Pest Control Community

Controlling neighborhood rodent populations

Bird feeders. Dog poop. Compost piles. Oh my! These seemingly innocuous backyard mainstays may not spell trouble to you, but to a seasoned pest control professional, they add up to just one thing: Rats!

All too often, I’ll visit a client in DC, Maryland or Virginia who is shocked (shocked!) to find rats grazing in the back yard, cantering down the side walkway, or tunneling down under the foundation. But one quick look around their yard reveals the cause: An ever-abundant food supply.

The Cardinal, Yellow Finch and Oriole aren’t the only ones loathe to turn down a free meal in the Metro DC area. Your friendly neighborhood rat has been known to enjoy a fine spread of birdseed and garden veggies from time to time. Let’s consider a few of the variables, but keep in mind that collectively we CAN make a difference.

For two years I lived in Takoma Park, MD. For two years I grew a garden, planted flowers and fed the birds. I felt great about my eco-friendly choices. And I recycle! (Perhaps a bit too much…) Little did I know how greatly I was creating a “conducive condition” on my own turf. Overnight, and unbeknownst to me, I drew uninvited guests to the table: Rattus norvegicus (more commonly known as your typical sewer rat).

Here’s where I went wrong:

1. Feeding birds or other wildlife: Seed is an attractant for rodents. I don’t care how squirrel-proof you think your feeders are. Truth is, it’s next to impossible to keep some of the seed from falling to the ground. I fed my rats a buffet day in and day out. Do you?
2. Doggy Doo-Doo: Those signs your neighbor’s put out in their yards really do mean more than just “NO!!!”. My friendly rats LOVE the Doo that’s Done in your yard (and in mine). If there was ever a reason to get your significant other, son, or daughter to scoop the poop, this is it.
3. Composting: Can you say “buffet?” This is one of the biggest finger-waggers of all. Need I say more?
4. Foliage: Don’t cheat or skimp on lawn maintenance. Dense shrubbery, ornamental grasses, and ground coverings are all an easy target for your rats to burrow beneath. Burrow=love nest=lots of babies!

Small changes in the above areas WILL make a positive impact on your neighborhood rodent companions. Shout out to your area listserve, educate, and take action!