Orange County may just have a rat infestation problem.
Officials of the Health Department say, over the past month they have been receiving a larger volume of complaints relating to rodent activity.
According to Dain Weister of the Orange County Health Department, there have been 45 complaints over the last 40 days and this is certainly much higher than normal.
The complaints have come from all over the county and include areas like Winter Garden, near Maitland, Apopka, Dr. Phillips, Pine Hills, Belle Isle and Central Orlando, just to name a few.
A number reasons might explain the uptick in rodent activity, although environmental health experts are not entirely sure, said Weister. These range from the milder winter, vacant buildings and property and ongoing construction that would disrupt nests causing the rats to move to other areas.
Asked what steps the County was taking to help curb the rat infestation problem, Weister said, efforts are ongoing to make the public aware of important steps they could undertake. These include:
- Seal Up! Seal up holes inside and outside the home to prevent entry by rodents. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel, and rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a half dollar!
- Trap Up! Trap rodents around the home to help reduce the rodent population. Choose an appropriate snap trap. Traps for catching mice are different from those for catching rats. Carefully read the instructions before setting the trap and keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Clean Up! Use personal protective equipment to clean up food sources and nesting sites. Do not leave pet food out for an extended period of time, monitor and minimize the use of bird feeders.
In October 2006, Orange County experienced a mice infestation problem in Apopka. Then, the Health Department, along with the state, assisted with traps and bait for those affected.
Weister said, this time around, the County doesn’t have a rodent control program. The hope is, the rat infestation problem doesn’t get out of hand.
there is a lot of rats / mice in Avalon lakes i see them walking to my bus stop when i come home there is atleast 10 in the back yard every day it can be a danger to me and other students what should we do?