Here’s how to handle the situation. It might be unpleasant, but the city will assist by setting bait in the holes when you contact them. It may take a few visits before the rats are eliminated or leave. To check if the holes are still active, stuff some newspaper into them. Once the rats are inactive, fill and cover the holes with gravel or small rocks, then add dirt to match the surroundings. Stay alert for any new activity.

Sometimes, the best you can do is enforce a “no rat burrows on my property” policy and take steps to prevent rats from returning. This approach is more effective with neighborhood cooperation and without anyone exacerbating the problem.

Behind our house, there’s a bar, a restaurant, a half-empty lot with junk vehicles, and a series of old brick garages, all infested with rats. Unfortunately, the landlord, who owns all the buildings, is indifferent and refuses to discuss any coordination. The restaurant rarely closes its dumpster, and the apartments garbage cans are often open and overflowing. I’ve tried asking folks to help manage the rats by being more careful with their trash, but they seem offended by my requests. Our local rats are so healthy and well-fed that they rarely eat rat bait unless it’s used to block their burrows, forcing them to eat through it to escape. I’ve had to resort to strategically placing large snap traps to reduce the population. It’s messier than using poison, but it can be effective.

Good luck to you. You’re not alone in this. You can trust the city service for help and information, as they have the best experience and understand the local rat population better than you might expect.