The Rattiest City: Seeking the Tao of Rats, Owls and Humans

The story stated that 4 owls in a family of owls in the area, were fatally poisoned by rat bait. When the remaining owl went missing, residents formed search parties to find her. The town never found the owl, but ‘owl watchers’ launched a public education program about the dangers of rodenticides and presented certificates of appreciation to business owners, who pledged not to use them. A certificate of recognition was presented to the head of their ‘Neighborhood Family Center’ for their efforts to protect owls by eliminating the use of anti-coagulant rat poison.

The story brought numerous questions to mind. How had the city determined that the owls had died from rat poison? More importantly what is the plan to control the rat population in the area? This essential point seems to have gotten lost in the narrative. After all, controlling the rat population was the reason the bait was there in the first place. Eliminating it, could lead to an increased rat population. The town was justifiably proud that they are looking after the owls; but what about the residents? What do they do if rats infest their homes and properties?

Saint Petersburg has a rodent control program run through the Department of Sanitation. Unlike Safety Harbor, the city provides and handles the bait; therefore there is no need for individuals to treat for rodents using various products, that may be more toxic. The city uses an anti-coagulant rodenticide. This is a mild form of coumadin that makes rats feel sick and they generally go back to their nests to die. Domestic animals can vomit (rats can’t), so if they ingest the bait, they vomit it up. The Saint Pete Sanitation Department pays attention to the effect of their baits. Boyd Preserve routinely performs necropsies on dead birds and wild life to determine cause of death. While they have seen traces of rodenticide in these animals; generally, it has not been the cause of death. The Saint Petersburg Rodent Control Program has been in place for sixty years, seems to be effective and, consistent negative effects have not come to light.

Nevertheless, about eight months ago, some city council member in Saint Petersburg heard the owl story and decided that St. Pete should follow suit and ban these rodenticides. Unable to completely dispense with the rodent control program in St Pete, they asked the Department to research alternative bait, less toxic to small animals and birds. A sodium-based bait was decided upon which results in rats dying of thirst. This bait is less toxic, but also less effective in eliminating rats. Whether it will be able to control the rat population remains to be seen, although it appears that a trial period was not established.

I interact with the City of Saint Petersburg concerning the rat control population because I have bait boxes on my property which the city services. I find that city officials in the rodent program are dedicated, well informed; and I appreciate the service. These officials use rodenticides, but also offer home inspections to help residents identify openings where rats may enter their homes, and advise how to secure them. The sanitation department takes care to use the mildest poison possible, while still getting the job done. The new sodium- based poison, may or may not be effective. Currently the prognosis concerning the effectiveness of the new bait is not good. Hopefully the Sanitation Department will take appropriate measures if necessary. Keep in mind that once a female rat reproduces, she could have as many as 15,000 descendants by the end of just one year.

Due to budget restraints most cities in Florida have eliminated their rodent programs. Saint Petersburg and all of Pinellas County however, being a peninsula; is particularly vulnerable to rat infestation, as the rats cannot easily spread beyond the coastline. New York City’s, Manhattan, is in a similar situation, as that area is also surrounded by water. They have hired a ‘Rat Czar’ to deal with the problem. A major focus for them is working to assure that all garbage is in closed bins, off the street, and collected and hauled off as quickly as possible. In Chicago, referred to as ‘the rattiest city’, the Tree House Humane society’s “Cats at Work program, released more than 1,000 cats into a residential and commercial settings to hunt the rodents, WGN9 first reported. In 1977, a $1 bounty was offered for rats in Chicago as part of a “war on rats”, after a borough official estimated that the rat population in one constituency outnumbered its 85,000 human population, the New York Times reported.

As a reminder of why we want to avoid a large rat population in Saint Petersburg; rats can carry a number of diseases, such as Leptospirosis, Tularemia and Hantavirus. These can be transmitted to humans through bi-products like feces and urine, if you eat food that’s been contaminated with rat droppings. Rats can bring other pests like ticks and lice into the home, which can spread diseases too. If you live in an apartment, a nearby infestation can quickly spread into your living space also.

Also rats and mice cause structural damage to homes and buildings. They will gnaw on any material; wires or insulation. They go after pipes which may result in gas leaks, or a damage sewage system. Rodents may build nests inside heating and cooling ducts. When this happens, a home’s HVAC system is less efficient and exposes inhabitants to harmful germs and bacteria. Even though rodent damage can be extensive, homeowners insurance policies refuse to cover repairs.

It is not clear what the best method to control rodents in Saint Petersburg or Pinellas County may be, but we must keep the situation in mind and find ways to avoid large infestations. In addition, increasing human population in the area, means less space for other creatures, and more garbage; which attracts rats. I have lived in Saint Petersburg for over three years and work in my yard a lot. Coincidentally, for the first time, just as I was finishing up this article; I saw a large rat near my home. While we keep our property clean and all garbage in closed bins, the rat was there, near my garbage bin, and ran along the side of the house when I disturbed it. I personally do not want encounters with rats to become common place. I would think few of us do. Chicago is welcome to hold onto the title of ‘the rattiest city’.