HomeMy WebLinkAboutAudience Comment Jeff Dineen - 07-28-2025 2/z Woe_
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Dear Renton City Council members and Mayor Pavone,
I have come before you today to express my concern about Renton's growing rat problem. I first became
aware of this problem several months ago when a rental property on my block developed a visible rat issue,
where rats could be seen scampering across the front porch or across the front yard in the middle of the
day. Within a short period of time rats began to move onto an adjacent property. This property owner
promptly contracted with an exterminator and over the past several months has spent 1,000's of dollars
to get rid of the rats only to be told by the exterminator that the number of rats that they are encountering
can only indicate that the is a sizable establish rat population in the area and that the rats that they remove
are just being replaced by new rats from the surrounding population. We contacted Renton Code
Compliance and were told that it is impossible to know where rats come from, making it impossible to hold
individual property owners responsible for rat complaints.
I have since taken time to look for rats and have been totally surprised by the number of rats I have found
in my own yard, scampering midday across the Piazza Park and city streets. I have also started asking
community members about rats and have been stunned by comments about the number of rat sightings,
the number of rats found in yards, garbage and even in homes. I asked a Renton Parks employee if they
were seeing more rats and was told that they had just recently seen rats in the park that runs along Burnett
Place and thought they were there because of the demolition activity for the new high school. I am afraid
that with the demolition of the 20-40 homes for the new high school that it will displace a sizable rat
population onto surrounding neighborhoods.
It has been estimated that rats are responsible for 20 billion dollars'worth of damage in the US annually.
According to the 2024 Orkin database Seattle is ranked as the 17ih most rat-infested city in the US. Rats
are known to carry and transmit a wide variety of diseases to pets and humans. Rats carry ticks which can
be transmitted to humans and pets. Ticks are known carriers of a host of diseases, the best-known being
Lyme disease,which for some individuals can develop into a debilitating condition. Rats carry and transmit
Giardia a serious gastrointestinal disease. Rats are also known to carry a number of viral diseases,the best
know being Hantavirus which has a mortality rate of up to 38%.
Several cities in Washington State, such as Kirkland, Shoreline and Seattle, have enacted programs and
abatement laws to address this growing rat concern. This problem is not going away and is only going to
get worse. With our warming climate rats experience longer breeding and foraging seasons. Cities are
getting denser, generating more waste and habitat for rats to thrive in. Rats represent an unreasonable,
financial, health and psychological threat for Renton residents and if what city code complice says is true,
that rats represent a problem beyond the scope of the individual property owner to be held accountable
then it only follows that the responsibility to address the concern must fall to the City to address.
Sincerely
Jeff Dineen
Rats can cause significant damage, including structural damage to homes, contamination
of food, and potential fire hazards. They are known to gnaw through various materials,
including electrical wires, and can transmit numerous diseases. In the US, rats are
estimated to cause up to $20 billion in damages annually according to 855Bugs.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Structural Damage:
• Rats can chew through wood, insulation, drywall, and even electrical wiring.
• This damage can weaken structures, create pathways for other pests, and potentially lead to
fires from damaged wiring.
• They can also damage furniture, clothing, and other household items as they build nests.
Food Contamination:
• Rats can contaminate food sources with their urine, droppings, and hair.
• This can lead to food spoilage and make it unsafe for consumption.
• They can also damage food packaging, leading to further waste and potential health risks.
Disease Transmission:
• Rats are known to carry and transmit various diseases to humans, including leptospirosis,
salmonellosis, and hantavirus.
• These diseases can be spread through contact with rat urine, droppings, or even bites.
• Some diseases, like leptospirosis, can cause severe illness and even death if left untreated.
Fire Hazards:
• Rats gnawing on electrical wires can create shorts and sparks, leading to fires.
• Rodents are estimated to be responsible for a significant percentage of house fires of
unknown causes.
Other Impacts:
• Rats can cause damage to gardens and yards by digging and eating plants.
• They can also damage vehicles by chewing on wires and hoses.
• The presence of rats can also cause psychological distress and fear.
Do rates carry ticks, yes, rats can carry ticks. Ticks are ectoparasites, meaning they live on
the outside of their host, and rats can be hosts for ticks. Rats can transmit diseases to
humans through direct contact, indirect contact with rodent droppings and urine, and also
through ectoparasites like ticks.
Here's why this is a concern:
Ticks are known carriers of various diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted
fever, and tick-borne relapsing fever.
Rats as reservoirs:
.Rodents like rats can harbor ticks and act as reservoirs for these diseases, meaning they
can carry the disease without being severely affected themselves.
Indirect transmission:
_When ticks feed on infected rodents, they can pick up the disease and then transmit it to
humans or other animals when they bite.
Disease transmission:
,Rats can transmit diseases to humans through direct contact (bites, scratches), indirect
contact (contaminated food and water), or through ectoparasites like ticks and fleas.
Do Rats transmit Giardia, yes, rats can carry and transmit Giardia, specifically the species
Giardia muris. Giardiasis, the disease caused by Giardia, can affect various animals,
including rodents like rats and mice, and can also be transmitted to humans.
More details:
Giardia muris:
_This species is known to infect mice, rats, and hamsters, with the infection often being
subclinical (not causing noticeable symptoms) in rats and mice.
Zoonotic potential:
_While Giardia muris primarily infects rodents, some types of Giardia, like G. duodenalis, have
zoonotic potential, meaning they can be transmitted to humans and other animals.
Transmission:
_Giardia is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, meaning infection occurs when an animal
or human ingests cysts shed in the feces of an infected individual.
Public health concern:
,The potential for zoonotic transmission of Giardia from rodents to humans is a public health
concern, especially in areas with high rodent populations. Wild rodents can be infected with
different species of Giardia, including zoonotic types, and can serve as reservoirs for human
infections.
While rats themselves don't directly cause a large number of deaths in the US, they can
transmit diseases that can be fatal. Specifically, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is
a rat-borne illness with a mortality rate of up to 38%, according to the Economic Times. HPS
is caused by inhaling dust contaminated with rat urine, droppings, or saliva. Another
disease, rat bite fever, can also be fatal if left untreated.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS):
.This is a serious respiratory illness spread by infected rodents, primarily deer mice in the
US. HPS has a high mortality rate, with some reports indicating a mortality rate of up to 38%.
Rat Bite Fever:
Caused by the bacteria Streptobacillus moniliformis, rat bite fever can be contracted through
a bite or scratch from an infected rat, or by ingesting food or drink contaminated with rat
secretions. Left untreated, it can be fatal.
Other diseases:
_While not as deadly, rats can also transmit other diseases like leptospirosis, salmonellosis,
and murine typhus.
Important points to remember:
• Direct attacks from rats are not a major cause of death in the US.
• The primary danger from rats lies in the diseases they can transmit.
• Proper hygiene and sanitation practices, particularly around rodent-infested areas, are crucial
for preventing these diseases.
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These factors collectively contribute to the alarming
rise in rat populations across major cities.
Effective rat control in cities relies on an integrated approach that combines sanitation,
exclusion, and, when necessary, trapping and baiting. This integrated pest management
(IPM) strategy focuses on eliminating food, water, and harborage areas for rodents, while
also implementing physical barriers and control measures.
Here's a breakdown of the most effective strategies:
1 . Sanitation and Waste Management:
• Proper Food Storage:
Securely store food in airtight containers to eliminate a primary food source for rats.
• Efficient Waste Disposal:
Ensure garbage containers are sealed and regularly emptied to prevent rats from accessing
food waste.
• Regular Cleaning:
Eliminate food spills, crumbs, and other attractants from buildings and outdoor areas.
• Grease Management:
Use grease traps and proper storage for grease to prevent it from becoming an attractant.
• Neighborhood Cleanup Days:
Engage the community in cleaning up abandoned properties and lots to reduce rodent
habitats.
2. Exclusion Techniques:
• Seal Entry Points:
Close gaps and openings in buildings, especially around pipes, vents, and foundations, to
prevent rats from entering.
• Secure Doors and Windows:
Install or repair screens and ensure doors and windows fit tightly to prevent rat entry.
• Reinforce Edges:
Cover vulnerable edges of doors, windows, and screens with sheet metal or hardware cloth.
3. Trapping and Baiting:
Traps:
.Snap traps and live traps are effective for capturing rats, particularly in localized
infestations.
• Bait Stations:
.Place rodenticide baits in tamper-proof stations to target rats while keeping them away from
children and pets.
• Strategic Placement:
Position traps and bait stations along walls, near nesting areas, and in areas with high rodent
activity.
4. Integrated Pest Management (IPM):
• Assessment and Identification:
Before implementing control measures, identify the rodent species and assess the extent of
the infestation.
• Efficacy and Safety:
Consider the effectiveness, cost, safety, and environmental impact of different control
methods.
• Combination of Methods:
Use a combination of sanitation, exclusion, trapping, and baiting for optimal results.
5. Smart Rat Control:
• loT Devices:
Use smart traps that transmit data on rodent activity, allowing for targeted interventions and
more proactive pest management.
• Data Analysis:
Analyze data from smart traps to identify hotspots and tailor control strategies.
• Predictive Modeling:
Use data analytics to predict rodent behavior and optimize control efforts.
Cities in Washington State address rat problems through a combination of
public health initiatives, community education, and pest control
strategies. These efforts aim to reduce rat populations by eliminating food
sources, restricting their access to shelter, and encouraging responsible waste
management.
Several cities in Washington state have rat abatement laws, particularly
concerning demolition projects. Seattle, Kirkland, and Shoreline require rat
abatement measures before demolishing buildings, according to Parker Eco
Pest Control. This is to prevent the dispersal of rats into surrounding
neighborhoods during demolition. The requirement is often part of broader
efforts to manage rodent populations, especially in areas with high rat activity,
as highlighted by Cascade Pest Control.
That's right, King County has its own rodent department.
Seattle tops the list of American cities with the most rats, KIRO 7 reports. Seattle
ranks no. 11 out of 50 on the list.
"In the City of Seattle, and in King County, it's the property owner's responsibility
to deal with their rat problems," she said.
But when the property owner is a developer who is sitting on a vacant property,
rat problems can become quite significant. Especially when you consider the fact
that Seattle is in the middle of a construction boom with many vacant properties
awaiting demolition. With so much development going on around the city, rats
will move from formerly vacant and torn down properties into neighboring homes
or buildings .That's the corner of Seattle's rat issue that the city wants to target.
Modeling it after similar regulations in Kirkland and Shoreline, Seattle will
implement a rat eradication regulation on builders starting in 2017. It basically
requires developers to prove they have consulted with a pest-control agent
before any vacant building is demolished. And if there is an issue, those rats
have to be eradicated before the building comes down.
"That rat eradication program would have to be in place at least 15 days prior to
the demolition — to ensure, to the best degree, possible that a pest control agent
has taken steps to manage any sort of pest infestation on the property before the
building comes down," said Bryan Stevens with the City of Seattle's Department
of Construction and Inspections. "When you come in to demolish a building,
where are the rats going to go? They are going to disperse and become a
problem for everyone else in the neighborhood."
Rats and development
Stevens said the regulation is a response to concerns from the health
department about rat issues in recent years. The health department is in charge
of inspecting complaints about Seattle rats. If necessary, the department
engages in code enforcement.
"Over the last couple of years the county has reported seeing an increase in rat
complaints and asked the city to partner with them to help reduce the issues
coming through their office," Stevens said. "A lot of that stems from vacant
buildings."