Any 'rat problem' neighborhoods in CC/Bethesda?
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Anonymous
| Never seen a rat ever in Bethesda. |
Anonymous
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We live in a SFH on the edge of downtown Bethesda and had a rat problem during the pandemic, when the restaurants closed and the rats went across the road to look for food. Our idiot neighbor kept laying poison traps, which smell like food: he kept complaining about catching rats! We told him not to put out traps, but just let the rats circulate. In suburbia, it's the best solution. Rats aren't going to congregate in your yard if there's nothing specific to attract them there.
Then when restaurants re-opened, the rats returned to their usual haunts. Our foxes (and occasional bird of prey) keep the rodents in check. Our resident red fox is in splendid health, and I see some smaller grey foxes scampering around at night. On two occasions, we've had hawks stopping in our back yard to eat their lunch (the one time we saw the food, it was either a rabbit or squirrel). Unless you plan to live right next to a restaurant dumpster, OP, I think you can pick any house/condo you want! 
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Anonymous
I haven’t seen tons but I saw a rat near the Apple Store in Bethesda. So gross |
Anonymous
| My neighbor in CC stopped feeding birds b/c the feeders attracted rats. This was a while ago. Maybe the rats realized they were unwelcome and sought out other neighborhoods. |
Anonymous
Just came here to post same thing. I work in downtown Bethesda near the restaurants and see rats at night. |
Anonymous
| Close in SFH/townhouse neighborhoods absolutely do NOT have a rat problem. We have an active listserve and something like a rat issue would definitely come up on it if it was happening. I have never seen one in downtown Bethesda but have less info bc I don't live there. |
Anonymous
| You only see them where there is food. If you live in a condo near a restaurant you might see one once in a while. If you live in a neighborhood away from the urban parts of Bethesda you will see squirrels etc. not rats. |
Anonymous
| I live on a very quiet street in Chevy Chase DC closer to Rock Creek Park than Connecticut Avenue. Tranquil, lots of families with children of all ages. I have never seen a rat in this part of Chevy Chase, though I have seen lots of bunnies, some deer and the occasional fox. |
Anonymous
| We're a little over two miles from downtown Bethesda. Never heard of rats from neighbors or seen them in the three places we've lived in. Mice and field mice yes I've heard of, but not rats. |
Anonymous
Thank you PP ). No plan for that!! We lived for a while in Dupont Circle /Adams Morgan and there were rats scampering across our kids' play area in the backyard. It was vile. In Cleveland Park/Tenleytown (which has restaurants) we haven't had this problem. However, I have seen tons of rats and visible nests on CT. Ave. I am not sure why they are so much more prevalent as you near that avenue--maybe restaurants and more apartment buildings? We are eyeballing close-in Bethesda--but definitely residential ie houses with yards, and I am hoping no rats in the yard there. Your explanations all make sense. Bring on the foxes! I am concerned about them being all over the Bethesda dining, though I myself haven't spotted any like in DC. At least not in Bethesda Row. Maybe "old Bethesda"?
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Anonymous
Ew. Why can't cities/city centers get a handle on this? |
Anonymous
| There are rats everywhere there are people. |
Anonymous
| People are lying. We moved from Section 3 in Chevy Chase and spent years battling rats. I always refer to it as Chevy Chase’s best kept secret. |
Anonymous
| Definitely seen rats scamper across the sidewalk in downtown Bethesda. |
Anonymous
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Of course there are rats near restaurants and densely populated areas. Grocery stores, large apartment or condo buildings. People create lots of waste -ew- and rats are there for the free lunch. Live farther from stores, restaurants and large buildings and you are fine.
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