As Montrealers enjoy warmer spring temperatures, an unwelcome resident is making its presence increasingly known throughout the city. Rat sightings have surged dramatically in recent months, with municipal data revealing a troubling 39 percent increase in rodent-related complaints since 2022—a clear indication that Montreal’s rat problem has evolved from occasional nuisance to pressing urban crisis.
“I’ve lived in the Plateau for nearly two decades and have never seen anything like this,” says Marie Bouchard, a resident who recently discovered rats in her garden. “They’re becoming bolder, appearing in broad daylight where children play.”
The escalation has forced city officials to acknowledge what many residents have been reporting for months. According to CO24 News, Montreal’s 311 service recorded 2,522 rodent-related complaints in 2023, compared to 1,811 in 2022—figures that likely underrepresent the true scope of the problem, as many encounters go unreported.
Urban wildlife experts point to several contributing factors. Construction projects throughout the city have disturbed established rat colonies, driving the rodents into new territories. The relatively mild winter failed to reduce populations as severely as typical Quebec cold snaps might. Perhaps most significantly, waste management practices haven’t kept pace with the growing population density in many neighborhoods.
“Rats are extraordinarily adaptable creatures,” explains Dr. Robert Martineau, urban ecologist at Université de Montréal. “When we provide them with ample food sources through improper waste disposal and construction debris, they respond with population booms. One female rat can produce up to 50 offspring annually, making containment challenging once colonies establish themselves.”
The health implications extend beyond mere disgust. Rats are known vectors for various diseases, including leptospirosis and hantavirus. They can contaminate food sources and damage infrastructure by gnawing through electrical wiring—a particular concern in Montreal’s aging buildings, according to Canada News.
City councilor Émilie Thuillier, responsible for public works, has promised a comprehensive response. “We’re implementing a multi-faceted approach including increased baiting in high-complaint areas, revising waste collection practices, and educating the public about proper food storage and garbage disposal,” she stated at a recent council meeting.
However, opposition councilors argue these measures are insufficient. “The administration has been slow to acknowledge the severity of this problem,” says councilor Benoit Langevin. “We need dedicated funding for a specialized rodent control unit similar to what cities like New York and Chicago have implemented.”
Some neighborhoods have been disproportionately affected. Ville-Marie, the Plateau-Mont-Royal, and Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie account for nearly 40 percent of all complaints, creating what some residents call “rat hotspots” throughout the city center.
The economic impact extends beyond municipal budgets. Restaurants and food-related businesses report spending thousands on additional pest control measures. “We’ve had to triple our pest management budget this year,” says Jean-Pierre Morin, owner of a bistro in Little Italy. “It’s an expense we hadn’t anticipated and it affects our bottom line significantly.”
Community groups have begun organizing to demand more aggressive action. The newly formed Coalition contre les Rongeurs is pressing for transparency in how the city allocates resources to pest control and advocating for stricter enforcement of sanitation regulations for commercial properties.
Environmental scientists suggest the rat problem may be an indicator of broader urban ecosystem challenges. “Rats thrive in environments where natural predators like foxes, hawks and owls have been eliminated,” notes environmental scientist Laura Tremblay. “A sustainable approach would include considering how we might restore some of these natural control mechanisms while improving our waste management practices.”
As Montreal prepares for its busy summer tourist season, the pressure on officials to address the infestation intensifies. The question facing the city now extends beyond immediate control measures to more fundamental urban planning considerations: can Montreal develop a long-term strategy that addresses not just the symptoms but the root causes of its growing rat problem?
