DEARBORN, Mich. – The city of Dearborn has partnered with a pest control company to implement “subterranean baiting” in an effort to address rat and rodent infestations.
City staff have been working with pest control company Orkin to deploy a “citywide subterranean rat prevention program,” officials said Tuesday. Under the program, pest management professionals will place rodent bait in sanitary sewer lines that run under Dearborn.
The bait is meant to kill rodents that flee underground, particularly during the winter.
“Historically, Dearborn has faced challenges when mitigating rat infestations across the city during the colder months when rodents head underground to escape the weather,” said Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.
The bait planted in the sewer lines is placed above the waterline, and -- when used properly -- “does not pose a risk to the environment, non-target wildlife, pets, or people,” officials said. Professionals are planning to bait manholes in 460 locations throughout the city under the program.
When used in tandem with above-ground rodent control methods, the city expects the subterranean baiting to help “manage rat populations more safely and efficiently year-round,” Hammoud said.
The city says its partnership with Orkin will also result in important data collection to help Dearborn mitigate rat and other rodent infestations going forward. The company is expected to give the city a heatmap that identifies “areas of infestation, data analysis, city-owned parcel inspections, and more.”
Rat infestations are a common nuisance in the Metro Detroit area -- especially in and near Detroit itself, which ranked No. 9 on Orkin’s list of “rattiest cities” in 2023. Grand Rapids and Flint also made the list, though they ranked much lower.
Here are some signs you might have rat issues, from Orkin:
- Droppings: Rodent droppings are often left behind in places where food is stored, such as kitchen cabinets or pantries, under sinks, inside chewed cardboard boxes, along baseboards and on top of wall beams
- Gnaw marks: Mice are known to bite through walls, wood and wires. The damage to wiring within walls can increase the risk of a house fire.
- Nests: Rodents prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas where there is little chance of disturbance. Be on the lookout for shredded paper products, cotton, packing materials and other fabrics, as house mice like to build nests out of these materials.
- Rub marks: Rats tend to leave dark grease or dirt marks along walls and floorboards as they follow a trail throughout the home between their nest and food.
- Strange noises: Scurrying in the walls or in the attic could mean a rodent family is present. Rodents are especially fond of attics as it’s an insulated area for nest building.
Here are tips for keeping rats out, from Orkin:
- Store away food. Small crumbs and garbage are popular food sources, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination.
- Declutter. Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents, as they tend to chew them up for use in their nests. Take advantage of your extra time at home to clean and organize crowded spaces around the house and facility.
- Maintain your landscaping. Tall grass with adequate harborages, such as woodpiles next to the house, can be ideal habitats for rodents. Tree branches in contact with homes can also offer rodents easy access to the upper levels of your home where they may find a way into the attic.
- Inspect both inside and outside your home. Keep an eye out for rodent droppings, burrows and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The sooner rodents are detected, the better.
- Look for possible entry points. Seal any holes and cracks that are found around your home. Install weather strips around entryways, especially under doors, to help keep mice out of your home.