None of us want to have to deal with a rat problem in our community. But, unfortunately, this can be a real a problem, and there are a number of things that we can be doing to keep things under control. Karen Stiles of our call for action office joins us in the newsroom with more information.
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Some of the neighborhood services departments in our area indicate that a major contributor to the rat problem comes from people not disposing of their trash properly. But, another contributing factor comes from the waste that our dogs leave in our yards. now that the snow has melted, we may be noticing a lot more of this.
To keep these situations from getting out of control, use proper, tight-fitting dumpsters and trash receptacles. Do not leave your garbage outside in plastic bags or containers that can be easily opened by vermin. If you do not have enough room in your dumpster or receptacles, contact your city or municipality to inquire about other options such as getting a second dumpster or taking excess garbage to the dump. Also, clean up after your pets on a regular basis. And, if you have feeders outside for birds, make sure that these feeders are up high enough from the ground and cannot be easily accessed by rodents.
If you notice your neighbors aren’t doing their part, contact your city or municipalities’ neighborhood services department to report a problem. They can assist with checking things out, taking action, and providing further education on how to keep a rat problem under control or from happening in the first place. in the next few weeks, the city of Milwaukee will be working on an extra effort related to this problem. But, in the meantime, they have a great brochure on their website that addresses how to avoid and resolve problems with rats.
