Community Corner
Rats In Royal Oak?
A recent Facebook post by the city of Royal Oak advises how residents can minimize rat problems. Residents say it's an issue.
ROYAL OAK, MI — Rats in Royal Oak? According to a city of Royal Oak Facebook post, “rodents are a community problem.” While the post doesn’t say how much of a problem the pests are, it does give a number of helpful hints to minimize fury infestations:
• Rats need a food source and water. It can be up to 300 feet away from their nest. (Dog poop, bird seed, and garbage are rat favorites. They can survive on ONE ounce of food per day.) If they can’t feed, they can’t breed!
• Rats need a place to live. Underground holes – often near buildings, wood piles, discarded items etc. – are a sign you may have rats living in your yard.
• Rats do not respect property lines. Their dining room may be in one lot while their bedrooms may be a lot away.
The city provides a more detailed look at common types of rats and mice and how to prevent them on its website. Residents reaction to the post were mixed. Some were thankful for the information, while others shared problems.
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“Yesterday I spotted a rat, about 6 inches long with a rather high humped backside in my yard west of Wookward and north of 13 Mile Rd,” wrote Nancy Silvio on July 20. “I will clear brush on the side of my house when weather cools but wonder if there have been many sightings in this area. Thank you.”
Kristin Pizzo said she recently found a dead rat in her backyard. “I see them all around our neighborhood,” she added.
Find out what's happening in Royal Oakfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Rikki Smith Mutter said the rat problem is “so out of control. I'm seeing rat poop everywhere. They have eaten my kids' small pool and toys. It's awful! I called the city just yesterday. It's disgusting!”
Resident Karen Carman was very direct in her advice on the issue. “Clean up your dog poop,” she wrote on July 20. “If you have wood piles make sure it is off the ground on a stand! If you have any holes near your porch or home put steel wool in them rats can't get through it! Poop is a big problem clean up daily after your dogs! This has been a major problem for years in Royal Oak. See them daily in yards crossing the streets.”
Photo by Jans Canon via Flickr Commons
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