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1. Does the City of Hampton bait for rats?

Yes, we bait for rats on public property, in areas like storm ditches, in some park locations, and in city rights-of-ways where it has been determined that a problem exists. The city does not do any baiting on private property nor do we supply or sell rodent bait to citizens.

2. How can I reach your 3-1-1 Customer Call Center?

If you are calling from the City of Hampton, simply dial 3-1-1 on your touch tone or rotary dial phone. From outside the City of Hampton, please dial (757) 727-8311. The call center is available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

3. How can I get rid of or control rats in my yard?

This four step program to eliminate rodents can be effective in getting rid of rats:

• Prevent rats from entering your home by repairing openings with a material such as sheet metal or hardware cloth.
• Remove any sources of food for rats by storing food, especially pet food, in tightly sealed containers; place all garbage in an undamaged container with a lid; remove any uneaten pet food after feeding your animals; and remove all pet droppings from your yard every day.
• Remove all hiding places for rats such as piles of trash and garbage; objects stored outside, such as fire wood, should be 12 to 18 inches off the ground to prevent burrowing; and cut grass and brush to remove cover for rats and discourage their activity.
• Eliminate rats with traps placed in the runway for best results. Peanut butter, hot dogs, or bacon makes good rat bait. When using a rat poison it must be placed where it cannot be reached by children, pets, or any animals other than rats or mice. Always carefully read and follow all label directions on any rat bait or poison purchased.

4. How can I tell if there have been rats in my yard?

When a rat leaves its nest it travels the same path each time called a runway. Outdoors, the runway may appear as a trail in the grass or dirt. Indoors, the runway may show "rub marks" where oil and dirt from the fur has been left on walls or floors. Also, noises, droppings, tracks, gnaw marks, pieces of fur, and burrows are signs of rat activity.

5. If I don’t see any rats in my neighborhood, does that mean there aren’t any?

Not necessarily, rats are most active at night and will only travel about 100 feet from their nest to find food and water. They like to live close to their food source and may become accustomed to eating one type of food over any other. They especially like fresh food to eat, but can thrive on pet waste.

6. What kinds of diseases can be carried by rats?

Rats commonly live near people and are not afraid of the odor of humans. They can transmit many diseases to people including leptospirosis, salmonella, trichinosis, and rat-bite fever. The fleas on rats can carry murine typhus or plague. Rats are not known to transmit rabies.

7. What kinds of rats are normally found in Hampton?

The most common type is the Norway rat. They are usually 7 to 10 inches long not including their tail, have blunt noses, small ears and eyes, and a hairless tail that is shorter than their body.

8. Where do these rats live?

They build their nests by digging holes around foundations of buildings, in stream banks, and under piles of wood and trash. They can fit through an opening as small as 1/2 inch and can chew through many types of building materials.