Melrose Has A Rodent Problem

MELROSE, MA — The high real estate prices aren't intimidating the rodents, as you may have noticed. Melrose is seeing an influx of rodents.

"We're getting a lot of calls from all different parts of the city about rodents," Board of Health Director Ruth Clay told reporters in a Monday call. "But to put it in context it's not just happening in Melrose, Wakefield, Saugus, it's happening all over the state and actually all over the country."

There are a lot of theories as to why the rats are getting so cozy lately, but nobody knows for sure, Clay said. All that's clear is, "Planet Earth is having an explosion of rats. "

City officials aren't blissfully unaware of the problem. The City Hall area is one of the areas with an active infestation. The City is working with DPW to clear up the area around the parking lot, then rodent control can do its job.

Clay encourages private property owners to check for burroughs. Where there is one, that means there should be one or two more nearby.

"Every rodent family has a front door, back door, and usually a back door," Clay said.

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Residents can do some preventative work. Make sure your area isn't attractive to rodents: Clean up loose food sources, cap your trash cans, clean your grill, remove bird food.

Clay said spreading this information is one of the City's best tools against the rodent population. It's a neighborhood effort, she said.

"It's an ongoing process," she said. "It's not a one-time shot deal kind of thing."

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