Rats are Running to Evanston

EVANSTON, IL - Rat complaints to the city of Evanston’s 311 service center have more than tripled over the last two years.

Carl Caneva, the city’s assistant health director, showed aldermen a report this week indicating the number of rodent complaints city-wide went from 390 in 2013 to 1,180 this year, according to Evanston Now.

To help combat the growing problem, the city will spend $23,000 on removal services in 2016. Beginning then, Caneva said the city plans to “pre-bait” with rat poison areas that have been hot spots for rats in recent years.

One of those hot spots, according to a 2014 Evanston Now report, is an area encompassing several blocks south of Main Street and east of Dodge Avenue. At that time, the city had already hired an extermination contractor and had several of its health inspectors monitoring the situation.

In 2016, Caneva also plans to hold “rodent walks” for residents to help identify problem areas and conditions.

Tips from the city on preventing the presence of rats in your neighborhood include: getting rid of clutter, controlling weeds shrubs and bushes and washing away droppings and track marks.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons