'Genius' Rats Are Wreaking Havoc on Washington, DC

Gizmodo ^ | 12/14/18 | Catie Keck

[Duke C.]

Washington, DC, has a serious rat problem on its hands, and it has little to do with the shady goings-on at some of the highest levels of government. No, we’re talking real, honest to god rat kings who are wreaking havoc on the nation’s capital.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the DC region is facing a serious problem with Rattus Norvegicus, or the brown rat, an infestation that’s being exacerbated by both a population spike as well as mild winters. With their numbers on the rise, DC now trails New York and Los Angeles for its rat population, the Associated Press reported:

[SMGFan]

Biggest is the Democ-rat

[Duke C.]

Ratus Democratus

[newnhdad]

just something else to blame on global warming..

[dowcaet]

San Fran Nan and Schmucky Schumer are definitely RATS, but they’re hardly geniuses!

[skr]

There must be an overabundance of feral cats somewhere.

[sphinx]

The neighborhood with the highest number of complaints in 2017 was Petworth, followed by Columbia Heights, Capitol Hill, Near Northeast, 16th Street Heights, Logan Circle, Park View, U Street and Shaw. Complaints in those neighborhoods represented about 43 percent of the complaints lodged last year.

From 2016 to 2017, those neighborhoods saw between a 25 percent to 74 percent increase in rodent complaints. This year, they are on pace to see a repeat or increase in the number.

A big spike in year to year complaints suggests an organized effort by residents to organize and demand city action. FWIW, the neighborhoods listed comprise the bulk of Victorian era, brick row house Washington. They are older neighborhoods, very compact and densely populated. Think Victorian and federal style rowhouses of varying elegance and price points, tree lined streets, alleys and garages with modern midrise redevelopment crashing in along main streets and especially along metro corridors. Gentrification in Capitol Hill and Logan Circle is nearly complete, with a few pockets left to go, but the other neighborhoods listed are in the middle of very dramatic and rapid change. They are all going upscale fast. My guess is that the new residents are getting mobilized.

[Bonemaker]

“With their numbers on the rise, DC now trails New York and Los Angeles for its rat population, the Associated Press reported...”

Funny, the democrat population is directly proportional to the rat population.

[a little elbow grease]

'Genius' Rats Are Wreaking Havoc on Washington, DC ---

_________________________

I knew they couldn't be talking about the Demo-rats when I read the word, "genius".

[rawcatslyentist]

Don't forget his lil brother the Republicrat.

Remember they sat on their wallets for 8 years of Hussein!

[RoosterRedux]

A lot of rats are just too big for cats.

That said, there's a great video at the source of this article with farmers using terriers for rat control. Not sure how one would control terriers in a city environment to keep them from running out in to the street but they might do a good job of keeping the population down.

[GingisK]

I see this thread is being tended appropriately.

[RoosterRedux]

BTW that “ratting with terriers” video is in the comments section of this article.

[IWontSubmit]

(CNSNews.com) Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says he is worried that a new District of Columbia law that governs how pest control operators must handle rats may result in entire rodent “families” being relocated across the Potomac River into Virginia by D.C. pest control personnel. Lately, there have been reports of growing rat infestations around the Occupy DC protests at Freedom Plaza and McPherson Square. Cuccinelli said D.C.'s new rat law--the Wildlife Protection Act of 2010 (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010.pdf) --is “crazier than fiction” because it requires that rats and other vermin not be killed but captured, preferably in families; no glue or snap traps can be utilized; the rodents must be relocated from where they are captured; and some of these animals may need to be transferred to a “wildlife rehabilitator” as part of their relocation process....
@: http://tinyurl.com/ycrcpgbk

So there is that.

[cnsmom]

Avoid DC restaurants with outside back patio seating or parking lots with dumpsters near. I’ve seen a rat jump on a women’s shoulder while she was eating at a restaurant. Just avoid DC.

[Phillyred]

[Samurai_Jack]

The Secret of NIMH!

Still love that little animation. Brings to me a sense of Autumn.

[just me]

There are a lot of rats trying cross the Mexican border.

[dangerdoc]

Air rifles with night vision scopes. I’ve seen YouTube videos and it looks like great fun.

Not sure I’d pay for a hunting trip to DC but I bet there would be folks that would help them out if allowed.

[cnsmom]

The Adams Morgan neighborhood has been infested for at least 2 decades.