Why Does Chicago Have So Many Rats?
WouterRats are a problem that plagues Chicago. Despite this, the city has taken measures to address the problem. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has established a “Rodent Task Force” to combat the problem. In addition, he has created 10 more crews to get rid of rat infestations.
Rats reproduce quickly and are difficult to track. According to a RentHop study, Chicago residents reported about 60,000 complaints about rats in the past year compared to just 26,000 complaints in New York in the same time period. The reason is that Chicago’s population is much lower than that of New York. The city has a population of about 2.71 million compared to New York City, which has a population of 8.42 million.
Chicago pest control companies have had a busy winter, seeing a spike in calls and emergency requests from residents. Some of those calls were made after finding fresh rat tracks in snow. Taking preventive measures to reduce the rodent population is essential, and residents can do so by closing gaps and weather stripping windows and doors. They can also call 311 for assistance in dealing with the problem.
According to a spokesperson from Streets and San, every member of the city has a role in solving the rat problem. Using feral cats is another effective way to fight the problem. Tree House Humane Society places up to 15 cats in various neighborhoods every month to help control the rat population.
