Rodent Control in Broad Ripple

Broad Ripple started as two little towns on either side of the Central Canal in 1837. They merged in 1884, and Indianapolis annexed the village in 1922. Most of the houses went up after 1900, and a lot of them are bungalows. The White River forms one edge of the neighborhood and the canal runs right through it.

That's a good recipe for rodents. There's water, old houses with basements and crawl spaces, and a commercial strip full of restaurants and bars with dumpsters out back. Calls from here split between mice in the houses and Norway rats around the businesses and alleys.

Bungalows and Rentals

Plenty of Broad Ripple houses are rentals, and tenants change every year or two. Mice can be living in a basement long before anybody notices. If you're moving in, look under the sinks, along the basement walls and in the attic hatch before the boxes arrive. Tell the landlord in writing if you find droppings.

Old bungalows usually leak at the foundation and around the basement windows. Entry point sealing with metal mesh and mortar is the long-term fix.

Along the Canal and the River

Houses that back onto the canal towpath or sit near the river see more rats and field mice. Water and thick brush along the banks give them cover. Keep woodpiles off the ground, clean up spilled bird seed, and keep the trash cart closed. Burrows along the foundation or under the deck mean rats have moved in close.

The Avenue

Restaurants and bars along Broad Ripple Avenue share alleys and dumpster pads. Rats move from one back door to the next. A commercial program with stations along the alley side and a service log keeps everyone on the same page.

Landmarks: Broad Ripple Ave. · Central Canal Towpath · Monon Trail · White River · Broad Ripple Park · College Ave. (ZIP 46220)

Nearby areas: Irvington, Fountain Square, Lawrence, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, Avon, Brownsburg, Plainfield, Greenwood.