【Municipal Emergency】 Residential and Backyard Rodent Control (Mice & Rats)
Applicable Scenarios: Hearing scratching or chewing sounds inside ceilings or walls; discovering rodent droppings; or finding dense networks of rodent burrows in the backyard that severely impact sanitation and structural integrity.
Self-Help & Quick Solutions
- Seal All Entry Points: Inspect the exterior walls of your home for any gaps larger than half a centimeter (about the width of a pencil). Stuff these gaps with steel wool and seal them off with caulk (rodents cannot chew through steel wool).
- Humane Trapping (Avoid Blind Poisoning): Snap traps or humane live-traps are highly recommended. It is strongly advised not to blindly place standard rodenticides in your yard. BC has strict prohibitions on Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs), as poisoned rodents can be eaten by local owls, hawks, or pets, causing secondary poisoning.
- Trim Overhanging Tree Branches: Prune all tree branches close to the roof or windows so they are at least 2 meters away from the house. This cuts off the “aerial highway” rodents use to climb onto your roof.
Who to Contact
- City Public Health Complaints: If the rodent infestation is caused by a neighbor’s chronic accumulation of garbage, you can call the City of Vancouver at 311 to file a by-law enforcement complaint.
- Professional Pest Control: If the infestation is severely out of control, seniors living independently or individuals with mobility issues should contact a licensed local Pest Control company as early as possible. (You can look these up in our website’s “Compassionate Business Yellow Pages”.)
Can I buy and use standard rodenticides in my backyard to eliminate a rat or mouse infestation in Vancouver?
It is strongly advised NOT to blindly place standard rodenticides in your yard. British Columbia has implemented strict prohibitions on Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs). Poisoned rodents are easily preyed upon by local wildlife like owls and hawks, or domestic pets, causing fatal secondary poisoning. Humane live-traps or classic snap traps are highly recommended instead. For detailed legal guidelines, visit the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
regulations on pesticide management.
What should I do if the rodent infestation affecting my property is caused by a neighbor’s chronic accumulation of garbage?
If the rodent issue stems from a neighboring property’s poor sanitation or failure to manage waste, individual trapping will not solve the root cause. In this scenario, you should contact the City of Vancouver
by calling 311 to file a formal property use and health by-law enforcement complaint. City inspectors can legally order the property owner to clean up and mitigate the pest attractants.