Rats in Ontario

Seeing a rat is unsettling, but it is a common property problem, and it has clear fixes. Below: how to know it is rats, why they came, and what to do next.

What do rats look like?

The Norway rat, the one most often found around Ontario homes, is much bigger than a mouse. It has a heavy body, a blunt nose, small ears and a tail shorter than its body. Colour is usually brown or grey.

If you are not sure whether you have rats or mice, see our guide on mice vs rats. Our page on mice covers the smaller pest.

How do I know it’s rats?

• Droppings. Larger and blunter than mouse droppings, often in clusters near food, bins or burrows.
• Burrows. Holes in soil beside foundations, under sheds, decks or concrete slabs.
• Gnaw marks. On wood, pipes, bins and packaging.
• Noises. Heavy scratching or thumping in walls, ceilings and attics, usually at night.
• Tracks and rub marks. Dark, greasy smudges along walls and pipes where rats run the same route daily.
• Damage outdoors. Torn garbage bags, chewed bird feeders, and gnawed fruit or vegetables.

Why do rats appear in my yard?

Rats come for food, water and cover. In yards that usually means open or damaged garbage bins, compost with food scraps, spilled bird seed, pet food left outside, fallen fruit, clutter and thick overgrowth.

Outside first: garbage, compost, bird seed

The City of Toronto’s rat guidance offers a good checklist, and it works anywhere:

• Use animal-resistant bins with tight-fitting lids.
• Clear wood piles, debris and unused equipment.
• Pick up fallen fruit and spilled seed, and keep the area under bird feeders clean.
• Don’t leave pet food outside.
• Keep grass and weeds from growing out of control.
• Seal cracks and small holes in the house, garage and shed.

How do rats get into houses?

Rats can use openings smaller than most people expect. Extension sources say a Norway rat needs only a little more than a half inch (about 13 mm). Gnawing can widen small crevices fast.

Typical routes are gaps around pipes, damaged vents, broken foundation openings, worn door seals and openings at the roofline. Fine metal mesh over vents and steel wool packed around pipes before sealing are the materials Health Canada recommends.

Are rats dangerous?

Rats are a health and property concern, not something to panic about. Health Canada says mice and rats can carry disease and damage property. They also chew wiring, insulation and pipes, and they contaminate food.

If you clean droppings, wear rubber gloves and a dust mask, dampen the area first, and never sweep or vacuum dry droppings.

Who is responsible for rats?

In Toronto, the City says residents and business owners are responsible for keeping their own property free of conditions that attract rats. For a private home, the City suggests hiring a pest control company. In an apartment or other multi-unit building, tenants should first contact the landlord, owner or property manager, and can call 311 if the issue is not addressed. Restaurants and food premises go through Toronto Public Health’s DineSafe program.

In other Ontario cities, check your municipality’s website or bylaw office. We serve Toronto, Oshawa and other Ontario cities.

Do rats come back?

They can, if what drew them is still there. Open food, water and shelter bring new rats to the same spot. That is why good rat work combines treatment with sealing and yard changes, so the problem doesn’t repeat.

What should I do now, and what should I avoid?

Do:

• Tidy the yard and secure garbage, compost and pet food.
• Seal small gaps in walls, garage and sheds.
• Keep a note of where and when you see signs. It helps an inspection.

Avoid:

• Setting loose poison. Baits are highly toxic to children and pets.
• Trying to trap or corner a rat by hand.
• Blocking holes while rats may still be inside.

How does professional treatment work?

We follow four steps, explained in our integrated pest management guide:

1. Inspect. Check the house, yard and outbuildings for activity and entry points.
2. Identify. Confirm it is rats and find where they nest and travel.
3. Treat. Control the rats and close the routes they use.
4. Follow-up. Confirm the activity has stopped.

Read more on our rodent control page.

Get a free quote

Request a free quote and quote details reach you within 30 minutes. You can also call us on the number at the top of the page.