Boston releases action plan to combat the city’s rodent problem

BOSTON – Boston is a safe place for everyone – except for the rats. A final Boston Rat Action Plan was released Wednesday that prepares the city to combat the serious rodent problem.

“Boston is home to everyone except our furry rodent friends,” said Mayor Wu.

Boston’s rat problem

The city is currently undertaking a multi-agency initiative aimed at reducing the rodent population and improving the quality of life. Mayor Wu said Boston has been overrun by rats following COVID-19 because of more food availability in residential areas.

According to the city’s rat expert, Dr. Bobby Corrigan, the four rodent hotspots are downtown from the North End to the South End, Allston/Brighton, Back Bay and Beacon Hill, and Roxbury and Dorchester.

For Dr. Corrigan, however, the rat problem wasn’t too bad. “The rats have paid every single bill I’ve ever had,” Corrigan said.

But Boston’s rat problem is not necessarily “special.”

“Rats have taken over every city in the world. They’re doing very well. And Boston is not necessarily unique in that regard,” he said.

Elimination of rats

In Boston’s North End, residents feel like the rats are part of the neighborhood.

“When construction work is taking place or the roads are being opened, I sometimes feel that activity is increasing,” says local resident Giancarlo Tiberi.

The bottom line, Dr. Corrigan said, is that the best way for Boston to get rid of rats is to maintain good garbage disposal practices.

“Twenty-five percent of us, one in four, are very sloppy with our garbage on one block in Boston,” said Dr. Corrigan. “Well, that one piece of sloppy garbage feeds the rat colony on the entire block.”

If you see rats, call 311 to notify the city of the rats’ location.