This month London city hall expanded its online system for residents to report a number of bylaw related issues, including for the first time, the ability to specifically report rat and vermin infestations. It’s part of a comprehensive strategy endorsed by council earlier this summer to address a worsening rat problem in neighbourhoods across the city. “By adding an option to report rats on the drop-down menu in the Service London (website) portal, we intend to monitor the data closely in response to recent council direction to address rodent concerns,” a statement from the city reads. Glen Cairn resident Emily McCutcheon describes a rat infestation that has plagued her cul de sac since the pandemic. “A couple years ago, I was getting five to eight rats a day in the traps,” she says about traps set up around the exterior of her home. “I got rid of the composter about a year ago and haven’t had as many, but I still getting a few a week.” McCutcheon believes a large field of long grass and weeds behind her home has become a habitat for rats. “I know some neighbours have contacted the city about getting it mowed, because if this was my lawn, I would be fined for having my lawn this long,” she says. The city’s new strategy to crackdown on rat infestations primarily focuses on the actions, or inaction of humans. Both the Yard and Lot Maintenance Bylaw and the Property Standards Bylaw were recently updated. The goal is to reduce access to resources that rodents need to thrive including food, water, and shelter. “In situations where debris accumulation in violation of a bylaw exist, staff have reduced the amount of time provided for compliance to ensure that infestations do not have the time to become established,” the city statement reads. “The issue needs to be addressed as a whole, because one homeowner getting rid of the rats is not going to address this whole problem,” explains McCutcheon. Meanwhile, residents of a townhouse complex on Shelborne Street say illegally dumped garbage around their communal dumpsters continue to attract vermin. CTV News originally reported on the situation in early June. Returning on Thursday, food waste from torn garbage bags was strewn around the dumpsters, and broken furniture was piled behind. Resident Adil Gahfar says he and his neighbours are at their wits end with the problem and need the city and their landlord to find a solution. “It’s causing a big issue because it’s all kinds of food and leftovers,” explained Gahfar. “Most of the stuff that comes in, it’s from people (who) drive by, stop their cars, dump all the stuff everywhere.” Before the end of this year, city staff will present a report to committee proposing a residential rat remediation rebate program.
