Cockroaches Cancel Trick-Or-Treating In Metro Detroit Neighborhood

WYANDOTTE, MI — A major cockroach infestation forced officials to cancel Halloween trick-or-treating in a Wyandotte neighborhood "to prevent further roach migration," according to city officials.

City officials warned the Wyandotte community in a letter that the cockroach infestation was so bad that they're forced to close down the sidewalks on 20th street between Eureka Road to Grove Street on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Barricades and signs will be placed on the streets and sidewalks between Eureka Road to Grove Street, including the intersections of Orchard and Pine streets, as well as at Eureka Road, city officials said.

The bugs were found crawling outside a home that has since been vacated in the neighborhood a few weeks ago after the city's waste management picked up a load of garbage in front of the house, city officials said.

City councilman Todd Hanna said officials are trying desperately to get rid of the bugs by offering to spray every yard in the area affected. He also reiterated the infestation is of "no fault of the city."

Neighbors told WXYZ they've been constantly spraying their feet and pants with rubbing alcohol to kill off any roach eggs they step on in the area.

Although squashing a cockroach will kill it, their eggs could survive and be tracked all over the neighborhood. Officials were particularly concerned about trick-or-treaters stepping on the bugs Monday night in making the decision to cancel trick-or-treating.

The homeowners were given 30 days to clean up the home to meet city standards, or the city will take possession of the home and an extermination process will take place after that.