Rodent Control Task Force

Environmental Health Division

The City of Hartford has taken aggressive steps to tackle the rodent problem in our city.  The approach taken by the City involves primarily three steps:

• Block by block survey of the city

• Distribution of new (and improved) trash cans

• Education campaign

While the education component will be performed by many departments and distribution of new trash cans will be performed by the Department of Public Works, the Environmental Health Division will be working closely with the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) on the block-by-block survey of Hartford.   While L&I will be responsible for residential properties, the Environmental Health Division will be responsible for commercial and mixed properties.

We are surveying all commercial and mixed use properties in Hartford.  In the beginning of the project, we are focusing on the targeted area developed by L&I, and are closely working with Public Works' Clean Cities program to ensure that our inspectors leave an area just before Clean Cities enters the area to clean it up.

During an inspection, our sanitarians and inspectors use a checklist to determine what, if any, conditions are on a property that may contribute to the rodent problem, or are simply offensive and a public health threat.   These conditions include:

In addition to confirming that these conditions exist, inspectors also place them on a sketch of the lot, so as to help the owner more easily locate them on their property.  Orders are also given to abate the situation by a particular date.  Copies of the completed inspection form are kept in house, posted on the property, and mailed to the property owner.

If an owner does not abate the problems, the property will be referred to the Clean Cities program, who will clean up the property, with associated costs liened to the property.  An exterminator will be contracted to bait for rats.

In addition, we are also attending to abandoned cars that are found during inspections of residential property.   On a routine basis we go out and tag vehicles, and return to tow them a minimum of 48 hours later.  If you have a car that you want to get rid of, the city will tow it as a free service.

You Can Help Us in the Fight Against Rats!

1. Keep lids on all trash containers.

2. Do not feed animals outside, and especially do not leave food outside.

3. Clean up your property in advance of our arrival.  It makes no sense to bait a property for rats if the property is still providing food and/or homes for rats.  By cleaning up your property, it lets us get to more properties sooner, and hopefully letting us tackle Hartford's rat problem as soon as possible!

For more information on the Rodent Control Task Force, please call the Department of Licenses and Inspections at 860-543-8570.  If you have questions about abandoned vehicles or commercial properties, call us at 860-543-8815. Call the City of Hartford Health Department:  e-mail or call  John Faenza, (South Hartford) 547-1426, ext. 7089; Naomi McKoy, (North Hartford) at 547-1426, ext. 7092 or Richard Nieves, (Central Hartford), 547-1426, ext. 7095.