The entire Northeast has seen a large increase in rodent populations from mice to squirrels to opossum and rats. The current reasoning for this increase in populations is the lack of predators in urban environments, human population density and the possibility that current pesticides in use may not still be as effective as they once were.

The position of this office is to have residents practice solid waste control, standard landscaping procedures ( mow lawns, remove wood piles, manage vegetable gardens, eliminate sources of water. ) property maintenance ( fill holes in foundation walls, ensure doors in outer openings have no gaps, do not feed animals outside ) and to have pesticides applied by licensed professionals to ensure the target pest population is address while having as little impact on the environment as possible.

The practices you read about in other large cities are practice installed on city or state property using methods like carbon dioxide injection and dry ice. Methods such as these are allowed in conjunction with regulated pest control practices and must be approved for used by the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources, Pesticide Program, and studied for effectiveness in these applications before they can or will be used on private property.

The City does have a rodent control program that is installed on the bike path year round. This installation has brought down the population in the areas of our schools, housing developments and this passive recreation area. These locations, because of their uses, are major attractants to rodents and other pests.

Pesticide installation on private property will be the responsibility of the property owner due to all of the liability inherent with the application of pesticides.

In closing, there are many factors in play with the current rodent population as you know. Do your best to eliminate possible attractants on your property and report those you see in the community so they can be addressed.