For immediate publication
BROOKLINE – City Administrator Mel Kleckner and Health Commissioner Dr. Swannie Jett would like to provide tips to community members to prevent rodents after a surge in rodent sightings in the city.
The Brookline Council Task Force is working to minimize the presence of rats and other rodents in the community through measures to contain public land, enforce state sanitation, city codes, and educate the public.
The Brookline Department of Public Health warns of a possible rise in the prevalence of rats that could be due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The closure of restaurants and shops has reduced the amount of food available to rodents and forced the animals to seek alternative sources of food and water.
“While there is typically an increase in rodent sightings in the summer, Brookline is seeing more than usual this year. We are taking many steps to reduce the presence of rats and other small rodents in the city, but these efforts will only be effective if community members also take steps to mitigate the problem, “said Dr. Jett. “We ask our community members to help us keep this from becoming a widespread problem.”
The City of Brookline would like to share the following tips with local residents and business owners to help minimize rodent presence:
- Store garbage in covered bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Examine the exterior of your property to check for any rodents entering or around the building. Any openings around doors, windows, drains, or cracks in the foundation should be sealed.
- Use the services of a licensed extermination company to perform integrated pest control techniques if rodents are found to be gaining access to your property or are nearby. Residents are reminded that loose poison is banned in Brookline.
- Remove weeds and debris near buildings and yards.
- Stack wood and boxes on a shelf with a clean open area underneath and always discard unused materials.
- Do not put birdseed on the floor and make sure that the spilled material is cleaned up daily.
- Frequently clean animal waste.
###
