GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Green Bay alderman wants to hear from residents who are affected by the city’s rat problem.
Chris Wery says he’s taken dozens of complaints this year from his constituents and notes other west side representatives have heard similar claims.
“Anywhere from over by Lambeau Field: Shadow Lane and Lombardi, that area, Colburn Park to over on Shawano Avenue.”
Wery notes the complaints have varied in nature.
“It’ll range from ‘I saw rats basically walking across the street’ or they’ve seen some in their back yards. I’ve been having to send inspections in and then help them figure out why they’re there.”
He reminds this isn’t the first time the city has had to deal with this problem.
“A couple years ago we had a similar issue on the very near-west side. We hired exterminators to come in and cover a couple block area and really knock back that population.”
Wery says city officials are working to educate people on how to rat-proof their homes.
“Take a survey of your yard and your house. Anywhere that’s a small, round area that they could fit into, block up. If you have a wood pile that’s on the ground, get it up six inches off the ground. Compost bins, take a look at those. Look around the base of old garages.”
Wery says he is working with other west side aldermen on creating a city-funded eradication program.
In most previous years, Wery notes he would only receive one or two complaints about rats.
