Rodent Information & Reporting
Rodent Information and Reporting
Have you seen a rat in your neighborhood?
How We Can Work Together to Prevent Rodents
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 Marlborough and other neighboring communities.
It is our shared goal, both as a city and as a community, to work together to mitigate the population of rodents in Marlborough. This is a continuous process that will be most successful as a community effort. Because rats move freely around neighborhoods, the city encourages neighbors to work together in the identification and prevention of rodents and to maintain properties that are unattractive to rats.
Like all animals, 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 unappealing to rats.
Click on each image for a list of sources of food, water, and shelter for rats in your home:
What is the Health Department Doing?
The role of the Marlborough Health Department is to educate the public on rodent issues. There are 3 areas of focus when it comes to
rodent problems:
Prevention
- Educating residents and businesses on 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 "Additional Resources" on the main Rodent Information & Reporting page.
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.
- We are committed to reducing the number of rodents in our city, take a look at our newest effort: ANTICIMEX SMART DIGITAL RODENT CONTROL ("Smart Box")
What Should Residents Do?
This flow chart outlines best practices for when you see signs of rodents on your property and what to do. To report a rodent siting see the link below.
See a rodent in your neighborhood? Report a rodent sighting. This will allow city officials to track pest control issues and trends.
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 reputable 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.
Additional Resources
- How to recognize a rat vs other rodent-like animal
- Evidence of Rat Activity
- What To Do If You See Signs of Rats
- Don't Attract the Rats Brochure
- Don't Attract the Rats Flier
- Don't Attract the Rats to Your Business Brochure
- Tips on Rodent Prevention
- Information on rats from the CDC
- Rodenticides Information Sheet
Articles
- Boston.com, Susannah Sudborough, November 15, 2022 - "Somerville declares (partial) victory over rats as Brookline readies for battle"
- MetroWest Daily News February 6, 2024 - "Rat sightings have been more common in Marlborough. What the city is doing to combat it."
- Boston 25 News March 1, 2023 - "Why so many rats these days? Growing number of Mass. communities being overrun by pesky rodents”
- PBS News Hour September 11, 2023 - "Rats are on the rise. Here’s what cities are doing about it”
- How do I recognize a rat vs other rodent-like animal?
- How do I report a rat I've seen in my neighborhood?
- How do I dispose of a dead rat I find?
- What to look for in a reputable pest control service?
- What is the City doing?
- How can I prevent rats from coming onto my property?
- How does the problem in Marlborough compare to the problem in other communities?
- What could be causing the increase in rat sightings?
- Does the construction I see in my neighborhood increase rodent activity?
- Why do rats have such a bad reputation?
Marlborough Health Department
140 Main St. Lower Level
508-460-3751