The SMART Pilot Program Phase I has shown promise as part of the city’s overall strategy in dealing with the rodent problem.

By Jim Clark

The ongoing battle against the proliferation of rodents in the City of Somerville continues and hopes run high that the latest strategies will yield tangible results in the near future.

On Wednesday, September 28, the City Council Rodent Issues Special Committee held their regular meeting to discuss these strategies and the latest technologies available to aid in the effort to rid the city of its troublesome vermin.

The Committee, consisting of President and Ward 1 Councilor McLaughlin, Councilor At-Large Strezo, Ward 3 Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward 4 Councilor Clingan, At-Large Councilor Kelly and At-Large Councilor Wilson, took up several orders put forward for discussion:

1 – That the Director of Inspectional Services increase measures to control the rat population from Vinal Avenue to Walnut Street and from Highland Avenue to Summer Street.

2 – That the Director of Health and Human Services immediately increase rat control measures in the areas of Fellsway West to Temple Street and Broadway to Jaques Street.

3 – That the Director of Health and Human Services increase rat control efforts from Wigglesworth Street to Dana Street.

4 – That the Commissioner of Public Works, the Director of Inspectional Services, and the Environmental Health Coordinator address rodent issues and overgrowth in the public access alleyway between Mt. Vernon and Mt. Pleasant Streets and devise a long-term solution to the problem.

5 – That the Director of Inspectional Services and the Environmental Health Coordinator update this Council on the SMART box program and other recent rodent control measures.

The examination of data and discussion of 311 calls, including ward specific; calls from 2019-2022; residential assistance program and visits; community site visits; SMART Pilot Phase I; plans for Phase II; and Somerville IPM 2023 and beyond were the specific agenda items covered.

Of particular importance, the Committee was informed that the SMART Pilot Program Phase I is complete.

900 Captures were recorded, with data being used to target area specific causes of rodent activity.

Identification of inactive area types and higher activity areas to inform future efforts was also discussed.

It was also pointed out that avoided rodenticide usage on these rodents will only positively impact the local environment long-term.

Additionally, the Committee learned:

• That there is a high concentration of rats in and around commercial dumpsters.
• Locations abutting the GLX and the capture data further confirms that the city must work closely with the MBTA and other major construction/demo. sites.
• That mixed use spaces residential + business should be areas of focus as well, including access to residential waste, access to commercial waste, and access to shelter.
• That the city is working with Modern (Anticemex) on developing a more real-time data tracking service to avoid data delays.

In SMART Phase II, Inactive boxes will move to Union Sq. and Lincoln Park. Locations near high concentrations of dumpster permits in Union have been discovered.

Lincoln has been chosen as a different kind of green-space/residential space. There is a school with high concentrations of pedestrian trash, dog park and dense residential spaces.

Communication strategies were also discussed, including:

• A new Rodent PSA video with the mayor delivering remarks.
• An annual postcard targeting 23,000 properties.
• Updates to the website.
• 300 Rodent door hangers distributed.
• National and local media coverage of SMART.
• Coordination with other municipalities.

Potential additions to the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) include:

• Working with DPW staff to identify and replace trash barrels in green spaces with Big Bellys.
• Expansion of the SMART program to include other high-report areas (Davis, GLX abutting neighborhoods).
• Exploration of a Community Composting program
• Development of community-based rodent monitoring programs
• Effective use of city resources and community driven solutions.

Additional measures and overall strategies were discussed and will be followed up in future meetings. There is general optimism that progress is being made.