Buffalo's Public Works Department is actively monitoring a part of downtown where rats have reportedly been spotted more frequently.
According to one local television news report earlier this week, the Erie County Health Department has fielded more than 3,200 complaints countywide so far this year. That's nearly three times the number of complaints received last year, according to that report.
Buffalo Public Works Commissioner Steve Stepniak confirmed many have been spotted in Lafayette Square and, in cooperation with Buffalo Place, have targeted areas to set up bait boxes and monitor movements.
"This had been an extremely hot summer. We knows there's been a lot of movement due to the drought," Stepniak said. "As animals will do, they'll go to areas with water sources. We look at that and have been on top of that for the last few weeks."
Stepniak also acknowledged the likelihood that redevelopment projects have disrupted habitats and driven rats to move. In addition to bait boxes, the commissioner urged residents to use garbage totes in order to cut off potential food supplies and decrease the rat population.
"That's been a very effective tool that we've used citywide," he said. "Obviously we're going to stay with the totes."
A national pest control company ranks Buffalo 29th among U.S. cities in its survey of rat infestations. Chicago tops the list released by Orkin, while New York City and Washington, D.C. place second and third, respectively.
