Pest control in Oshawa

Rats and mice in Oshawa: who to tell

If you see rats in your neighbourhood, report them to Service Oshawa. The City uses the report two ways. If the source is a known property, it opens a Property Standards By-law complaint against it. If the source is unknown, it uses the reports to find the source and see how wide the problem is.

Durham Region Health Department can answer questions about rodent control. For a heavy infestation at your own home, the City says to hire a licensed pest control operator. That is where we come in.

Our process: inspect, identify, treat, follow up. Quote details reach you in under 30 minutes. See our pages on rats and mice, or go straight to rodent control.

What pests are common in Oshawa

Rodents in fall. Creek corridors, such as along Oshawa Creek, and the harbour edge give rodents shelter and food. When Lake Ontario weather turns cold, they head for buildings.

Bed bugs. Rentals near Ontario Tech and Durham College see regular turnover, and bed bugs travel with it. See bed bug treatment.

Cockroaches. They live in warm, shared buildings and food premises.

Homes in Oshawa and what each tends to see

• Mid-century neighbourhoods near downtown. Older foundations and attached garages give mice and rats gaps to use.
• Newer subdivisions in the north, such as Windfields. Fresh landscaping and builder gaps can bring ants and mice.
• Lakefront homes in Lakeview. Wind and damp weather push pests toward shelter, and wasps like sheltered eaves.
• Student rentals. Bed bugs and kitchen pests follow move-in and move-out dates.

Do foggers work on bed bugs?

No. Durham Region says home sprays and foggers do not work on bed bugs. They can scatter bugs into new rooms and make the problem harder to find. Talk to your landlord or a pest professional instead.

Renting in Oshawa: what the by-law says

Oshawa’s Property Standards By-law 1-2002 says all properties shall be kept free of pest infestation, including rodents, vermin and insects, and free of conditions that may promote an infestation. That puts duties on owners, which includes landlords.

If you rent, tell your landlord in writing. Landlords in Ontario must keep rental units in good repair under the Residential Tenancies Act.

Businesses in Oshawa

Restaurants, shops and warehouses need a regular plan. See commercial pest control.

Pests through the Oshawa year

• October to March: Rodents move indoors.
• April to June: Ants.
• July to September: Wasps.

Keeping rats out of an Oshawa home

Rats are bigger and bolder than mice, and they need a larger gap, but they can still squeeze through less than you expect. The City’s own advice is to seal gaps around the home, clear brush and trash, store food and garbage in rodent-proof containers, fix water leaks and remove outdoor food sources such as unprotected compost, bird seed and fallen fruit.

A few extra tips for homes near creeks and the lakefront:

• Keep garbage bins closed and use lids that latch
• Pick up fallen fruit and nuts
• Do not leave pet food outside overnight
• Trim dense ground cover next to the foundation

If you see droppings, wear gloves and a mask, dampen them first and avoid sweeping them dry. For anything more than a small amount, call for help. Our rodent control work covers the entry points as well as the animals.

Nearby cities

We also serve Scarborough, Markham and Toronto, as well as Whitby and Ajax.

Get a free quote

Tell us what you are seeing and where. We will send quote details in under 30 minutes. Request a free quote or call us.