DC is Going to War Against Rats

WASHINGTON, DC — The rat problem in the District is officially too big for both the local and federal government to ignore, and now the D.C. Department of Health and the National Park Service are teaming up to destroy the rodents.

The NPS is partnering with the DOH to "better control the rodent populations in national parks in the District," according to an NPS statement.

The agreement, which takes effect Oct. 1, will task DOH staff with inspecting national parks in the city, and allow residents to report rats in any national park and request treatment by contacting the Citywide Call Center at 311.

The hope is to improve citywide coordination in bringing the rodent population under control by increasing the frequency with which rat problems are addressed in parks.

"The National Park Service is committed to ensuring safe, positive experiences for visitors in all of our parks, and this agreement with the D.C. Department of Health provides us better tools to control the rodent population,” Robert Vogel, National Capital Regional Director for the National Park Service, said in the statement. “By simplifying the reporting process and decreasing the response time for treatment of affected areas, we are working together toward a rat-free D.C.”

Added Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Director, DOH: “We are extremely excited to partner with the National Park Service and maximize our opportunity to protect the public health and safety of the District’s residents and visitors by reducing rodent activity through proactive surveys, inspections, baiting and enforcement. This adds to our citywide ‘Rat Riddance’ efforts that work to minimize the city’s overall rat population.”

You can help fight the rat population by putting trash and food waste in trash cans, reporting sightings of rats to 311, cleaning up after pets and keeping your dog on a leash.

For more information, click here.

Image via Edal Anton Lefterov