Do your part to help reduce the rat population. Follow these tips all year – even in winter – to help reduce the rat population.

Eliminate any food supply for rats

• Keep premises clean. Seal garbage in tightly covered containers. Keep containers at least 18 inches off of the ground. Do not use bags or boxes for storage of garbage.
  
  
• Remove animal feces from your yard every day.
  
  
• Don’t leave uneaten pet food outside. Do not put bird food on the ground, and pick up any seeds that fall from bird feeders.
  
  
• Pick up fruit that falls from your fruit trees daily, and pick ripe vegetables immediately.

Avoid creating places where rats can nest

• Keep all materials stored in garage, or outside (such as firewood), at least 18 inches off of the ground.
  
  
• Seal cracks or breaks in foundations and repair holes around pipes, screen doors, windows, vents and other openings into the home. Outside steps should be made of concrete/masonry. Keep the space beneath wooden steps clean.

Call the City for help at 943-2099

• Don’t set out rat poison or rodenticide. (Rats can become immune to store-brand pesticides, and poison is dangerous to children and pets.)
  
  
• Call the Building & Safety Department Vector Control at 943-2099. (All calls kept anonymous.)
  
  
• Technicians will inspect the caller’s property, as well as adjoining properties, for free. If needed, they can deploy a special commercial rodenticide or traps, and provide rodent control information.

  Provided by the City of Dearborn