The Rabies, Disease & Vector Control Program is part of the Erie County Department of Health Environmental Health Division. This program is responsible for enforcement, education and other disease prevention activities including investigating:
- Animal bites or scratches and wildlife encounters between people or their pets.
- Complaints about rodent problems. Garbage or junk that is not stored right, improper bird and wildlife feeding, and dog feces that is not cleaned up create places for rodents to live and can attract dangerous wildlife.
- Complaints about standing water, untreated swimming pools, and other containers that hold water and create places for mosquitoes to breed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- I found a dead animal, such as a rat, on my property. Can the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) come out and pick it up?
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The ECDOH does not come out to your property to remove dead animals. It is acceptable to pick up a dead animal, such as a rat, with a shovel or gloved hand, put it in a bag and then in your regular trash container.
- There’s a wildlife animal (skunk, raccoon or other animal) on my property. Can the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) come out and remove it?
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The ECDOH does not offer wildlife trapping services. Please review our web page on bats and other wildlife to learn more about how to protect yourself and your family during wildlife encounters.
If an animal is not leaving, and is acting dangerous or aggressive, and you need immediate help, contact your City, Town or Village to request assistance from the Animal Control Officer or a Police Officer.
If an animal is living on your property and won’t leave, you may need to hire a nuisance wildlife trapper. A list of licensed Wildlife Control Officers is available here or you may call the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation at 716-851-7000.
See Tips to Eliminate Wildlife Conflicts for best practices for landowners with problems with unwanted animals.
See Remove or "Take" Nuisance Animals Legally to find out if you need a permit or license to legally trap or shoot an animal on your own.
NOTE about rodent/rat problems: The ECDOH responds to complaints about rodent infestations for properties that are four (4) unit residences or less which are not part of an apartment complex or commercial property. Complete the Rodent Service Request & Complaint Form or call (716) 961-6800.
- I have bed bugs, cockroaches, spiders or other insects/pests in my home. Can the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) come out and exterminate them?
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The Erie County Department of Health does not make inspections or exterminate for any type of insects or other pests except for rodents/rats.
If extermination is needed, you or the property owners should hire a licensed professional exterminator, also called Pesticide Applicator, to get rid of the problem. The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation operates the certification program for Pesticide Applicators. See this list of certified pesticide applicators in NY State.
Rat/Rodents -The ECDOH operate a Rodent Control Program for properties that are four (4) units or less and which are not part of an apartment complex or commercial property. Staff inspect complaints about as rat problems, garbage that is not stored properly, dog feces that are not cleaned up, improper bird and wildlife feeding, etc. These issues create places for rats to eat and live and can create problems for wildlife. Baiting service (extermination) is provided free of charge.
- To request baiting or report a problem, complete the Rodent Service Request & Complaint Form or call (716) 961-6800.
Information on common household infestation:
- There are bed bugs, cockroaches or other insects/pests where I work. Can the Health Department make my employer exterminate?
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The ECDOH does not have jurisdiction over workplace environments. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the regulatory agency for workplace environments.
See OSHA’s laws and regulations for information regarding infestations in the workplace. You can also file a complaint with OSHA or call 1-800-321-6742.
- I have bed bugs, cockroaches or other insects/pests in my apartment and my landlord says I’m responsible for exterminating. Is that true?
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The answer to this question depends on how many units or apartments there are in the building where you live.
In a single family house, the occupant is responsible for extermination.
In locations with two or more units or apartments, the owner is responsible for exterminating. The owner is responsible for making sure the building is in good condition and without rats or insects.
Sanitary Code of Erie County: Responsibility of Owners and Occupants
1.14 Responsibility for extermination. Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a rat-proof or reasonable insect-proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of a dwelling containing two or more units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner.
If extermination is needed, you or the property owners should hire a licensed professional exterminator, also called Pesticide Applicator, to get rid of the problem. The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation operates the certification program for Pesticide Applicators. See this list of certified pesticide applicators in NY State.
Rat/Rodents -The ECDOH operate a Rodent Control Program for properties that are four (4) units or less and which are not part of an apartment complex or commercial property. Staff inspect complaints about as rat problems, garbage that is not stored properly, dog feces that are not cleaned up, improper bird and wildlife feeding, etc. These issues create places for rats to eat and live and can create problems for wildlife. Baiting service (extermination) is provided free of charge.
To request baiting or report a problem, complete the Rodent Service Request & Complaint Form or call (716) 961-6800.
Information on common household infestation:
Contact
Division of Environmental Health
ECDOH Building
503 Kensington Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14214
Map of Campus
Phone: 716-961-6800 (For Emergencies after regular business hours: 716-961-7898)
Fax: 716-961-6880