Rats and mice

Managing problems with rats and mice

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  Identifying rats and mice

  Rats and mice are typically more active at night, so they can be hard to see. However, there are other signs of their presence. Some things to be aware of:

  • Burrows
  • Nests
  • Droppings and urine stains
  • Runs and tracks
  • Rub marks and chew marks
  • Noises

  What kind of rats or mice do you have?

  Common rodents found in the Vancouver area are the Norway (brown) rat, the Roof (black) rat, and the house mouse. Knowing what is causing the problem will make it easier for you to come up with a good plan.

  Particulars	Norway Rat	Roof Rat	House Mouse
  Colour	Brownish red	Dark grey/black	Greyish brown/black
  Weight	10 – 17 oz.	8 oz.	¾ oz.
  Length (incl. tail)	12 – 18 inches	13 – 17 inches	6 – 7 inches
  Physical Features	Broad, blunt nose Small eyes and ears Thick, heavy body Coarse fur Hairless tail shorter than the body	Narrow, pointed nose Large eyes and ears Smaller and sleeker than Norway Rat Dark coloured tail longer than the body	Large ears Small, slender body Fine fur Nearly hairless tail as long as the body
  No. of Litters	Avg. 4 – 7 per year	Avg. 4 – 6 per year	Avg. 8 per year
  No. of Young	6 – 12 per litter	6 – 8 per litter	5 – 7 per litter
  Diet	Meats, fish, grains, almost anything	Fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains	Grains, cereals, meats, fish, etc.
  Nests	Burrows or crawlspaces 100-150 ft. from food and water	Trees, ceilings, or attics 100-150 ft. from food and water	Corners 10-30 ft. from food and water

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  What you can do

  To limit or control rats and mice effectively, you must take away everything that they need for survival. This includes food, water, shelter, and ways to get around. Some of the main ways you and your neighbours can limit rodents are:

  Take away the places they like to hide, sleep, and nest

  • Remove clutter and rubbish from your yard, garage or carport, and basement.
  • Move bushes, shrubs, and mulch away from the building's foundation.
  • Store firewood and piled lumber away from walls and about 1 foot off the ground.
  • Keep the grass trimmed, and do not pile grass clippings under shrubs or trees.
  • Cut back overgrown or densely planted bushes and trees.

  Keep them outdoors

  Rats and mice can chew their way into buildings, or can squeeze through very small cracks or holes. In order to keep them out, you can:

  • Seal all holes and cracks in the foundation, walls, floors and roof.
  • Install sheet metal kick plates on the exterior of doors.
  • Install metal flashing between foundations and the ground.

  Take away their food and water

  • Practice proper composting techniques.
  • Remove any fallen fruits or nuts from your yard.
  • Clean up any leftover food when your pet is finished eating.
  • Do not place food outside for stray animals.
  • Remove spilled bird seed from beneath bird feeders.
  • Repair leaky pipes or taps that might provide water.
  • Use proper garbage cans with tight fitting lids to store garbage.

  Take away traces of other rats or mice in the area

  • Wash away urine stains, rub marks, and tracks with a mild bleach solution.
  • Remove droppings and wash down the area.
  • Put dead rodents in plastic bags and put them in the garbage.

  Control them with traps

  Rodents can be controlled by snap traps.

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  Who to contact for help

  We will deal with rat or mouse problems in certain areas.

  If the rat or mouse is...	Contact
  In your home	Tenants: contact your landlord first. If they don’t help, report it online. Landlords: contact a pest control company
  On City property	Report it online.
  In a City park	Report it online or speak to a Park Board employee on site.
  In or near restaurants, grocery stores, or businesses that handle food	Phone Vancouver Coastal Health at 604-736-2033 or submit a report online External website, opens in new tab

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  Hiring a pest management company

  • Ask people to recommend a company.
  • Request references from the company.
  • Review BCSPCA's tips on finding a humane pest control company External website, opens in new tab