Rat & Rodent Abatement Reminders
Noticing rats in your yard or alley? Here are some tips for avoiding rodent issues and reporting them to the city when issues do arise.
Where are all these rats coming from?
Although you may most often see rats in the alley, 95% of the time, that’s not where they come from. Usually rats are burrowing in a backyard with a food source, under a garage, or somewhere else with dirt.
So then how do I avoid them?
Fence off any gardens or produce you are growing, as well as harvest from your garden and fruit trees frequently.
Check all of your garbage cans for damage. If you have a damaged garbage can, file a 311 request for a new one here.
Pick up after your dog immediately in your yard as well as on the street. (note: dogs and cats would have to ingest half of their weight in rodenticide for it to be lethal, crews only administer 2-4 oz of rodenticide in burrows.)
Take down any bird feeders while there is a rat problem in your neighborhood.
Okay I did all that and I still have rats. Now what?
Create a Rat Baiting Request/Rat Complaint via 311. Use this service request to report a rodent or rat problem to the Department of Streets and Sanitation's (DSS) Bureau of Rodent Control.
Rodent abatement crews should come within two weeks to treat your alley and your yard. (NOTE: crews can not come into your backyard unless you are present. Call the Bureau of Rodent Control at 312.746.5230 to schedule a time that works best for you.)
Tell your neighbors to file this 311 request as well! When multiple neighbors from the same area report an issue, this lets the Bureau of Rodents know that your entire street or alley needs a systematic abatement effort.
Questions? Contact us at info@the48thward.org or 773.784.5277