In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about rodent prevention. 

The Department of Health and Human Service's Environmental Health office is responsible for investigating complaints of rodent activity in our city. Often, calls will come in to our office for reports of mice indoors - in this case we will partner with the Housing Department's Code Enforcement staff to correct this indoor housing condition. 

Our team may conduct specific complaint inspections or sweeps to check properties for conditions that attract rodents, such as improperly stored garbage, standing water, outdoor food sources, or improperly maintained chicken coops. During an inspection, we look for common warning signs such as droppings, gnaw marks, burrows, nesting materials, damaged food, or openings.

If staff find rodent activity on a property, we will send a notice to the owner or tenant with clear steps to solve the problem. The responsible party may need to seal entry points, clean up clutter, secure food and trash, or hire a professional pest control service. Our staff will perform follow-up inspections to ensure the property is safe, clean, and fully compliant.

Mice and rats are more than just a public health nuisance. They can contaminate food, damage property, trigger allergies, and are known to spread disease.

The most effective rodent control is prevention. Here are some key steps you can take to prevent rodents from finding their way into your home or property.

Rodent prevention works best when the whole community participates. We recommend all Meriden residents help keep public spaces clean, reporting bulky waste such as mattresses or furniture by calling our office, and keep outdoor trash storage areas clean.

If you have questions about rodent prevention or concerns about rodents, call our Environmental Health Office at (203) 630-4226.