Getting rid of rats

Good sanitation practices are the best way to control rat populations where people live. Rats are a source of disease. Rats cause property damage and negatively impact local communities. To get rid of rats you need to eliminate their sources for food, water, and shelter. 

If you think you have a rat problem, please call 311 or submit an online service request for DPW’s Rat Rubout program to inspect and potentially bait the area. 

Residents must complete and submit a right of entry form before our workers can enter private property. 

Signs of a rat problem

• Burrows (holes) near sidewalks, bushes and plants, along your house foundation and in the basement. 
• Chewing marks around doors, windows, plumbing, electrical outlets, and doorways.
• Chewed packaged food items or containers.
• Dark colored fresh rat droppings in hidden areas along walls.
• Runways where rats go back and forth leaving dark, greasy track marks along baseboards and worn down in paths in the grass.
• Musty odors coming from hidden areas in your home. 
• You see a rat! Keep in mind that you might not see rats until you have a severe rat problem.

What you can do to prevent rats

• Use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid. This is the law for a reason! DPW provides one trash can with a tight-fitting lid to each single-family household in the City. Please visit the Solid Waste Services page for more information.
• Do not place bagged trash out for collection. Rats can easily chew through the bags. 
• Remove leftover pet food and waste every day from your yard. Animal waste contains undigested pet food that rats eat.
• Remove old furniture, vehicles, and appliances from your outdoor property. These objects give rats a home. Visit removing bulk trash for more information.
• Mow tall grass and weeds. Keeping grass short eliminates hiding places for rats.
• Don't let rats inside! Seal all holes and cracks in foundations, walls, floors, and around windows.
• Download: Rat Prevention Tips

Getting help for a rat problem

If you think you have a rat problem, please call 311 or visit 311 online. Once you submit a service request, and complete a right of entry form, a DPW pest control worker will inspect your property and look for an active rat burrow.

Rat baiting procedure

• Pest control workers can only apply the poisonous bait if a burrow is present because the chemicals are placed deep inside the burrow.
• The pest control worker will place yellow flags in each burrow that was treated and will leave a hang card to let you know that it was treated.
• Pets should not be able to access the poisonous chemicals unless they dig deep into the burrows. If your cat or dog does eat the poison, please seek medical attention with your veterinarian or poison control. While not fatal for animals larger than rats, the chemicals could make your pet ill if consumed. 

Questions or concerns?

We're here to help. Please call 311 or visit 311 online to connect with us.