Smell A Rat? Well, Here's What To Do If You See One In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — While residents' complaints about rats in Hoboken seem to have declined since last year, they are still reporting sightings.

The city is offering a "Community Education Session on Rat Control and Mitigation" on Oct. 9, postponed from last month.

The CDC notes that rats and mice can spread "over 35 diseases." They give advice for addressing a rat problem here.

In the meantime, one councilwoman has shared details of what to do if you see a rat.

"I’ve been hearing about an uptick in rat sightings in the 2nd Ward, particularly in the area west of Washington and north of 12th Street," wrote Tiffanie Fisher in her newsletter eariler this month.

She added, "All of the road openings in the area are clearly not helping. I’ve met with several neighbors and have been working closely with them, the City Health Department, and the Constituent Services director to identify and address locations of concern, including specific food sources and properties that are not fully complying with our lid laws."

Last year, Fisher surveyed residents and came up with a "rat map" of problem areas.

Administratively, the city passed lid laws and took other actions.

"If you spot any rats, please report them to the city at ratreport@hobokennj.gov," Fisher wrote in her Sept. 3 newsletter. "If you live in the specific area mentioned, please include me on your email as well."

The city included the following information about its upcoming information session:

Rodent Control and Mitigation Community Education Session

The City of Hoboken, the Hoboken Health Division, and the Hoboken Office of Constituent Services are hosting a Community Education Session on
Rat Control and Mitigation on Oct. 9, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Multi-Service Center, 124 Grand St.

Experts in the field will be on hand to discuss a variety of topics including the rodent lifecycle and ecosystem, how to seal burrows on private property, prevention strategies including containerization, updates on City mitigation efforts, regulatory codes and enforcement, and more.

To register CLICK HERE to fill out the registration form.