Rats and Mice
Rats and Mice
The City of Worthington receives calls about nuisance animals such as rats or other rodents from time to time. Typically, rodents are attracted to areas where there are sources of food—be it through letting birdseed gather under feeders, or leaving piles of yard waste or bags of trash out for extended periods. Other triggers for the migration of rodents or other wildlife to different neighborhoods can include construction projects that displace them from underground pipes or failure by a restaurant or other food-focused business to properly dispose of trash or to maintain their dumpster area. If you notice rodents near your property, there are some basic steps that should be followed to keep them away:
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Cover Openings
- Cover openings ½ inch or larger with concrete, sheet metal, or hardware cloth.
- Screen basement windows and other windows that are within three feet of the ground with hardware cloth.
- Cover basement drains with hardware cloth or a drain cover.
- Patch holes around wires and pipes with sheet metal or concrete patching.
Seal and Snug
- Doors should fit snugly, not more than 3/8 inch from the door frame.
- Basement windows should fit tightly and have no broken panes.
- Seal up enclosed spots such as between walls, crawl spaces, under porches, and around boxed-in plumbing.
Clean Up Your Yard
- Have junk, like old cars and appliances, hauled away. Call 311 about collecting bulk items.
- Stack building materials, lumber, and firewood at least 18 inches off the ground.
- Remove leaves, branches, and other yard waste.
- Keep grass and weeds cut low (under 12 inches).
Sources in the Yard
- Clean up pet feces every day.
- Don’t leave dog/cat food or water outside.
- Clean up bird food on the ground.
- Pick up fallen tree fruit or garden vegetables.
- Clean up garbage on the ground.
Garbage Issues
- Bag your trash.
- Keep lids closed on garbage containers.
- Put garbage out the night before or early morning.
- Report damaged city trash cans or dumpsters to 311.
- Empty and rinse recyclables and keep the lid closed.
Composting Issues
- Rodent proof your bin.
- Pick bin type that prevents rats from getting inside.
- Locate far away from the house.
- Bury food deep in the pile.
- Don’t compost meats, dairy or greasy foods.
- More on composting to prevent rodents
- Contact a pest control professional for best results.
- If you try yourself, only use traps designed for rats and keep all traps and poisons away from areas where pets and children can access them. Follow all directions on the label.
- To dispose of dead rats, wear disposable gloves, use a shovel to put the rat in a garbage bag and tightly seal, and dispose of it in the trash.
- Make sure to clean up infested areas to prevent attracting more rodents by following CDC guidelines at http://bit.ly/rodentcleanup.