Rodents

Why are Rodents an Issue?
Rats can be a problem for residents, property owners, businesses, and entire neighbourhoods. Urban environments provide excellent habitat with everything they need to survive: food, water, shelter, and safe ways for them to get around. Rodents often breed swiftly so they can quickly become an infestation. Their gnawing and burrowing can cause damage and they can contaminate food, spread disease, and reduce our quality of life.  

Deal with rats and mice as soon as possible – they cause health concerns. Please watch this video for tips and tricks to manage rodents around your homes or businesses.

What is the City Doing?
The City of Richmond has recently imposed a one year ban on the use of rodenticides on city properties and facilities. The ban, passed unanimously by City Council at its January 25, 2021 meeting, includes an evaluation of a one-year pilot project’s impact on the rodent population as well as other wildlife, many of which are negatively affected by the use of poison. City staff are implementing a field-monitoring program to assess the outcome of the transition from anticoagulants and report back to Council within one year.

Anticoagulants cause internal bleeding when ingested. Because it does not kill the rodent immediately, the dying animal can be easily taken as prey by owls and other raptors which then ingest the poison during consumption. A BC and Yukon study found 70 per cent of owls tested had some form of anticoagulant in their system. 

The ban only applies to City-owned facilities as private properties are not within the City’s jurisdiction. However, private land owners and businesses are encouraged to make the same commitments for managing rodents on their lands.

Provincial Ban
The Province of BC implemented a similar ban on the sale and use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides for 18 months, beginning July 21, 2021. Visit the Government of BC website for more information. 

Contact Information
For more information on rodents or rodent management, please contact our 24/7 hotline at: 604-276-4316