Rat Population Grows But East Haven Project Not Reason: Official

EAST HAVEN, CT - East Shore Health District officials want to make it clear that while they believe East Haven residents claims that the number of rats in their neighborhood has increased since work began on the renovation of former East Haven High School building that the work itself isn’t the reason.

Michael Pascucilla, director of the East Shore District Health Department, said there have been surveys and the district has done “walk throughs” of the Tyler Street site “and there is definitely no infestation.”

The old high school is in the process of being converted into a multi-million dollar complex, which includes 70 mixed-income apartments for seniors.

The apartments will be housed in the front half to the building. The back half will include an upgrade to the school’s pool, auditorium and basketball court which will be open to the community, along with creating town council chamber The apartments are expected to be completed in a little more than a year.

While Pascucilla is certain the work isn’t causing the rat problems, he said he wanted to make it abundantly clear he believes those who state they are seeing more rats in the surrounding neighborhood.

He has his own ideas why.

“We’ve seen an increase of rodent infestation across the state the past few years,” Pascucilla said. “It could be due, in part, to climate change.”

Pascucilla said another likely cause is that people “could be feedings their animals outside,” and the rats could be attracted to the animal food or droppings that dogs are leaving behind that may not being cleaned up by animal owners.

Regardless of the reason Pascucilla said people shouldn’t take the problem into their own hands and use strategies such as poisons because those poisons can also be digested by pets.

If you do see rats, Pascucilla said the best thing to do is call the health district at 203-481-4233.