Report Rats to the Fairfax County Health Department

I love Reston and have lived here for over 20 years. It has changed in more ways than can be counted, and recently I have to say, in ways I do not like.

One such change is the growing rat population.  No, you don't have to go to DC to have rats overrun your neighborhood!  I live near the South Lakes shopping center and there are hundreds that travel in packs at night, screeching their way down the sidewalks, alleyways and along the lake.  It sounds like something out of a horror movie - and it can be heard live, on a nightly basis, right here in Reston.

Reston Town Center now has them as well, and who knows where else they are.  It is only a matter of time that they will be everywhere, as one rat couple and their offspring can produce 278 rats in one year, according to the Fairfax County health department. 

One thing that can be done is to start reporting this to the Fairfax County health department by calling 703-246-2300 or sending an email to hdehd@fairfaxcounty.gov.

According to an article in the Oakton Patch last year, Fairfax County had declined participating in a "rat summit" designed to address the growing population of rodents.  Only an increase in complaints will move them to take positive action, which we most definitely need.

What other ideas do readers have to stop this growing problem?  There are obvious things such as not putting out bird feeders since seeds and nuts are a favorite food of rodents.  The shopping centers also need to be proactive in managing their trash and cleaning up food on the sidewalks. 

Whatever we can do - I'm in!  Living among rats is certainly not what I had in mind when I moved here back in 1993.