It was standing room only at the Old Firehall Collective on September 11, when over 30 Nakusp and area residents gathered for a WildSafeBC presentation on rats.
This is a big increase in attendance from last year, said Skye Cunningham, communications specialist for the Nakusp and Area Community Forest (NACFOR), which sponsored the event. Last year, only half a dozen people showed up.
Though some attendees reported anecdotally that the rat population seems lower than last year, it’s clear that rats are still a concern and they want to know – what can we do?
“It’s in a homeowner’s best interest to keep a rat population from establishing in the first place; prevention is easier than eradication,” said Erin Collinson, WildSafeBC coordinator for the Arrow and Slocan Lakes region. “Controlling food sources and limiting denning areas are key to keeping rats in check.”
Identifying rats
There are two main species in the area: Norway rats and roof rats.
Norway rats are the larger of the two, about 30 to 45 centimetres from nose to tail end. Relatively small eyes and ears accompany a blunt nose, and their hairless tails are shorter than their thick, heavy bodies, which are stout with greyish-brown fur. Norway rat droppings are long with rounded edges, with an average length of 15 to 20 millimetres.
Roof rats in comparison are smaller, between 33 to 43 centimetres from nose to tail end. Their eyes and ears are larger, and their noses are more pointed. Roof rat tails are also hairless and are longer than their bodies, which have a darker coat with a pale underbelly. Droppings are long with pointed ends, and about 10 to 15 millimetres in length.
Rat behaviour
Norway rats tend to live closer to ground level, while roof rats tend to seek shelter in higher places such as attics.
Rats are fearful creatures and prefer to hide. They create nests or dens which they leave at night to forage for food, usually staying within 100 metres of the den. They’re known to travel farther however, if food sources are scarce.
Rats are omnivores, eating meat and plant materials with a preference for grains, fruits, and vegetables. They can adapt to what food is available, and can learn from other rats. Sometimes they even swim and dive for food like mussels and small fish.
Rats are prodigious breeders, with a gestational period of only three weeks and litters ranging from 10 to 12 pups, said Cora Skaien, provincial support with WildSafeBC. Once a population is established it can increase exponentially. In theory, a rat pair could produce over 900 offspring in just a year.
What’s the problem?
Norway and roof rats are invasive species, having hitched a ride to North America on boats in the mid-1800s. Limited to coastal areas for years, they’ve made the trek to the interior and have settled in for the long haul.
Rats threaten native wildlife, and have devastated populations of ground-nesting birds. They also go after small livestock like chickens, preying on eggs and young chicks.
Rats also damage buildings, gardens, electrical wiring, and crops. They are known to carry and spread a variety of diseases – usually bacterial – that can affect human health. Their feces and urine can contaminate livestock feed and human food.
What can I do about it?
Managing attractants is the best way to deter rats, said Skaien.
“If you’re killing a bunch of rats but you still have the habitat around for them, the surviving rats are just going to reproduce and fill that niche,” she said. “There’s not really much point in trying to eradicate them until the habitat and food sources are controlled first.”
Keep garbage securely stored until collection day. Feed pets indoors, or promptly bring in uneaten food if feeding outdoors. Take down bird feeders at night and clean up spilled bird seed. Clean up fallen fruit or nuts from trees. Repair leaky plumbing. Store dry food and animal feed in rodent-proof glass or metal containers.
Rodent and/or bear-resistant compost systems are best. If not possible, be sure to turn compost regularly and all the way through to the bottom so that rats can’t nest underneath. Lining the bottom of a compost pile with wire mesh will also help.
Rats can fit into holes as small as their skulls, said Skaien. To keep rats out of buildings, block openings that are bigger than six millimetres with durable materials. Use wire mesh for blocking vents. Rats can chew through concrete, so stay on top of cracks in foundations or footings.
Try to store wood piles and lumber away from the perimeter of buildings. If possible, store wood on stands 30 to 45 centimetres off the ground. Prune branches that may provide access to balconies, roofs, or attics. Do not store old cars or furniture outside, and keep an eye on unused, empty buildings.
It’s a community-wide endeavour, said Skaien. If neighbours aren’t also working to manage attractants, it’s a losing battle.
Many attendees said they would like to see the Village take more action to address the problem.
Trapping
Even after attractants are under control, setting traps may still be required. Local, reputable pest control companies can assist with this. If taking measures into your own hands, Skaien and Collinson recommend avoiding methods that result in unnecessary suffering, or that might impact native species or pets.
“Poisons can be very dangerous to the rest of the environment and animals, including wildlife and residential cats and dogs,” said Skaien.
Rat poisons are anticoagulants – blood thinners. Rats began developing resistance to anticoagulants a few decades ago, and now current poisons are slower acting. This means poisoned rats stay alive longer and can travel farther, which increases the risk for other animals that might prey on the rats.
“A lot of places have banned poisons because of the cascading effects that it has for other animals,” said Skaien.
If using snap traps, be sure they are strong enough to kill quickly and that pets, wildlife, and children won’t be hurt by them.
Live traps are also an option. But once you’ve caught them, then what?
“That can be really tricky,” Skaien said. “Some online resources suggest using dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide.”
Putting a rat in a container with dry ice will suffocate it within minutes.
Attendees shared various trapping techniques: gluing bait to traps so rats are more likely to set it off; baiting a trap but not setting it until rats are familiar with it; putting milk crates on top of traps, with a rock on top, to keep other critters away from the trap.
Many attendees wondered what to do with the rat bodies. Skaien and Collinson were asked the same question last year and reached out to the Province several times for an answer, to no avail. They will keep investigating and share their findings on the WildSafeBC website, the NACFOR Facebook page, and the Nakusp Communicator Facebook page.
Questions can be emailed to ArrowSlocanLakes@WildSafebc.ca
Rat safety
Never handle rats directly, said Skaien, as their teeth are very sharp and can cause bites or scratches that may need medical attention. Diseases can be transmitted through direct contact, or indirectly through feces or urine contamination.
Be careful if you find droppings, she said. Carefully clean up the droppings using bleach to prevent disease transmission.
Rats do not carry rabies or hantavirus, but they do carry some bacterial viruses that can affect lungs and kidneys in some people. As populations increase, there tends to be more diseases.
Never handle dead wildlife with bare hands.
