How to Get Rid of Rats: A Step-by-Step Guide for Canadian Properties

Rats breed quickly, damage wiring and insulation, and contaminate food. Here's how to get rid of rats on a Canadian property, step by step.

1. Confirm it's rats

Look for droppings about 1–2 cm long, greasy rub marks along walls, burrows near foundations, gnawed wood or wiring, and noises at night. Norway rats are the most common species in Canada.

2. Remove food, water and shelter

Store feed and garbage in sealed metal or heavy plastic bins, clean up spilled grain and bird seed, fix leaks, and clear wood piles and clutter away from walls.

3. Seal entry points

Rats can squeeze through a gap the size of a quarter. Use steel wool, metal flashing or hardware cloth around pipes, vents and doors. Our inspection checklist walks you through it.

4. Trap or bait

• Snap traps – fast and poison-free for small problems. Set several along walls, baited with peanut butter. See rat snap traps.
• Bait stations – for larger or outdoor problems, use a lockable rat bait station with a bait labelled for your situation. See rat poison in Canada.

5. Monitor and keep them out

Check traps and stations regularly, remove dead rodents with gloves, and keep up exclusion work. Fall is the key season in Canada, when rats look for warm shelter.

In Canada, every rodenticide is registered by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), and its label is the law. Products for domestic (homeowner) use must come ready to use in tamper-resistant bait stations, while the strongest single-feed anticoagulants (brodifacoum, bromadiolone and difethialone) are labelled for commercial or agricultural use only. Some provinces, including British Columbia and Quebec, add their own rules. See our Canadian label and regulation guide and provincial regulations.

For a large infestation, food facilities or farms, consider a licensed pest control professional.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to get rid of rats?

Combine several traps or bait stations with removing food sources and sealing entry points. Using many devices at once works faster than one or two.

Do rats leave on their own?

Rarely. As long as there is food, water and shelter, rats stay and multiply.

How do I get rid of rats in my garage?

Remove pet food, bird seed and garbage, seal gaps around the door and walls, and set snap traps or lockable bait stations along the walls.