Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Rats. They're creepy, dirty, disgusting, and some people believe the rodents are turning up more often lately in one of Utah's most desirable neighborhoods, the Harvard-Yale community on Salt Lake City's east side.
The Yalecrest Neighborhood Council asked the Salt Lake Valley Health Department to make a presentation on rats at their Wednesday night meeting. It was scheduled after chairman George Kelner noticed unusual rat activity on his own property. Another resident complained to Kelner that a family of rats took up residence on her property in recent months.
But other residents say they've seen nothing unusual. Kate Ferguson, who lives less than a hundred yards from Red Butte Creek, said she has seen rats many times over the years. In fact, when a reporter visited her property, she was able to flush out a rat from under a toolbox with the help of her dog.
"Well they seem to come in cycles," Ferguson said. "I've lived here 16, 17 years. And there's some years that they're just terrible. We used to name them. We had a huge one we named 'Mutumba' for awhile."
If there is a rat upsurge, the problem could be one more thing to blame on the Chevron oil company. One theory is that the cleanup of last summer's oil spill in Red Butte Creek sent the rodents scrambling for new habitat.
"My personal opinion is that because of all the (Chevron) remediation that was done along Red Butte Creek, that they've more or less chased rats out of the creek area into the neighborhoods," said Kerry Cramer of the health department's environmental branch
- Rats can gain access through a half inch hole.
- They climb both horizontal and vertical wires.
- They can climb inside vertical pipes and conduits three inches in diameter.
- They can climb brick or other rough exterior walls offering foot holds.
- They climb vines, shrubs, or trees to gain access to upper stories of buildings.
- They can travel in sewer lines, even against a substantial current, dive through water plumbing traps.
- They travel approximately 300 feet to obtain food, water, and shelter.
- They are attracted to bird feeding stations.
- They are attracted to dog and cat food bowls.
The health department has no data to indicate whether rat sightings in the Harvard-Yale area have risen, but rats are common throughout the Salt Lake Valley. When people confront them, it divides the human race in two. "Some people see a rat and freak out," Cramer said. "And other people will just accept it."
The rats typically come into yards looking for food. That means just about anything, Cramer said. He recommends cleaning up bird seed, chicken feed, dog food, dog poop, whatever. "Police your backyard," Cramer said. "Make sure you're not doing anything in your backyard to bring rats into your neighborhood."
Some people employ a secret weapon, allowing a pet cat to patrol outside the house. But Ferguson says she has a laissez-faire attitude after 17 years of seeing rats come and go. "I've never really tried to get rid of them," Ferguson said, "because they come in cycles and they will go away on their own."
Joan Corey is taking action, though. Since last summer, a single rat has been regularly visiting her backyard to eat grapevines. "Any rat is one too many as far as I'm concerned," Corey said. "We've named him 'Templeton.'"
She plans to rip out her grapevines "because there is no way Templeton and I are going to exist in the same yard," she said.
E-mail: hollenhorts@ksl.com
