Urban rats have become increasingly successful at surviving and reproducing throughout our region causing concern for both area residents and businesses. Management of pest populations remains a responsibility of property owners.
Before implementing a control method, the best action to take is to determine what is attracting the rats and either remove or secure that source. Despite best efforts, property owners may find it necessary to reduce the population on your property.
Switching to Safe, Humane, and Wildlife-Friendly Pest Control Methods
Highlanders should adopt humane methods for controlling the rodent population that are safe for wildlife, children, and pets. Spring traps are the most humane and safe option, but they should be placed in a secure box or inside a wall to prevent accidental harm to wildlife, pets, and humans. Glue traps, poisons, and other home remedies do not meet humane standards for pest control. Rat poison causes internal bleeding, making rats extremely thirsty. When they seek water in the open, they can be consumed by predators, negatively impacting wildlife.
Reducing the use of rodenticides (rat poison) helps protect local wildlife that might inadvertently consume a poisoned rat. Although many products claim they do not contain enough poison to affect non-target wildlife, research shows that poison can accumulate in predators' bodies, leading to accidental deaths of wildlife such as owls, hawks, small birds, earthworms, coyotes, and even cougars. Accidental poisoning of wildlife can cause rat populations to grow because the number of local predators decreases, which would normally help manage their population size naturally.
Rodenticides also pose additional risks of accidental poisoning for pets and children.
For more information on safe, humane and wild-life friendly methods of rodent control, please visit:
- Getting Rid of Rodents (rats and mice) - HealthLinkBC
- Humane Rodent Control - BC SPCA
- Managing rat and mouse pests - Province of British Columbia
Regulation of Rodenticides
At a meeting held February 16, 2021, Council supported a request to write to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy to ask that a province-wide ban on rodenticide use be introduced.