Rodent-proof trash bin installed in the North End in December, 2024.Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Rats have run rampant around the city for decades, but the City of Boston has had enough.
Mayor Michelle Wu rolled out a Boston Rodent Action Plan to help diffuse the rat population and cut off what one woman called, “a 22-hour food buffet for rodents,” at Tuesday’s virtual community meeting.
“They [rats] are bigger than the cats now,” Oscar, a Roxbury resident, said.
Boston will place over 270 sensors at hotspot areas to gather information about rodent movements. The city’s action plan said densely populated neighborhoods, intertwining alleyways and older infrastructure are where rodents tend to thrive.
One Roslindale resident down the South End on Wednesday said rats are not limited to those locations.
“The city’s full of rats all over the place,” Robert said. “You drive anywhere – Roxbury, Dorchester – you see them running on the street.”
Part of this initiative includes working to improve the city’s clean-up efforts, such as several ordinances proposed by the city council last week to control these pests.
"This is a real opportunity to fix some of our trash practices throughout the city, to make them less rodent-friendly and look with an eye towards more containerization throughout the city," Dennis Roache, the Boston Superintendent for Waste Reduction, said.
The city’s rat problem dates back to the early 1700s when these rodents originally colonized from Europe by ship. Ever since, the city has come up with different ideas – one being a proposal last year to give rats birth control – to help get a grip on their population.
A few months ago, a Back Bay Dunkin’ Donuts temporarily shut down after a viral video of a rat eating their baked goods prompted a city inspection, leading to nearly 20 health code violations. Just this month, a woman claimed a rat bit her while walking down Fenway, CBS News Boston reported.
Community members, like James, said he wants to see a successful outcome this time with lower rat sightings.
“Hopefully it will do some justice,” he said.
City officials are asking residents to report any trash or rat problems to Boston 311.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.