Portland is working on getting rid of all the rats that are out and about.

WGME 13 talked to Portland Public Works Wastewater Systems Coordinator John Emerson about the rise in rat complaints. What was the city doing and why the heck are there so many more rats around?

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One major reason for all the rats is the construction going on in Portland. Especially the project along Back Cove that has been torn up for a couple of years. Rats are disturbed and well, looking for food and homes. Hey, we have food and homes and that's where rats have been seen.

Complaints to Portland's See Click Fix are up and Portland is responding with 'greener' traps around the city and under the city. These traps don't use poison, but an electric shock that kills the rats. They have about 20 of these traps above ground in the areas with the most complaints and about 40 traps underground. Since they started this new approach in April, they have killed almost 6,000 rats.

Other reasons for the increase in the population of rats, according to WGME, are more restaurants and people doing more composting.

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Portland wants you to know that they are on the rat problem. I had a friend who saw a rat run across a street in Portland and she thought it was a cat! If you're having a rat problem in your neighborhood, your best bet is the See Click Fix website. You can also report it by phone at (207) 874-8493 and email: housingsafety@portlandmaine.gov. Good luck!

 

 

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