Rats!

[Anonymous]

Saw a huge rat in our backyard. Large squirrel size w/o the bushy tail. Live in DC in a rowhouse. Call the city? Put down poison? Afraid to let toddler and baby out back. What to do?

[Anonymous]

I'd call an exterminator. We lived in a basement apartment on Capitol Hill years ago and ended up with rats a week after we moved in. Totally disgusting - they literally ripped open boxes of cereal.

[Anonymous]

Call the city and tell them you've seen rats in teh alley and sidewalk near your house. They won't send rat abatement for your own property but they will do abatement for public property. Make sure EVERY possible entrance into your home is blocked. Fill in small holes with steel wool. And call an exterminator, stat.

[Anonymous]

We had them too. Apparently it started bc there was a new construction house going up down the street, and the county opened up the sewer lines to connect the new property. It was AWFUL with the rats, to hear them. And worse, they chew through wires- its dangerous. They wrecked a dishwasher before we got an exterminator in. The worst part off all was the smell of a dead rat. I shudder to think of it.

I'd call the City asap, but also call an exterminator asap. You will need a private exterminator.

[Anonymous]

Definitely call the city via 311. A great guy came out when we saw one in our backyard and he found a nest under our neighbor's deck. Set traps and, so far, no more rats. I found the city's exterminator to be surprisingly helpful, but perhaps it was an off day...

[Anonymous]

We occasionally see one near the rear of our (huge) backyard too and I'm almost positive the neighbors have a nest under their shed. Thank God there's been no evidence of them anywhere near the house. Does anyone know who you would call about this in Fairfax county?

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? We have the same problem - live in Logan Circle. The city has been out a couple times to treat the alley. We put out poison (the rats like the green kind, FYI). I've honestly never seen them during the daytime. only seen them from afar when we are out late on the deck having dinner and it is dark.

Definitely call 311 and let them know...they'll come out and treat.

[Anonymous]

I just had a really great guy from Ehrlich's Pest Control come out to our house. I thought he was really thorough and did a great job.

[Anonymous]

Can any of you who have called 311 and gotten the city's exterminator let me know what agency the exterminator was with? I just called 311 after a rat sighting and they -- very nicely -- said they couldn't help me.

[Anonymous]

I called 311 about a rat's nest under my neighbor's porch. Rats were having a party on our street. They sent someone to take care of it. It's odd that 311 said they couldn't help you b/c when I called in the Spring they said an exterminator will be sent out. I assume the exterminator was sent b/c I haven't seen rats since and there were a lot of rats.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, rats are endemic in DC, particularly in the neighborhoods with old rowhouses and alleys. They are all gross, and some of them are disgustingly large.

[Anonymous]

We had a yearlong struggle with rats in our house. We spent a fortune trying to find where they were getting in - ripped up floorboards, pulled out the kitchen etc.
The worst was when we ordered pizza - we would hear them scratching at the floorboards to get to it.

Trappro were very good and eventually solved the problem.

I wouldn't get too worried about rats in your garden, they are everywhere in DC - as long as they aren't in your house you are ok.