Rat and Mouse Control · Richmond, BC
Richmond has both of Metro Vancouver's common rats: Norway rats that burrow along dykes, ditches and foundations, and roof rats that climb into attics. House mice turn up in garages, crawlspaces and condo towers. Tell us what you're hearing or seeing and we'll try to connect you with an independent provider who can inspect and deal with it.
When to act
What to expect
Lasting rodent control is about the building, not just the animal. A mouse can fit through a gap about the width of a pencil and a rat through a hole the size of a quarter, so a good provider starts by finding where they are getting in: gaps around pipes, crawlspace vents, garage door seals, roof junctions and soffits.
Since January 21, 2023, BC has prohibited second-generation anticoagulant rat poisons in residential buildings. The restriction came in because these poisons were killing owls and other animals that eat poisoned rodents, a real concern in a city with barn owls hunting its farm fields. For homes, that means the work is done with snap traps, sealing and cleanup instead of bait stations full of long-lasting poison.
Trapping reduces the rodents already inside. Sealing entry points with materials rodents can't chew, such as steel mesh and metal flashing, stops the next ones. Skip the sealing and the problem usually comes back within a season, because Richmond's ditches, compost bins, bird feeders and construction sites keep the outdoor population moving.
Cleanup matters too. HealthLinkBC advises airing out an enclosed area for 30 minutes, wearing rubber gloves, a well-fitting filter mask and goggles, and wetting droppings with household disinfectant or 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, poured gently and not sprayed. Wipe up with paper towel and bag it. Do not sweep or vacuum. The full steps are in HealthLinkBC File 37. Ask any provider whether attic or crawlspace cleanup is part of their quote or priced separately.
Step by step
The provider checks the attic, crawlspace, garage and exterior to work out which rodent it is and how it's getting in.
Traps are set along travel routes and checked over one or more follow-up visits until activity stops.
Gaps and holes are closed with chew-proof materials so new rodents can't follow the same route.
Droppings are cleaned up and you get advice on food storage, compost, bird feeders and yard clutter.
Cost
Rodent work is usually sold as a program of several visits, not a single call-out. Price depends on the size of the home, how many entry points need sealing and whether attic or crawlspace cleanup is needed. These are starting prices from two Metro Vancouver price lists. Other companies publish higher figures.
| Job | Published range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection only | $85 to $170 | Sometimes credited toward treatment |
| Mouse control program | $199 to $349 | One company's list: $199 for an apartment, $349 for a house |
| Rat control program | $240 to $450 | $240 is one company's exterior-only program. $450 is another's three-visit program |
October in Richmond
October is when rats and mice leave Richmond's ditches, fields and gardens for somewhere dry. Check garage door seals, crawlspace vents and gaps around pipes this month, before they find them for you.
Where
Guides
You cannot legally use the strongest rat poisons in a BC home. Since January 21, 2023, second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides have been prohibited in residential buildings…
Read: Rat Poison Rules in BC: What Richmond Homeowners Can UseIf the noise is above your head, it is probably a roof rat. If the signs are at ground level, in the crawlspace or along the foundation, it is probably a Norway rat. Richmond has…
Read: Roof Rats vs Norway Rats: Which One Is in Your Richmond Home?FAQ
Partly. Since January 21, 2023, second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are prohibited in residential buildings in BC. Some other products remain legal, and listed essential services such as hospitals, farms and grocery stores are exempt, with conditions. For a house or condo, expect a provider to rely on traps and sealing.
Size of droppings is the quickest clue. Mouse droppings are about the size of a grain of rice. Rat droppings are closer to an olive pit. Noise helps too: rats in an attic sound heavier than you would expect, while mice are a light scratching.
Programs often run two to four weeks from the first visit, with follow-ups to check traps and confirm activity has stopped. Heavy infestations or homes with many entry points take longer.
If entry points are sealed properly, the same route is closed for good. Richmond's outdoor rodent population is permanent, so keeping gaps sealed, vegetation trimmed off the walls and food sources tidy is what keeps them out.
Water, food and shelter. The city is laced with ditches and bounded by dykes and the Fraser River, it has working farmland, busy restaurant strips and steady construction that disturbs burrows. Rodents displaced from a demolition site move into the nearest building.
Start with a few steps that won't make things worse. Put food, including pet food and birdseed, in sealed containers and take garbage out. Note where you see droppings, gnaw marks or greasy rub marks, and when you hear noises, since a provider will use this to plan the inspection. Avoid sealing holes with rats still inside, because they can chew through or die in the wall. Skip loose poison, which can harm pets and children, and keep any traps where they cannot reach them. Then tell us what you've found and we'll try to connect you with an independent provider who can inspect.
Ask whether the quote covers an inspection, the treatment itself and any follow-up visits, and how many visits are expected. Ask how they find and seal entry points, since blocking access is what keeps rodents out over time. Ask what products or traps they plan to use and how they keep pets, children and wildlife safe. Ask whether they offer a written guarantee and what it covers. The size of the property, how many entry points there are and whether the problem is in an attic, crawlspace or wall all affect cost, so a good provider will explain their quote.
Other services
A few details about the problem and your neighbourhood is all it takes to get connected with a local provider.
Free to use · No obligation · Richmond and Ladner