These are the hot spots for rat sightings in Ottawa
The City of Ottawa will continue to conduct more frequent garbage cleanup in high-traffic areas, conducting sewer bating and increasing public education campaigns in neighbourhoods to address rat issues across the city.
Rideau-Vanier continues to be the hot spot for rat complaints, with 73 calls to 3-1-1 about rats in 2024 and 12 calls in the first three months of 2025. There were 43 complaints about rats in Capital ward in 2024, 38 calls to 3-1-1 from Orleans East-Cumberland and 37 requests for service from Beacon Hill-Cyrville.
Ottawa's 3-1-1 line received 512 calls for service about rats in 2024 and 72 in the first three months in 2025.
In April, coun. Tim Tierney asked city staff for an update on the city's anti-rat working group and the plan to deal with problem areas this year.
Staff say the Rat Mitigation Working Group is using several tactics to address concerns about rats, including public education campaigns to inform residents about best practices to prevent rates, improving waste collection and disposal practices that reduce food sources for rats and regular inspection and maintenance of sewer systems.
In response to Tierney's motion or the environment and climate change committee, Infrastructure and Water Services general manager Tammy Rose said, to support wards in addressing rat issues, the city will employ the following tactics:
Enhanced Waste Management : More frequent debris and litter cleanup in high traffic and Business Improvement Areas. Major bus stations with a high volume of passengers will have garbage cleared daily.
: More frequent debris and litter cleanup in high traffic and Business Improvement Areas. Major bus stations with a high volume of passengers will have garbage cleared daily. Increased Public Education : Bylaw Services officers will respond to the address where a service request about rats is received and proactively inspect the surrounding area. 'This educational and proactive approach helps build community awareness and addresses potential issues before they escalate,' Rose says.
: Bylaw Services officers will respond to the address where a service request about rats is received and proactively inspect the surrounding area. 'This educational and proactive approach helps build community awareness and addresses potential issues before they escalate,' Rose says. Sewer Baiting: The city will conduct sewer baiting in areas where an investigation has confirmed rats are in the sewers.
The City of Ottawa has also developed a new Rat Sightings Reporting Tool for residents to report rats.
'Requests submitted through the form will be actioned by the appropriate team,' Rose said. 'This is a major step toward tracking and reducing the rat population.'
Tierney's motion shows the number of 3-1-1 requests for rats in each ward in 2024.
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