Rat Management Reports

Recognizing the need for an evidence-based municipal approach to rat monitoring and mitigation, in 2017 the City of Vancouver partnered with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and the Vancouver Rat Project to develop the Vancouver Rat Action Program.

The project aimed to answer the following questions regarding municipal rat management:

• What are the best methods to track, address, and prevent rat infestations, as found in the scientific literature?

• How are other North American cities managing rat infestations?

• What opinions do municipal rat management stakeholders have about the best ways to track, address, and prevent rat infestations?

Based on the answers to these questions, we subsequently sought to determine:

• Best practices for tracking, addressing, and preventing urban rat infestations in Vancouver

• Required tools to support evidence-based decision-making regarding rats

• Options for the implementation and management of a municipal rat management program in the City of Vancouver