With warm weather taking place and some businesses still closed, rats are becoming more active, especially in areas that border commercial or industrial areas. The Borough of Hatboro created a list of frequently asked questions help residents avoid attracting rats to their property, prevent rat harboring, and how to report incidents of infestation.

How can I help prevent rats from being attracted to my property?

• Do not provide food, water, or harborage for the rats to live off of.
• Maintain your property by regularly mowing your lawn and removing overgrowth/weeds that rats can live in. Also trim tree branches, vines, etc. from your home that rats can use to climb.
• Keep lids on your trash cans and assure all waste is properly bagged and contained so rodents cannot access it.
• Remove bird feeders as they can attract rats.
• Remove any containers outside your home that collect standing water. These containers not only provide drinking water for rats, but can attract mosquitoes.
• Seal any holes in your home’s exterior/interior walls, floors, and foundations. These holes can provide rats with a place to live.

I have chickens and a chicken coop on my property, how can I prevent rats from being attracted?

• Fit your coop with galvanized wire mesh instead of chicken wire
• Nesting boxes should be elevated to keep eggs out of reach
• Use high quality weather resistant timber so rats cannot chew their way in
• Clean up any spilled feed before nightfall
• Store feed away from the coop and keep it in an airtight container with the lid secure in place
• Remove or securely cover feeders and water sources at night
• Invest in a treadle feeder to keep the feed secure
• Make sure all eggs are collected form the coop each night
• Use removable floor trays and easy to clean perches along with regular cleaning of the coop

I have a rat infestation on my property, what should I do?

• Call the Montgomery County Health Department at 215-784-5500. The Health Department will request permission to enter your property and will conduct an investigation. The Health Department must see evidence of an infestation during their inspection. If a rat infestation is present, the homeowner is responsible for obtaining their own pest control.
• Hire a pest control company to remove the rats from your property. The homeowner is responsible for their own pest removal services at their property.
• Use rat repellents
• Use traps designed for catching rats

Please note, seeing one rat does not constitute an infestation. There must be evidence of multiple rats being harbored at the property.

I saw a rat on my property, should I call the health department?

The Montgomery County Health Department only reports to incidents of rat infestations. If you see a single rat, but no sign of multiple rats being present, please attempt to eliminate the rat.

How do I dispose of any dead rats?

Dead rats should be picked up using rubber gloves. The dead rat should be sprayed with household disinfectant and double-bagged using two plastic bags. The dead rat can then be placed in a covered trash can that is regularly emptied.