Referring to the Rat Pack no longer conjures fond thoughts of Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra. 

Now, it's a source of frustration for residents. There is a common theory that we are seeing more and more rats relocating from their natural habitat into populated spaces because light rail construction has displaced them. 

While we cannot know this for certain, we do know that a large portion of the rat population have made their way into our yards, gardens and homes. These are not domesticated rats that are bred to keep as pets, but wild creatures that can damage not only yards and gardens, but chew on wiring, insulation and other safety features. 

The best deterrent is to take preventative measures and avoid providing incentives for an uninvited visit, including placement of bird feeders where seeds can fall onto the ground. ​

Additional Resources can be found at the links below:

https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/rat-control.aspx

https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/resources/Documents/rat_factsheet_en.pdf

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/rats-mice.html
​