Residents living on a street in Toronto’s Leaside area are grappling with a rat problem allegedly exacerbated by a neighbor who persists in feeding wildlife in her backyard. Jennifer King, a local resident near the accused homeowner, shared her ordeal of having to engage an exterminator at a hefty cost of $3,000 earlier this year to eliminate rats that had infiltrated her home’s walls and attic.
Councilor Rachel Chernos Lin, representing the Randolph Road homeowners, disclosed that a street inhabitant was charged some months back for illicitly feeding wildlife. The said homeowner is also facing scrutiny for property standards violations due to accumulated garbage on her premises. While feeding animals on private land was permissible until recently, the city revised its animal bylaw in 2023 to prohibit backyard wildlife feeding, with the exception of songbirds.
City records indicate a surge in complaints, with 3,787 infringements reported in 2023 and 3,897 in 2024. Municipal officials emphasized the adverse effects of feeding wildlife in private yards, warning of attracting unintended animals like rodents, which pose public health and safety risks when established.
King recounted her distressing rat encounter, citing instances of rat tracks in the snow and sizable rats freely roaming her backyard, causing damage and disturbances. Despite her plea to the neighbor to cease the feeding, the situation persisted. Subsequently, an exterminator was hired to address the indoor infestation, though outdoor rat numbers remain alarming.
Concern for King’s well-being and the neighborhood’s welfare prompted a dozen residents to collectively urge the neighbor to discontinue the wildlife feeding practice. The lack of response from the accused homeowner prompted city intervention, potentially leading to fines for bylaw violations and property standards breaches.
The rat influx on Randolph Road, particularly south of Eglinton Avenue and west of Laird Drive, has stoked fears among residents like King and her friend Janet Bolton. Bolton expressed distress over the health implications for King, underscoring the need for a swift resolution to the issue. City officials are investigating the property standards non-compliance, with a bylaw contravention hearing scheduled for November.
King linked the sudden rat surge to adjacent construction activities and the allure of food in the neighbor’s yard, expressing exasperation with the situation. As winter sets in, the rats seem confined to their outdoor dens, but the impending warmer months raise concerns about a resurgence. Chernos Lin stressed the importance of neighborly dialogue and reporting incidents to city authorities to prevent minor disputes from escalating. In cases of impasse, contacting city councillors for mediation assistance is advised for resolving neighborhood conflicts.
