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City of Richmond, downtown riverfrontRodent Control in Shockoe Bottom, Richmond
Low ground by the James, old warehouses turned into lofts and a dense row of bars and restaurants make Shockoe Bottom a busy place for rats.
Warehouses, floodwall and nightlife
Shockoe Bottom sits in the valley between Shockoe Hill and Church Hill along the James River, on land that was part of William Mayo's 1737 plan of Richmond. Much of today's building stock went up after the evacuation fire of 1865: brick tobacco warehouses and commercial buildings, many now converted to loft apartments, offices and restaurants. The James River Flood Wall and the Canal Walk, completed in 1995, opened the area up for development. Main Street Station and the 17th Street Market anchor the neighborhood, with Interstate 95 running overhead.
Rats like the same things people do here: food. Restaurants and bars along East Main and East Cary produce a lot of waste late at night, and shared dumpsters behind buildings feed colonies that live along rail lines, under loading docks and in old basements.
Rats or mice in Shockoe Bottom?
Call and describe the house and what you found. The call goes to an independent rodent provider who covers Shockoe Bottom.
Floods, drains and loft buildings
Shockoe Bottom is low. Tropical Storm Gaston in 2004 flooded the area along Shockoe Creek, and heavy rain still sends rats from storm drains and low spots toward higher, drier buildings. Old warehouses converted to apartments often have unsealed pipe chases between floors, so mice move from a ground floor restaurant to the units above. Building managers should plan for the whole building, and residents should report activity to management in writing.
Services Shockoe Bottom callers ask about
- Restaurant Rodent Control
- Commercial Rodent Control
- Apartment and Multi-Unit Rodent Control
- Emergency Rodent Removal
- Rat Control
Shockoe Bottom rodent questions
Why are there so many rats around Shockoe Bottom restaurants?
Late-night food waste, shared dumpsters and old buildings with basements and loading docks give rats food and shelter in a small area.
I live in a loft above a restaurant. What should I do?
Report droppings or sightings to your landlord or property manager in writing. Multi-unit buildings need common areas and neighboring units treated, not just yours.
Does heavy rain make rat problems worse here?
It can. Flooded burrows and storm drains push rats toward buildings for a few days after big storms.