January 14, 2008
Rats!
The Washington Times reports that the number of rodent complaints logged by D.C. health officials in 2007 was 3,391 — an 8 percent increase over the 3,138 recorded in 2006.
Were there really 8 percent more rats in D.C. last year than the year before? Maybe. Health officials are downplaying the numbers as in part the result of increasing public awareness about how to report rodent complaints. But the other part of the equation should have even global warming skeptics skeezed out: the last three years of warm winters seems to have given a boost to the city's rat population. If that's not a good enough reason to cut down on the amount of energy you consume, we don't know what is.
Still, turns out the number of complaints is way down from 2000 (4,415), the year after Mayor Williams declared his War on Rats. To these new figures we say to Mayor Fenty: staying the course is no longer adequate, only a surge of poison can save the city! We need to show resolve in the face of these rodents of mass destruction! Let's fight them over there instead of here at ... oh wait, that one doesn't work. Let's fight them here at home! Down with rodent extremism!
Photo by KCIvey
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watties!
i seem to remember some stray cat policy awhile back where there was some city initiative to focus on catching all the strays. anyone remember this or know anything about it? Perhaps the fruits of this effort are finally being seen? As much as i hate the sounds of cats getting it on in the alley, playing hopscotch with vermin at night is definitely a less desireable nuisance.
I have on fond memory from a Miss Adams Morgan pageant the year in which the DC area 'shooter' killed all those people. Anyway, when Miss DC came on stage, I remember she had a 'Police Line Do Not Cross' sash as a nod to that, with a string of rats (instead of a stole). Loved it.
Wait, I'm supposed to complain about the rats? Do I do this EVERY time I see a rat, or just once, or once a year, or what? Our dumpster rat is named Splinter...
The Washington Times says that the last three winters have been unusually warm, but it just can't bring itself to use the words "global warming."
i saw a rat last night running across a street in adams morgan. shall i call 311 to place a non-emergency complaint?
we need to up the ante on our rat jihad!
they are threatening our way of life faster than the world is warming, are conspiring against our regime from the darkest and dirtiest corners, and hijacking our alleys.
down with the infidels! down with the dirty!
If Mayor Fenty is such a man of the people, let's see his bitch ass out there snaring rats and biting their heads off!
They aren't going to take away my rat terrier mix, are they....?
Is this just rats or all rodents, what about the field mice that poop all over my kitchen counter especially when it rains? I thought the landlord was supposed to take care of that -- but I'm sure a much larger bureaucracy will do much better. I just know it.
It's possible to lodge complaints about rats? Weird. Who knew.
There used to be a sushi place near Pennsylvania and L that was closed for months. Eventually, they built a wooden fence around the building, and some wag spraypainted on it, "THIS FENCE KEEPS RATS FROM JUMPING AT YOUR HEAD." I always thought that added a nice bit of much needed humor for that long walk to Georgetown.
Rats chewed through the wires leading to my engine. Then they took up residence in my ventilation system. Let me tell you, there is nothing more disgusting than turning on your heater and getting a face full of hot rat poo.
A face full of hot rat poo? That sounds suspiciously like something I saw in a German Scheiße video. Or maybe it was a crush video? Or maybe I'm just thinking of that Zappa album.
DC needs to do like Baltimore used to do and have rat fishing contests. A great way to raise money for charities and teach valuable survival skills to the younger folk. Nothing like a father sharing one of those golden moments with his child, the eternal struggle of man versus nature, perched atop a pit writhing with diseased rodents. Kinda like The Old Man and the Sea, only with more plague.
I almost never see rats in DC. One time I saw one running across the street, and another time I saw one frozen in a parking lot (this was in Arlington, actually), but those are the only rat sightings I've had here. I think DC is a lot cleaner than most other cities, and I wouldn't be surprised if other cities have greater rodent problems.
I almost never see rats in DC. One time I saw one running across the street, and another time I saw one frozen in a parking lot (this was in Arlington, actually), but those are the only rat sightings I've had here. I think DC is a lot cleaner than most other cities, and I wouldn't be surprised if other cities have greater rodent problems.