The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, has mandated that all Rodenticides that have active ingredients: brodifacoum, bromadiolone, or difethialone must not be used in B.C. starting immediately. Unfortunately, these are the Rodenticies that we, and all pest control companies in B.C. use currently to effectively control rodents.
To comply with the Minister’s Order we have already replaced all the Rodenticides with ones that do not contain brodifacoum, bromadiolone, or difethialone.
The new Rodenticides we are now allowed to use have been proven not to be effective to control rodents in a very long time, unfortunately we are governed by the Ministry and have no choice in this matter. We expect a substantial increase in rodent activity throughout B.C.
We are currently and intensively looking at different alternatives that would let us keep the rodent population under control. In the meantime, we suggest the following:
Keep rodents from getting into buildings
- Seal all openings that are bigger than 6 mm (¼ in). Mice can gain access through a dime-sized opening, while rats only need a quarter-sized hole to get in
- Regularly inspect and repair entry points
- Install sheet metal kick plates on door exteriors
- Build outbuildings like sheds on concrete pads, not bare ground
- Prune back branches that hang over balconies, eaves and roofs
Get rid of food and water sources
- Keep all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids
- Keep rodents out of your backyard composter: keep it above ground or install mesh between the soil and the composter, use a tight-fitting lid, and avoid putting meat, dairy products or eggs in the bin
- Remove any food outside, such as fallen fruit or nuts, birdseed, or leftover pet food
- Keep food prep and storage areas clean
- Choose hard-walled, sealable food containers and avoid leaving produce out
- Eliminate water sources. Fix leaky taps and cover pools and hot tubs when not in use
Get rid of places where they can hide or live
- Remove unused clutter in and around buildings
- Keep building perimeters clear of vegetation and junk/debris
- Cut tall grass and weeds back from buildings
- Keep bushes and trees around buildings trimmed so that 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches) above ground is clear
- Store firewood and lumber away from buildings and at least 30 cm (1 foot) off the ground
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us.
The minister’s order is in place from July 21, 2021 to January 20, 2023.
While the order is in place, the ministry is conducting a scientific review to make recommendations for future use of SGARs in B.C.
To view the official Government of British Columbia legislation on the second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide ban, click here.