Baltimore has been recognized as one of the “rattiest” cities in America, with an estimated rat population of roughly 48,000. The rat problem in Baltimore has become so severe that the city has begun deploying rat contraceptives for the rat poison they use to control the pest population.
Between its subtropical climate, dense urban neighborhoods, and robust public transit systems, Baltimore provides the perfect environment for a festering rat population. Despite the city’s best efforts, it’s also up to local residents and businesses to aid in the fight against rats.
Rats not only spread diseases like salmonella and hantavirus but can also damage property, including wiring and insulation. Local rodent control plays a pivotal role in the fight against rats, and companies like Pest Czar and other exterminators are on the front line in Baltimore’s war against rats.
Baltimore’s Long History with Rats
It is believed that rats arrived with the first European settlers who sailed into the Chesapeake Bay during the city’s founding and have never left the city.
Throughout the years, the city of Baltimore experimented with different ways to get rid of the rats from offering cash prizes to the cleanest blocks in the city to the Rat Rubout program, which is still in effect today.
Unfortunately, Baltimore’s economic decline from the 1950s to today and its increasing wealth stratification have led to some bad consequences related to public health. Baltimore has been named one of the “dirtiest cities in America,” which runs hand-in-hand with its lingering rat problem.
How Baltimore City Is Addressing Its Rat Issue
In response to the growing rat problem, the city of Baltimore has started the Rat Rubout program, which allows homeowners and renters to dial 311 and report any possible rat infestations in their homes or apartments.
The program will send out a pest inspector to the property and conduct a thorough inspection. If a rat infestation is confirmed, measures will be taken to kill the rats at the property and prevent them from returning.
In addition, the city has begun deploying rat contraceptives and other prevention means in various public places to reduce the rat population.
How Property Owners Can Help Prevent Rats
With that said, rat prevention and eradication primarily fall on the shoulders of Baltimore’s residents. Thankfully, there are many things property owners can do to prevent a rat infestation or prevent one from returning, from prevention to contacting a pest control expert.
Some general rat prevention tips property owners can practice include:
- Sealing possible entry points
- Regularly cleaning the property, including the interior and exterior
- Removing garbage bags before they get too full
- Removing excess clutter
- Properly sealing and storing all food and drinks
- Removing leaf piles from the property
What Role Do Local Exterminators Have in Keeping Rats At Bay
Local exterminators have a lot of power to keep Baltimore rats at bay. A trusted and experienced exterminator will have extensive knowledge of the signs of a rat infestation to look for and the ability to create a targeted plan of action to kill the rat population in a home or apartment.
Once all the existing rats have been eliminated, an exterminator should be able to perform preventative measures to ensure the rats do not return.
Many exterminators, like Pest Czar, offer monthly prevention programs to eliminate rats and keep other pests away.
Helpful Rat Information
Forewarned is forearmed. Whether you live in Baltimore or in the surrounding suburbs, it’s important to avoid rats whenever possible and remove them from your home by any means possible. Here is some helpful information if you’re dealing with rats on your property.
How to Identify Rats
Norway rats are sometimes with common house mice, but there are a few key differences to notice. Rats are generally larger than mice, measuring anywhere from 6-16 inches long. Rats also have a blunt nose and a hairless, scaly tail compared to the hairy tails of a mouse.
Signs of Rats
Some of the biggest signs of a rat infestation include:
- Rodent droppings
- Rub marks on walls and baseboards
- Rat burrows
- Scratching or scurrying noises coming from inside your walls
- Rat nests made of random materials
- Strong, musky odor in the home
- Gnaw marks on furniture, food packages, and other household items
What to Do If You Spot a Rat
If you spot a rat in your home or apartment, you should first contact a professional exterminator. Baltimore residents can utilize the Rat Rubout program by calling 311 and reporting their findings.
However, you could experience long wait times, and local exterminators like Pest Czar offer additional programs beyond elimination that extend to prevention. For help with rodent control in Baltimore, contact the technicians at Pest Czar for more information today.
FAQs
What are the main reasons rats thrive in Baltimore?
Rats thrive in cities like Baltimore due to many different factors, including their ability to access food sources easily, poor waste management in the city, and the ease at which they can travel from one apartment building to the next.
What programs or services does the city offer to help reduce rat populations?
In response to Baltimore’s rat problem, the city has partnered with the Department of Public Works to create the Rat Rubout program, which enables homeowners and renters to call 311 and have a pest inspector come to their property to take care of the infestation.
What methods do local exterminators use to get rid of rats?
Baltimore exterminators employ a variety of different methods to get rid of rats, including setting up baits and traps and using exclusion techniques.