Swampscott takes up the subject of rats

SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board discussed possible mitigation strategies for an apparent increased rat presence in town at its meeting Tuesday night.

Public Health Director Jeffrey Vaughan led a presentation with examples on how residents can best prevent the rodent from inhabiting peoples’ properties, including only storing trash in tightly secured barrels, not leaving pet waste around, and keeping plants trimmed and away from residences to discourage rats from sheltering there. He also emphasized that people should not intentionally feed wildlife, and alluded to a bylaw passed by the town in recent years that enforces the rule with a penalty.

Board member Danielle Leonard suggested that Swampscott needs to be more proactive on the issue, as opposed to simply advising homeowners on what not to do.

“I’m struck by the fact that everything you just mentioned was geared toward the homeowner,” Leonard said. “Because I don’t think the problem is just everybody being educated about their property… I think it’s a little bit more serious than that.”

Vaughan responded by detailing how he routinely visits businesses to ensure they are following proper protocol.

Vice Chair Katie Phelan suggested implementing new trash barrels that make it more difficult for rats to gnaw through, as they have on existing plastic ones.

Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald brought up how carbon dioxide was effectively used in the vicinity of Monument Avenue to reduce the rat population, however, he said he would prefer poison not be used as a primary method to address the issue.

“I don’t want to make it up to seem that as though we have a problem that’s greater or lesser than any other community,” Fitzgerald said. “But when we do have issues with rodents, we have to be responsive and we have to jump on this and we have to implement control measures.”

Chair MaryEllen Fletcher enlisted Fitzgerald and Vaughan to devise an official plan to respond to the issue on a town-wide level.

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