared to 645 all of last year and only 410 in 2019.
“For me, I have to wonder what’s going on. Why are we suddenly having them?” Asks Heron Park resident Julia Driedger.
Some residents think downtown restaurant closures have forced the rodents into the suburbs, desperately searching for new sources of food.
“In this neighbourhood, at least around here, we have four garbage bins,” says Giroux. “So, it’s a highway between four garbage bins. We just happen to be stuck in the middle.”
Pest control expert Todd Babin is the owner of Nature’s Way Property Services and has more than 20 years experience catching rats. He says its not just garbage they are after.
“This year, so far, I think we’ve caught over 1000 rats,” says Babin. “Almost 98 per cent of all of our calls that we’re getting, it’s either the home owner, or one of their neighbours have a bird feeder.”
Babin says food is the number one draw for the survival of the rats, so eliminating that option can help control the spread.
“Make sure you have no garbage,” says Babin. “Clean it up if you do. Put it in containers they can’t get at.”
For Giroux, she will continue to trap and eliminate as many rats as possible, but she says it seems like an never ending battle.
“We come out at night, and we can hear them fighting with each other. It’s not been fun; it has really not been fun.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.