Key facts
- Agencies involved
- City of Pembroke and Renfrew County and District Health Unit
- Primary advice
- Store garbage in rodent-resistant containers, avoid leaving pet food or birdseed outdoors
- Property maintenance
- Cut grass, control weeds, clear dense vegetation, remove debris and clutter
- Building access
- Seal openings around foundations, pipes, utility entrances and other gaps
- Legal framework
- Property Standards and Nuisance By-laws may apply
- If problems persist
- Contact a licensed pest management professional
Background
The City of Pembroke and the Renfrew County and District Health Unit are asking residents and property owners to take steps to prevent rodent activity around homes and businesses.
Rodents can be found in any community, particularly during warmer months when food sources become more readily available.
Officials say good property maintenance and proper waste management are among the most effective ways to discourage rodents and help protect public health.
Current situation
Residents and businesses are encouraged to store garbage in secure, rodent-resistant containers with tight-fitting lids and avoid leaving pet food or birdseed outdoors for extended periods.
Keeping yards and outdoor spaces free of garbage, food scraps, fallen fruit and other materials that can attract rodents can also help.
Property owners are also encouraged to regularly cut grass, control weeds and clear dense vegetation that can provide shelter for rodents.
Impacts
Other preventative measures include using rodent-resistant compost bins and maintaining them properly, removing piles of debris, lumber and other clutter where rodents could nest, and sealing openings around foundations, pipes, utility entrances and other gaps that could provide access to buildings.
Rodents can contaminate food, damage property and create health risks through contact with contaminated surfaces and materials. Practising good sanitation, storing waste properly and maintaining properties are important steps in reducing those risks, the city and health unit said.
In a press release, the City of Pembroke said that property owners are responsible for maintaining their properties in a way that does not attract or harbour rodents. That includes proper waste storage, routine property upkeep and addressing rodent activity if it occurs.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
The City of Pembroke’s Property Standards and Nuisance By-laws may apply where conditions on a property are contributing to rodent activity.
If rodent activity persists despite prevention efforts, residents should consider contacting a licensed pest management professional.
Questions about municipal property maintenance or by-law enforcement can be directed to the City of Pembroke, while public health-related questions can be directed to the Renfrew County and District Health Unit. “By working together, residents, property owners and municipal officials can help keep neighbourhoods clean, healthy and less attractive to rodents,” the release concluded.
Source: pembrokeobserver.com
