Image: Debbie Walker / Captured rats are shown in a cage after being trapped in a Chilliwack neighbourhood near Chilliwack Secondary School. Chilliwack resident Debbie Walker says over 50 rats have infiltrated her immediate neighbourhood since late May and believes it's a public health matter to have that many rodents in her neighbourhood. Walker says she contacted the city of Chilliwack for assistance but discovered there wasn't much help for residents, except to report homes that contain an accumulation of garbage or debris, overgrown grass/weeds to city bylaw staff. Mayor Ken Popove advised Walker in an email that there isn't any government-organized rodent control program to assist owners of private property with rat infestations in the City of Chilliwack. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Rat infestation in Chilliwack

Chilliwack resident says rodent invasion in her neighbourhood is a public health issue

Aug 2, 2023 | 12:12 PM

CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack resident who lives just west of Chilliwack Secondary School says a rat infestation in her neighbourhood constitutes a public health matter and wishes the City of Chilliwack could do more to help.

The rodent invasion escalated for Debbie Walker in late May when she first discovered that her neighbourhood west of Chilliwack Secondary had a rat infestation. At the time, she hadn’t thought of checking her backyard security camera that would later reveal a massive presence of rats. In talking to her neighbours, she learned that an apartment complex just down the street had installed what she says is sonic, solar-powered deterrents to move rats off their property.

It’s only gotten worse. She says one of her neighbours used a spring trap to capture upwards of 40 rats, and another seven to 10 rats about two weeks ago.

“So daily, they are having to ‘deal’ with getting rid of the dead rats. Not sure what happens if left in the trap (decompose, eaten by something else),” Walker said.

Walker also reports rats have gotten into a neighbourhood home.

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“Unbeknownst to them, the rats had eaten through the drain pipe of their dishwasher and flooded the basement,” Walker said. “It took them a while to figure that out. Others have mentioned seeing them scurry through in the daytime. On a Sunday morning, one of my friends in the neighbourhood was visiting and said, ‘Oh, there’s a rat, and sure enough a huge rat, bigger than a guinea pig, ran right by us.'”

Walker says she’s utilizing a live trap in her backyard and has captured about five over a two-week span. She’s already spent a fair amount of money feeling frustrated knowing that no matter she does, eradicating rodents is an uphill battle.

Image: Debbie Walker / Chilliwack resident Debbie Walker says she wishes there were more help from the city of Chilliwack to address a rat infestation in her neighbourhood.

Speaking of the rats she traps and captures, Walker said, “Of course, I have to either drown them, or let them die over a period of days and then bury them or put in the garbage. So, a daily check to see what’s happening. If it’s not a coordinated effort among neighbours, they will simply continue to breed at the rate of one female giving birth every three weeks, immediately after birthing, for up to 14 babies. So, every third week there’ll be new batches of rats.”

While the rats haven’t managed to access Walker’s home yet, Walker says she’s bracing for the winter when rodents tend to seek refuge inside homes.

Walker says she contacted Chilliwack mayor Ken Popove through the city for any kind of assistance or insight the municipality might offer. She shared a response she received from Popove dated June 21.

“I’m sorry to hear about the rat problem that you are experiencing in your neighbourhood,” Mayor Popove wrote to Walker. “There is not currently any government-organized rodent control program to assist owners of private property with rat infestations in the City of Chilliwack. In the event that an unkempt property (accumulation of garbage or debris, overgrown grass/weeds, etc.) in your neighbourhood is contributing to a rat infestation, bylaw officers can conduct an inspection of the property to determine compliance with bylaws such as the Community Standards Bylaw and Solid Waste Management Bylaw.”

Walker says she was hoping for something more from City Hall because she has tried to connect with neighbours near her home but says some haven’t shown interest in collaboratively eradicating the neighbourhood rats.

“I simply want to bring on as many people as possible to rid the community of the issue,” she said. “I have found the best solution would be the electronic rat repellent, but again, that would simply move them. I would think the City would like to find a resolution to this issue/ I would welcome an opportunity to collectively find a solution fitting for all. I do not think that the City of Chilliwack would want downtown to be infiltrated since all the new businesses have moved in and the new tenants will not look kindly on this problem. I am seriously disappointed that the city has no organized system in place to deal with these issues.”