This week staff issued the following memo providing an update on the collective efforts undertaken by various City departments and our continuing commitment to enhance rat management strategies.
Background
Effective rat management is a shared responsibility requiring the participation of the City, businesses, and residents alike. Everyone plays a crucial role in identifying the signs of rat presence, implementing preventative measures to protect property, and implementing effective mitigation and removal strategies.
Bringing together City departments has streamlined our approach and improved communication regarding rat mitigation efforts across the city.
Update on City Actions
In June 2023, the City of Ottawa re-established the Rat Mitigation Working Group (RMWG), including cross-departmental representation from Emergency and Protective Services, Infrastructure and Water Services, Ottawa Public Health, Planning Development and Building Services, Community and Social Services, Public Works, Transit Services, Strategic Initiatives and Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services, Finance and Corporate Services. Collectively this group has continued to develop and maintain a comprehensive approach to addressing rodent concerns.
Last year, the City of Ottawa responded to 747 service requests related to rats through 3-1-1 and conducted subsequent property inspections. Staff collaborated closely with business owners, residents, and industry partners to identify factors attracting rats, provided education on rat management, and ensured compliance with City by-laws and property standards.
A key aspect of effective rat control in Ottawa is prioritizing educational efforts and addressing the environmental factors that contribute to rat infestations. When a service request is sent to By-law and Regulatory Services, officers attend the area and proactively provide education to residents of the address. In addition, the officers proactively look in the surrounding areas to provide further education and engage nearby property owners to address and prevent rat infestations.
Beyond processing service requests and educational initiatives, the City has been proactive to enhance our collective rat management response. We are committed to continuing these efforts in the coming year, including:
• The inspection of food premises: Food premises, such as restaurants, grocery stores, and warehouses, are inspected as defined the by Ministry of Health. Public Health Inspectors conduct inspections, both on a routine and complaint
basis, to ensure compliance with the applicable Ministry regulations. Infractions
noted during these inspections, such as rodent infestations, are addressed.
• Introduction of the Rental Housing Property Management By-law: One component of this By-law, which came into force August 31st 2020, is the requirement of landlords to have an integrated pest management plan. The By[1]law specifies that the landlord must develop a pest management plan that includes proactive inspections, preventive maintenance and education provided to tenants. Since the introduction of the By-law, Property Standards and Zoning Officers in By-law and Regulatory Services are ensuring compliance as service requests are received for any Property Standards or Property Maintenance calls.
• City Facility Maintenance: Facilities continue to work with qualified contractors to conduct integrated pest management control within City facilities, while following proper waste management regulations and guidelines regarding securing waste.
• City Park Maintenance: Ottawa is a park-rich city with 12 major parks and over 1000 smaller parks or park-like sites. Public Works staff continue to monitor parks for signs of rats and conduct pest management control activities when needed. In the 2024 Budget, Council approved an expansion of the Waste Diversion in Parks pilot that will see green and blue bins in one additional park per ward. This expansion will help divert waste from the landfill and has the side benefit of the bins being more resilient to pests.
• Enhancements to Waste Management through the Solid Waste Master Plan:
In 2024, the final Solid Waste Master Plan will be tabled for Council consideration. That plan includes a wide range of waste diversion initiatives that aim to keep materials like organic waste out of the garbage stream, potentially reducing pests attracted to food waste in that waste stream. Implementation of the three-item limit for garbage, which was approved by Council in 2023 and will be implemented in September 2024, will also support more usage of the green bin. Residents are encouraged to make use of weekly organic waste collection to reduce food sources for rats.
• Construction best practices: The City of Ottawa encourages its contractors working on City projects to maintain construction sites and keep environments free from food and shelters that attract rats. A pilot project to conduct pre[1]construction baiting is also being undertaken this year to collect additional data and further understand the merits and challenges associated with baiting prior to construction. The City is not responsible for all construction and cannot deny construction permits based solely on rat baiting requirements due to limitations set by the Ontario Building Code Act and Planning Act.
• Sewer Baiting programs: Licensed contractors will undertake sewer baiting when rat activity is detected in relation to the sewer system. This action is restricted to City-owned sanitary sewers and must comply with Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) regulations, ensuring bait placement is selective to safeguard our ecosystem.
• Ottawa Community Housing: Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) is a key partner in the city’s rat management efforts, contributing significantly to the Rat Mitigation Working Group’s initiatives. With around 15,000 homes across diverse Ottawa communities, OCH serves a wide array of residents from various cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds. OCH’s has employed proactive pest management measures to ensure their properties and communities are safe and free from rats.
• Community engagement and data enhancement: The RMWG actively engages with the community, exploring best practices through discussions with partners, municipalities, participating in relevant training, and performing a review of rat management strategies across North American municipalities. This approach aims to identify and implement effective actions and initiatives tailored to Ottawa’s unique context. The City is also exploring ways to collect more data on high-activity zones for rats including new platform online reporting tool for rat sightings.
Continuous Improvement
The re-establishment of the RMWG underscores our commitment in addressing rat[1]related issues. This working group supports the sharing of best practices, enhances our understanding of rat management, collaborates when rat issues cross several departments and identifies opportunities for further action. As we move forward, we remain committed to refining our strategies, enhanced by data-driven insights and
community engagement.
It Takes Everyone
Effective rat management necessitates a collective approach. We encourage residents and businesses to familiarize themselves with prevention and mitigation strategies available on the City’s Rat Webpage and Ottawa Public Health Rat Control. Rat sightings anywhere in the City can be reported to 3-1-1. Together, we can make significant strides in controlling rat populations and safeguarding our community’s health
and well-being.
Your ongoing support and feedback are invaluable as we continue to navigate this complex issue. The City of Ottawa will continuously improve and find solutions to address rat populations in the City.
