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District of Columbia
Related: About this forumDC is literally overrun with rats
https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-draining-the-swamp-clearing-the-burrows-dcs-war-on-rats-2018-12?r=UK&IR=T
WASHINGTON (AP) Andre Pittman and Gregory Cornes are on a mission to rid Washington of opportunistic vermin.
But their target isn't corrupt officials or shady political fixers; it's Rattus Norvegicus, the common Norway Rat.
The nation's capital is facing a spiraling rat infestation, fueled by mild winters and a human population boom. Washington's government is struggling to keep pace, with the pest control department fielding a record number of calls.
On one recent day, Pittman and Cornes, both veteran Health Department employees, are working within sight of the Capitol, shoveling dry ice pellets into suspected rat burrow entrances. On another, they're summoned about six blocks north of the White House, at 16th Street and M, where residents have complained of an outbreak.
"Rats adapt to everything. They can be like geniuses," Pittman said.
On the grounds of a church, Cornes and Pittman poke around, expertly spotting telltale holes and matted dirt trails that signal rat burrows. Cornes uses an instrument like an extra-long Super Soaker to inject poison into the hole, while Pittman watches to see if the white powder puffs up from other holes and then shovels dirt to block those exits.
WASHINGTON (AP) Andre Pittman and Gregory Cornes are on a mission to rid Washington of opportunistic vermin.
But their target isn't corrupt officials or shady political fixers; it's Rattus Norvegicus, the common Norway Rat.
The nation's capital is facing a spiraling rat infestation, fueled by mild winters and a human population boom. Washington's government is struggling to keep pace, with the pest control department fielding a record number of calls.
On one recent day, Pittman and Cornes, both veteran Health Department employees, are working within sight of the Capitol, shoveling dry ice pellets into suspected rat burrow entrances. On another, they're summoned about six blocks north of the White House, at 16th Street and M, where residents have complained of an outbreak.
"Rats adapt to everything. They can be like geniuses," Pittman said.
On the grounds of a church, Cornes and Pittman poke around, expertly spotting telltale holes and matted dirt trails that signal rat burrows. Cornes uses an instrument like an extra-long Super Soaker to inject poison into the hole, while Pittman watches to see if the white powder puffs up from other holes and then shovels dirt to block those exits.
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DC is literally overrun with rats (Original Post)
IronLionZion
Dec 2018
OP
niyad
(113,776 posts)1. yes, the repukes are everywhere!!
KCDebbie
(664 posts)2. What about the 2-legged Republican rats in the House and Senate?
Will they be taking care of those rats as well?
IronLionZion
(45,615 posts)3. Voters took care of many of the House ones
there's lots more work to be done. There's also the biggest rat of them all infesting 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
RockRaven
(15,062 posts)4. As with Rattus rapeblicanus, the population of norwegian rats will expand to whatever its resource
base will support -- no matter how many you get rid of, there will be more new ones if their niche supports them. That's why it is so important to a) do comprehensive campaign finance AND public corruption reform and b) control refuse. Not sure which is more difficult though.
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)5. "Rats adapt to everything. They can be like geniuses," Pittman said.
So this guy is saying that rats are stable geniuses....
Maybe there are more rats because there is a King Rat in the WH.