North Castle neighborhood dealing with rat infestation demands someone address issue

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At first glance, Palmer Avenue in the North White Plains section of the town of North Castle seems as pristine as any suburban neighborhood, but a closer look might turn your stomach. "I saw something run along the wall and said 'That's a little too big for a field mouse,' and sure enough it was a rat," homeowner Holly Mottola said. Holly Mottola has owned her North White Plains home for nearly three decades without any issues, but everything changed three weeks ago. That's when she said she noticed the first rodent on her property. Three weeks later, she spent nearly $1,000 trapping and killing almost 100 rats in her backyard. "I'm beside myself," she said. "I could even cry just now. It's just too much already." Mottola said her home isn't the only one affected. Several others around the neighborhood are dealing with the sudden infestation. She said the issue has turned her property unsafe and unusable for her family and dogs. "If you walk around back this was a beautiful yard," Mottola said. "We can't use it." Videos she shared with News 12 show many rats on the North Broadway Gulf gas station that runs along her property line. News 12 stopped by the gas station and saw half a dozen dead rats and mice in the parking lot with several traps put out to kill even more. The owner, Asif, didn't deny the issue but said it wasn't unique to his property. He blamed the Casa Mary restaurant that borders his business. He showed News 12 tunnels that he claims are where the rodents come from. Asif also pointed out garbage bags left out and open dumpsters on the restaurant's property. "This business has been here for the last 22 years, never had an issue, Asif said. "These people just opened up a few months ago and since then we've been noticing rats coming over here." Randy De Leon, who opened the next-door restaurant only a few months ago, denied any responsibility. He took News 12 through his restaurant to prove it was clean and even produced records detailing routine exterminator visits. "I don't think there is what you're saying like a lot of mice over there," he said. "I don't see even one." A spokesperson for Westchester County told News 12 that the Health Department has received complaints about both properties and is working to address the issue. Hours after News 12 stopped by the restaurant, so did a pair of health inspectors for a surprise inspection. News 12 does not know the results of the visit at this time. As for Mottola and her neighbors, it's not so much about who is responsible, just that something is done. She said the whole neighborhood deserves to have their peace of mind and properties back. "It's destroyed my outside living that I usually have with my family," Mottola said. "It's destroyed it." "