This semester, Georgetown students and residents alike complained loudly about rats and mice invading the neighborhood. ...
Georgetown, DC - Vox Pupoli (GU Blog):
Student complaints about vermin drop sharply
December 2, 2009 09:00 AM
On the georgetownforum listserv, a neighborhood complained that the problem had gotten out of hand using some vivid imagery:
“We have a never ending supply of monster sized ravenous rats boring through the walls of my house. [T]he whole neighborhood is over run with rats,” the resident wrote, adding that introducing snakes to Georgetown was a possible solution.
But when asked if Facilities had been receiving more work orders regarding vermin recently, Director of Facilities Karen Frank wrote in an e-mail that her office “[has] in fact noticed a sharp drop off of calls about vermin.”
“Our contracted pest control service has been on campus daily to respond to calls,” she wrote. “They have baited and looked for any means for vermin to enter a building or apartment and have assisted Facilities in blocking holes and replacing door sweeps.”
Frank would not specify the time frame over which the work orders decreased, and University communications officers did not have additional information on the subject, but neighbors and students can take heart knowing snakes do not appear to be necessary to combat rodent presence. All it takes is vigilant extermination—and lots of BigBelly solar trash compactors.
“I’m sure that the BigBelly compactors are discouraging animals because of the closed containers,” Frank wrote.