Rats are pests that can, among other things, contaminate food and damage structures by chewing on them. The responsibility for rat prevention lies with the owner or holder of the property.
Do not provide food or shelter for rats
In rodent prevention, the first priority should be to ensure that rats do not have access to food. Apples and other foods suitable for rodents that have fallen onto the ground must be removed from the yard immediately.
If you have a bountiful harvest and are unable to use it all yourself, we recommend sharing it with others. There are many people in Helsinki who would be happy to receive apples and other fruits from home gardens.
Inedible fruit can be composted. However, an open compost is not suitable for this purpose, as the biowaste composter must be designed to prevent rodents and birds from entering. You should monitor the condition of the composter and periodically check that rats cannot gain access, e.g. by chewing a hole through it at ground level.
Apples can also be disposed of at Sortti Stations for a fee. You can also take other kinds of brush and green waste from your yard to the same station. If you are planning to put apples in the biowaste or mixed waste collection bin of your property, you should only put a few at a time. This will prevent the bin from breaking or becoming too heavy to move.
You should keep your yard and garden tidy and check that there are no shelters for rats on the property. In other words, you should not pile up any building materials or debris that would provide shelter for rodents in the yard. Leaf or brush piles should not be left lying on the ground either, as they attract rats and other unwanted rodent visitors.
Winter feeding of birds may also attract rats to the yard. Birds should not be fed directly on the ground and the area around feeding points should be regularly cleaned of any grains and seeds that have fallen onto the ground.
The owner or holder of the property is responsible for the eradication of rats
Control measures should preferably be carried out in the areas of several properties at a time, as rats tend to roam large areas.
Rat traps are sold to consumers in shops. When placing traps, make sure that they do not pose a risk to children, pets or other wildlife. The traps should be checked daily.
Pesticides for rats may only be procured and used by pest control professionals. In the event of a widespread rat problem, please contact a pest control professional.
