Rat hunters raise no alarm in three areas

A Columbus Public Health survey of three large areas of the Near East Side, South Side and Southwest Side found just 10 properties — or 6 percent of those surveyed — with signs of active rats.

That’s few compared with surveys of other neighborhoods, including a 2013 survey that found that 34 percent of the properties inspected in Clintonville showed signs of rats.

Still, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and and Prevention said the acceptable tolerance level for rats in an area is 2 percent of properties. The recent surveys found higher percentages of rat activities than that on the South Side and Southwest Side.

Yet Columbus officials don’t seem overly concerned about the latest surveys.

“We certainly don’t find a lot of rat activity,” said Luke Jacobs, the assistant administrator for the health department’s environmental-health division.

Jose Rodriguez, a spokesman for Columbus Public Health, said the city will work with residents to reduce rat problems.

The inspections have found that:

On the Near East Side (bounded by Interstate 670, Alum Creek, Interstate 70 and Interstate 71), 31 properties have been assessed; seven had potential food sources or shelter for rats, and none had signs of active rats.

On the South Side (bounded by I-70, Alum Creek, Route 104 and the Scioto River), 98 properties have been assessed; 24 had potential food sources or shelter for rats, and five had signs of active rats, or 5 percent.

On the Southwest Side (bounded by I-70, the Scioto River, I-270, and the rail line that parallels Harrisburg Pike), 35 properties have been assessed; five had potential food sources or shelter for rats, and five had signs of active rats, or 14 percent.

Kathleen Bailey, who leads the Near East Area Commission, said residents of her area are doing a good job

cleaning up alleys to make sure that rats have fewer food sources and places to live.

“You don’t see trash in the alleys,” she said.

Another thing: “We love our feral cats. They help,” Bailey said.

“We still may have some trouble spots,” she said. “I think we’ve done a much better job.”

On the South Side, the biggest concerns remain heroin and prostitutes, not rats, said Jim Griffin, who leads the Columbus South Side Area Commission.

He said some Merion Village residents had concerns several years ago that rat habitats would be stirred up when housing construction began at the former site of Barrett Middle School.

“That didn’t happen,” he said.

Stefanie Coe, who leads the Southwest Area Commission, said she’s heard no concerns about rats.

Health inspectors have been in the three areas for the past six months and will keep working there through December. They check whether yards have food sources for rats, such as bird feeders, pet food left outside or an unprotected compost pile.

The inspectors also leave information on doorsteps about what residents can do, including cleaning up yards, keeping garbage containers secure and stacking wood at least 18 inches off the ground.

In addition to the three neighborhoods and Clintonville, the city has inspected areas in Franklinton, the Hilltop, Linden, Harrison West and the University District.