Rodents

Throughout the city, there is construction activity, and with the changing seasons, rodents such as mice and rats are displaced and seek indoor shelter. However, there are many things that community members can do to help control rodents.

How can I tell if I have a rodent problem?

The easiest way to identify a rodent problem is by seeing their droppings. Mice droppings are about the size of rice grains. Rat droppings are about the size of black beans. Additional indicators may include:

• Burrows - digging around foundations, into walls, under sheds and fences (rats).
• Runs - dust-free path along walls and floors (rats and mice).
• Gnaw marks - on wood, concrete or other materials.
• Sightings - mice are more common in the daytime; rats are more active at night.
• Smudge marks - greasy film left by fur along walls or into burrow entrances.

Why should I be concerned about a rodent problem?

Rodents eat almost anything, breed quickly, damage buildings and can carry pathogens that may transmit disease to humans. A pair of mice can eat over four kilograms of food and leave about 36,000 droppings in a year. An adult rat can eat 20 to 40 kilograms of food per year.

Rodents can contaminate about ten times more food than they eat and damage buildings and other articles by gnawing through rubber, aluminum and other soft metals (even light steel), cinder blocks, plastic and wood. Mice need only a six millimetre space and rats a 12 millimetre space to get through an opening.

Rodents carry mites and fleas and spread diseases such as salmonella and Hantavirus.

How do I control rodents?

1. Rodent proof buildings – Seal up any holes around your home, including under garages, sheds and porches, by sealing outside openings where rodents can enter using coarse steel wool and sheet metal around pipes and electrical conduits.
2. Eliminate locations where rodents seek shelter - clearing brush, tall grass and trash from around your property will reduce rodent hiding places. All stored items should be kept 24 to 30 centimetres off the floor for easy cleaning and removing clutter can help manage pest populations.
3. Remove food and water - all water leaks should be repaired immediately and spills cleaned up. Store food items in rodent-proof storage containers. Clean up any food sources outside, such as unprotected composters, bird seed, fallen fruit from trees, and pet food and consider removing water sources such as bird baths or ponds. 
4. Control existing population - traps and rodenticides may be used to reduce or eliminate existing populations. If traps are utilized, ensure you have the correct size and keep children and pets away from the affected area. Place deceased rodents in garbage bags (double bag to contain odour) for regularly scheduled pick up. Please follow garbage collection requirements.
5. Store garbage in rodent-proof containers with tight-fitting lids and secure composters to prevent entry. Place garbage and recycling at the curb the morning of collection. To avoid being missed, place the waste at the curb no later than 7 a.m.

How can I protect myself? 

Treat all rodents as infectious as they carry mites and fleas and spread diseases like Salmonella and Hantavirus.

Dead rodents, their urine and droppings should be handled with gloves and disposed of with household garbage in tightly sealed bags. Any food or items that contacted the rodents or their droppings should be discarded. Take special care with mouse droppings and urine. A wet cleaning method is recommended, such as wet wiping or mopping with a household disinfectant. Wash your hands after handling traps, poisons, and rodents and wear gloves.

A licensed pest control operator should be contacted for heavy infestations.

Visit the Durham Region Health Department for information on rodent control, or call 905-666-6241. 

What do I do with trapped live rodents? 

Inquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Natural Resources. View our general wildlife tips on what to do when you find wildlife. If a pest control company is trapping rodents on your behalf, inquiries should be directed to the company. 

How do I report rats roaming in my neighbourhood? 

Community members are asked to contact Service Oshawa to report rats in their surrounding neighbourhood:

• If the source of the rats is known, a Property Standards By-law complaint will be created.
• If the source of the rats is not known, the information will be used to attempt to determine the source and analyze the extent of the problem in any particular neighbourhood.

Service Oshawa can be reached by phone at 905-436-3311 or by email at [email protected].