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See a rat in your neighborhood? Report a rodent sighting

Let's Work Together to Prevent Rodents

As the warmer weather approaches, there is an increase in rodent sightings. Rats have been a part of the Massachusetts ecosystem since the area was originally settled in the early 17th century. They are commonly found in most urban areas, including Newton and other neighboring communities.

Like all animals, in order to thrive, rats need three things: food, water, and shelter. The best way to prevent rats from making a home in your neighborhood is to make your house unattractive to rats by taking away sources of food, water, and shelter. Learn what you can do to make your home unattractive to rats. Click on each image for a list of sources of food, water, and shelter for rats in your home:

It is our shared goal, both as a city and as a community, to work together to mitigate the population of rodents in Newton. This is a continuous process that will be most successful as a community effort. Because rats move freely around neighborhoods, Health & Human Services encourages neighbors to work together in the identification and prevention of rodents and to maintain properties that are unattractive to rats.

What is HHS Doing?

The role of Newton Health & Human Services Department is to educate the public on rodent issues. There are 3 areas of focus when it comes to rodent problems:

Prevention
Identification
Remediation

Prevention

Educating residents and businesses how to make properties less attractive to rodents by the use of fliers, door hangers, and social media posts.
Phone calls and on-site visits to residents and businesses to share best practices.
Participating in local and regional working groups to stay up to date on current trends for prevention and treatment.
Collaborating with city departments and professionals in the field.

Identification

Assisting residents and businesses in identifying problem areas and what to look for including droppings, chew marks, burrows, etc.
Use of real-life examples including pictures on educational material and on our website.

Remediation

Empower property owners to contact a professional pest control company for an assessment and removal of rodents.
Gather best practices from trusted resources including the CDC.

What Should I Do?

See a rat in your neighborhood? Report a rodent sighting. This will allow Health & Human Services Environmental Specialists to track pest control issues and trends. On the report, click ‘Requesting an Investigation’ if you would like an Environmental Specialist to visit the site.

This flow chart is another great resource from Health & Human Services.

For professional advice and/or possible treatment options, contact a licensed pest control company. Many offer a free consultation.

If you rent, talk with your landlord.
Ask around and talk to neighbors for referrals and recommendations.

A good company will:

Inspect your property before giving a quote.
Give you a detailed written report and action plan personalized to your property and your needs.
Make referrals for structural repair.
Revisit and re-evaluate until your pest problem is gone.
Educate you on how to prevent rats in the future.

What happens when the City gets a rat complaint?

Upon receiving a complaint of rats on private property, an Environmental Health Specialist will conduct an investigation by viewing the property from the public way and requesting permission from the property owner to enter the property for an inspection. If a problem is identified, HHS will take one or more of the below actions to address the issue:

Educate the property owner on how to make their property less attractive to rodents and prevent infestations.
Advise the property owner to contact a professional pest control company for an assessment and removal of rodents.
Issue an Order for Abatement under the Massachusetts Public Nuisance statute (MGL Ch 111 § 123).

These actions are usually effective in mitigating the problem. In rare cases, the property owner may be unwilling or unable to address the issue themselves. In these cases, HHS will work with the owner to identify a solution and/or partner with the Law Department to take further legal action to compel remediation of the problem.

Additional Resources

Articles

Boston Globe August 2021 - "From back alleys to backyards, rats descend on Boston neighborhoods"
Boston Globe July 2021 - "As rat sightings rise in Newton, officials stress prevention"

How to dispose of dead rats

Disposing of dead rats is important for the health and safety of people, their pets, and wildlife. To properly dispose of a dead rat:

Put on protective gloves
Place the rat in 2 plastic bags and throw away in the regular trash
Wash your hands thoroughly

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

How do I report a rat I've seen in my neighborhood?
If you notice any evidence of rodent activity on your property, you can report the sighting at www.newtonma.gov/rodentreport and learn more about what to look for and tips on prevention. For professional advice and/or possible treatment options, you can contact a licensed pest control company.
How does the problem in our city compare to the problem in other communities?
Rats are a natural part of the urban environment in Newton and the surrounding greater Boston area communities. Rats have been with us for a very long time and will thrive in places where they can find an abundance of food, water, and shelter. In general, where there are people, rats will often follow. We have heard from colleagues in many neighboring communities that they are experiencing an uptick in rat sightings this year. Newton is not unique in this trend.
I have seen rats on my property. Who should I call to get rid of them?
If you notice any evidence of rodent activity on your property, you can report the sighting at www.newtonma.gov/rodentreport and learn more about what to look for and tips on prevention. For professional advice and/or possible treatment options, you can contact a licensed pest control company.
What can I do to prevent rats from coming on to my property?
Pick up animal feces: rats eat dog and cat feces so be sure to pick up after your animals

Birdseed: Keep birdseed under control and in the feeder as much as possible. Rats are drawn to birdseed on the ground.

Tree fruit: Pick up fallen tree fruit.

Trash: Rats will climb into open cans and root through trash on the ground. Tie up trash bags and store them in covered containers until they can be disposed of properly.Replace any garbage containers that have holes. You can request a new garbage container online or call 311 to talk to Newton Customer Service.

Grills: Keep grills and grilling areas clean and clear of food waste.

Compost piles: Compost piles that are not properly contained provide food to rats. Make sure your compost is maintained and securely covered.

Yard waste and building materials: Make sure your yard is maintained and that yard waste is properly disposed of in yard bags. Stack building materials, lumber and firewood at least 12 inches above the ground.

Cover openings: Don't give rats a place to live. Cover openings that are greater that 1/2 inch in diameter with concrete, sheet metal or wire mesh.
What do you think is causing the increase in rat sightings?
- The most scientific explanation and plausible cause is related to the shorter and warmer winters we have had in recent years. Rats are typically less active during the colder parts of the year and are less likely to breed. With a warmer winter, they can breed more and have more offspring that will eventually increase the size of the population we see during the summer and fall.
- Additional reasons for increased in rat sightings may include:
  - Construction - excavation disrupting their below ground habitat
  - Lack of natural predators such as coyotes, foxes, and birds of prey, due to ever expanding development and decreasing green spaces.
What is the City doing?
The Health & Human Services Department works with other City departments, residents, and business owners to promote better understandings of rat behavior and how to minimize their presence and impact on the community. Our Environmental Health Specialists provide educational information to the public and businesses and construction sites to promote and ensure best practices of pest management and control. The Public Buildings Department pretreats for rodents on city projects and monitors for rodent presence throughout projects, taking appropriate pest control steps as needed. The Inspectional Services Department requires pest control plans for special permit applications.
Why do rats have such a bad reputation?
Rats are quite intelligent and interesting creatures. However, they have a bad reputation throughout history for their spread of disease. Rats can potentially act as a vector for diseases such as E. coli, salmonella, hantavirus, and leptospirosis. Luckily, the odds of a human contracting these diseases from a rat is very low, as humans now do not have repeated, direct contact with rodents. The risk for disease from rats becomes even smaller if people take proper precautions to keep their properties rodent-harborage free. As always, people should use gloves when handling any material a rodent may have come in contact with, and should wash their hands promptly upon returning inside.
Will the construction I see in my neighborhood increase rodent activity?
Construction, in particular excavation, can lead to an increase in rat sightings. Increasing prevention strategies on your property (making it unappealing to rodents) and/or working with a pest control company will help remediate rodent activity during extensive demolition or excavation projects. The City’s Inspectional Services Department requires pest control plans for special permit applications.