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City officials continue the search for effective rodent control measures.
By Jim Clark
The Somerville Board of Aldermen Rodent Issues Special Committee held a meeting last Wednesday, March 14, to address both the progress and challenges in the city’s efforts to reduce rodent infestation.
Chairperson, Ward 1 Alderman Matthew McLaughlin, reviewed for the Committee several agenda items prepared for consideration at the meeting.
The first resolution presented for consideration proposed that the administration utilize the drug Senestech to sterilize rats as one of many measures to control the rodent population.
“This [Senestech] was introduced a few years ago on MacArthur Street as a test ground, but we haven’t heard much about it lately,” according to McLaughlin.
It was noted that consultants would be brought in as the construction season gets under way in order to effectively make use of the liquid contraceptive bait product.
On the question of the effectiveness of Senestech, McLaughlin said, “I remember in the study, MacArthur Street did have a drop in rodents. Gilman Street was another test area and that didn’t work as well. There are just so many of them [rats].”
Video monitoring of known rodent infested areas was also discussed and it was generally agreed that such monitoring should be continued as various control methods are rolled out and tested.
This resolution was kept in Committee in order to follow up with the Inspectional Services Department.
The next agenda item concerned an order sponsored by Chairman McLaughlin that the Superintendent of Inspectional Services, the Director of Health and Human Services, and the Director of any other department involved in rodent control efforts, appear before the Board’s Special Committee on Rodent Issues each month to highlight rodent control efforts.
McLaughlin suggested that the various department representatives should meet on a monthly basis and prepare reports for the Committee prior to its regular meetings.
This order was subsequently approved.
An additional order put forward at the meeting called for the City Solicitor to draft a feral cat ordinance similar to Chicago’s, to assist feral cats and address rodent concerns.
McLaughlin reported on how Chicago and New York have taken on a feral cat ordinance program involving cats, approved by the Humane Society, that have been taken off the streets, spayed and neutered, then put into a program where they would be fed and taken care of by residents. The cats would be microchipped so that there would be knowledge of who owned them and where they would be going.
McLaughlin said that in Chicago a decline in rodent population was recorded following the adoption of this program.
“Anecdotally, there are no rodents on my street because I have an outdoor cat,” said McLaughlin.
Some concern was expressed over the safety of migratory birds that may pass through the city as a result of the program, and further study of this aspect would be in order before going forward with such a program.
This order was approved and the Committee will expect a response from the City Solicitor.
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I would like to know why the city never moved forward with the sterilization program. It was discussed several years ago, and has been reported to have been very successful in NYC, but it was dropped for some unknown reason. The city really needs to put more of this problem on developers. They are making large profits while also disturbing rat dens so that they move into the streets and there is no accountability. The fix can’t be on the residents. I have a ‘rodent-proof’ city barrel which has been chewed through by what I like to think was a squirrel or a possum. The city allows dog feces and discarded food to sit for days in city park/playground barrels, and both are known to attract rats. Chickens attract rats yet the city works against itself by allowing chickens in backyards. Why should residents have to have cats roaming their neighborhood and also have to feed them? Residents won’t be happy when they find out that some popular flowering bushes are killed by cat urine (I had my backyard decimated by a neighbors’ cat).
I’m sure that there are valid issues with some people who aren’t properly keeping garbage contained, but the problem is mainly due to the amount of construction being allowed in this city to begin with.
We never had this problem until the city started letting developers in here in droves, building apartments and condos. Bad enough we’re one of, if not THE most densely populated city in New England, let alone bringing in even more people to continue to create issues with rodents.
More people, more garbage, more rats. Do the math.
Cats shouldn’t even be allowed outdoors, let alone be expected to do the rat-catching for the city. Rats can bring various diseases. Anyone who has a cat that at least cares something about their pet would not want to risk them getting sick catching rodents.
Have you seen the size of some rats? They’re nearly as big as the cats themselves. How does anyone expect a cat to deal with them?
Not only that, but think about it. Suppose a cat catches a rat. Do you expect the cat to eat it? Most likely they’ll catch it, kill it, and then leave it there to rot. Attracting flies, maggots, and probably more rats. That’s not much of a solution.
Residents need to be responsible in keeping garbage and other attractants contained, but there should be more done by the city to keep down the amount of development going on to avoid stirring up these animals in the first place.
Sterilization is at least a more humane way to deal with the rodent population, and the city should concentrate on that instead of trying to pass on the responsibility to us.
Why are we not looking at the source of the problem?
Rats are here because they are getting fed. Why are we not looking at garbage disposal and upkeep of properties? I can walk around my neighborhood and see yards with debris, and trash receptacles with holes that the rats have chewed through. Why are these residents not being fined and held accountable. It takes one neighbor who neglects their property and then we all have to suffer. The absentee lanlords should have accountability as well.