Residential rats
RATS-ANC
Residential Rats
Length: 498 words
By Kalie Walker
Associated Press
To address the rat problem in northeast Washington, Ward 4 followed the breadcrumbs. The District’s rats have recently migrated to residential areas, according to a representative from D.C. Health.
Gerard Brown, the project manager for Rodent and Vector Control, spoke at an Oct. 11 Ward 4C Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) meeting to discuss the rat increase in residential areas.
The rat problem, especially in domestic areas, got worse during the pandemic, Brown said. Rodents seek food, so when restaurants closed due to Covid-19, they found alternative sources in neighborhood residences.
Will Barr, a Ward 4 resident, said a lot of the problem occurs within private property, where rats infest private buildings that are abandoned but that the city cannot legally tear down.
“It's a battle that I think we fight,” Barr said. “I don't know if we're losing, we're not winning, at least. I mean, they're everywhere.”
Composting can also draw more rats into residences, Brown said. The best way to avoid the increase in rodents is to stay clean and to call Rodent and Vector Control if an infestation happens.
“With food and beverage containers, wash ‘em out and put them in the trash,” Brown said. “You know, work with us. If you see rats, call up the mobile number, they’ll come up and do an inspection.”
Brown said the city is investing in new screw top trash bins that are meant to deter rodents. Brown said not to bring trash out until the day before trash collection.
ANC Commissioner Karen Livingston said that solving the rat problem in the district is one that requires looking at the entire community.
“It's not just about running to your yard, you got to look at this kind of big picture of the block,” Livingston said.
According to a D.C. health handout, residents should seal all holes in their residence, eliminate outdoor clutter, store garbage in metal or plastic containers and add metal stripping to prevent rat nests. The handout also says to call 311 or go to the 311 service request portal for complaints and service requests.
Barr said that part of the issue with solving the rat problem is a lack of money in both government and individuals.
“It's expensive,” Barr said. “And there's not money to do it. Folks don't have money to do it with, a lot of older residents who don't have money to do it.”
Livingston said that the rat problem is a quality-of-life issue.
“For people to be spending time outside with their family with kids playing in yards, and there's just rats, maybe running through their yard, people see nests,” Livingston said.
Livingston said that the solution to the rat problem has to be a community effort.
“So, I think -- I think it does have to be a block-wide kind of effort, because as the representative said, you can do your little part, while you may not be where the rats are coming from, you know, they're just passing through,” Livingston said.
-30-
Residential Rats
Length: 498 words
By Kalie Walker
Associated Press
To address the rat problem in northeast Washington, Ward 4 followed the breadcrumbs. The District’s rats have recently migrated to residential areas, according to a representative from D.C. Health.
Gerard Brown, the project manager for Rodent and Vector Control, spoke at an Oct. 11 Ward 4C Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) meeting to discuss the rat increase in residential areas.
The rat problem, especially in domestic areas, got worse during the pandemic, Brown said. Rodents seek food, so when restaurants closed due to Covid-19, they found alternative sources in neighborhood residences.
Will Barr, a Ward 4 resident, said a lot of the problem occurs within private property, where rats infest private buildings that are abandoned but that the city cannot legally tear down.
“It's a battle that I think we fight,” Barr said. “I don't know if we're losing, we're not winning, at least. I mean, they're everywhere.”
Composting can also draw more rats into residences, Brown said. The best way to avoid the increase in rodents is to stay clean and to call Rodent and Vector Control if an infestation happens.
“With food and beverage containers, wash ‘em out and put them in the trash,” Brown said. “You know, work with us. If you see rats, call up the mobile number, they’ll come up and do an inspection.”
Brown said the city is investing in new screw top trash bins that are meant to deter rodents. Brown said not to bring trash out until the day before trash collection.
ANC Commissioner Karen Livingston said that solving the rat problem in the district is one that requires looking at the entire community.
“It's not just about running to your yard, you got to look at this kind of big picture of the block,” Livingston said.
According to a D.C. health handout, residents should seal all holes in their residence, eliminate outdoor clutter, store garbage in metal or plastic containers and add metal stripping to prevent rat nests. The handout also says to call 311 or go to the 311 service request portal for complaints and service requests.
Barr said that part of the issue with solving the rat problem is a lack of money in both government and individuals.
“It's expensive,” Barr said. “And there's not money to do it. Folks don't have money to do it with, a lot of older residents who don't have money to do it.”
Livingston said that the rat problem is a quality-of-life issue.
“For people to be spending time outside with their family with kids playing in yards, and there's just rats, maybe running through their yard, people see nests,” Livingston said.
Livingston said that the solution to the rat problem has to be a community effort.
“So, I think -- I think it does have to be a block-wide kind of effort, because as the representative said, you can do your little part, while you may not be where the rats are coming from, you know, they're just passing through,” Livingston said.
-30-