City of Cambridge Launches Private Property Rodent Control Program to Expand Efforts to Help Combat Rats in the City

The City of Cambridge today announced the launch of a new Private Property Rodent Control program to help residents combat rat issues on private property.

“We’ve been hearing from residents that rats are more numerous and more noticeable, and it seems to be a regional problem many cities and towns are currently experiencing,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “While our Public Works and Inspectional Services Department have done a great job following up on complaints, we’re hoping this new program will provide some additional assistance to help curtail activity on private property.”

The City has contracted with a pest control company to offer a new residential rodent control assistance program aimed at combatting rats in the exterior areas of private properties as part of the city’s broader rodent control efforts. This program is available to residential properties in Cambridge with four (4) or fewer units and provides inspection and at least three baiting/trapping/follow-up inspections within a 60 day period at no cost to the resident.

Both owners and tenants can apply, and everyone 18 or older living at the property must sign a consent and release form to agree to this service. Once approved for the program, both City of Cambridge Inspectional Services staff and the pest control contractor will inspect the property and provide specific feedback on issues that should be addressed in order to help prevent rodent activity.

Rodents are an unavoidable part of life in any city, but the City of Cambridge is committed to confronting this problem in a variety of ways - by addressing rodent problems on public property, working to control rodents during construction projects, enforcing sanitary codes and ordinances, educating the public, and more.

The link to apply for the private property rodent control program, information on how to report rodent sightings, materials to help educate residents on how to control rats, and more can be found at www.cambridgema.gov/rodents.