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Dear Neighbor,
With the recent mild temperatures, our community has seen an increase in rat activity, and we need your help to address it. Small changes at home and around your property can significantly reduce rat populations in our neighborhood.
Please start by removing food and water sources that attract rats. Keep all household garbage in sturdy cans with tight-fitting lids, and avoid overfilling them. Store food, pet food, and bird seed in sealed containers rather than in bags or boxes that rats can chew through. Do not leave pet food outside overnight, and clean up any spilled bird seed. Fix leaking outdoor faucets or hoses, and regularly remove fallen fruit, nuts, and pet waste from your yard.
While the City will be implementing pest control measures, including installing bait stations where rats have been observed, key actions you can take include the following:
- Keep garbage in sturdy cans with tight-fitting lids.
- Store food, pet food, and bird seed in sealed containers.
- Do not leave pet food outside overnight; clean up spilled bird seed.
- Fix leaking outdoor faucets or hoses.
- Remove fallen fruit, nuts, and pet waste regularly.
- Remove clutter in yards, garages, and alleys.
- Keep firewood, lumber, and stored items raised off the ground.
- Trim bushes and shrubs away from your building’s foundation.
- Seal gaps and holes around doors, windows, foundations, and utility lines.
- Use steel wool, caulk, hardware cloth, or cement to block openings.
- Use snap traps along walls and in dark corners if you see signs of rats.
- Wear gloves and follow package directions when handling traps.
By following these steps, each household can help protect our block and our city from rat problems.
Your cooperation is essential to keeping our community clean and safe. If you observe rat burrows on private property, please contact the Community and Economic Development Department at 847.391.5380. For rat burrows located on City-owned rights-of-way, such as parkways or public facilities, please call Public Works at 847.391.5464.
Sincerely,
Mark Walsten
Sixth Ward Alderman, City of Des Plaines
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