Southie Rat Situation – Rats vs. Humans – What the hell is going on?
Do rats just want to be our friends? Or are they trying to eat us?
The City of Boston has a rat situation. Rodent infestation has been a problem in neighborhoods across the city over the past few years. Back in April 2022, the Boston City Council held a hearing on rodent control. The hearing was intended to discuss measures that the city can take to respond to the uptick in rodent activities, as well as long-term strategies that will reduce the rats and pests populations in our neighborhoods. You can get the full details here.
Over the weekend, Caught in Southie received a very disturbing video of a rat climbing up a gentleman’s leg in the Fort Point neighborhood. 100% horrifying. You can see it below.
On Monday morning, we were greeted with this photo captured out Castle Island (main photo above).
Gross, right? So, for those of you asking, why on earth are they standing there taking a photo or video of the rat on their leg? Well, in both situations, they were not expecting the rat to climb up their leg. They were just trying to photograph/video the giant rat near them – you know, to share with friends and family.
We’re not sure what’s going on with these rats. Are they just being friendly? Or is there something more sinister about their actions? Clearly, they are not afraid of humans and that is cause for alarm.
Just a word to the wise: if you’re walking in the neighborhood and see a rat, just keep moving. Or it might climb up your leg and try to come home with you to be your pet or worse, will bite. you and drag you bag to their nest to eat you.
Last summer, we nominated Tigger a neighborhood cat who specializes in hunting rats as “Rat Czar” for the city of Boston. Maybe the city needs to employ a pack of tough street cats to help our the residents.
We also can’t forget about this “situation” that involved not one, not two, but a barrel of rats!
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
Need to be like Brookline and bait so rats can’t reproduce. We have caught 9 rats in snap traps. City needs to step it up.
💯 yes, good call!
Ewwwwww……gross! Rats are not only more aggressive and fearsome, but they’re far more aggressive and less timid than mice, and are even more likely to bite, as well. Moreover, rat bites are as nasty as a dog bite.
Perhaps the Rat was WHITEY INCARNATE. WELCOME HOME!
Could it be all the construction going on in Southie? I think so!
…Michelle Antoinette: “Let ‘em eat garbage”.
But seriously, folks. As far as Sh*tty Hall is concerned, any “quality of life” issues (whether major or minor or somewhere in between) in the neighborhoods of South Boston/Charlestown are dismissed as merely “White problems”.
HER words, not mine.
Think about it…REALLY THINK ABOUT IT…next time you vote.
If you still live here, that is. Because it’s most definitely going to get worse before it gets better. It’s the two-legged (democ)rats you should really be worried about.
And don’t forget people who put trash out without covers on barrels just contribute to the problem, as do all the builders who don’t set traps when doing all that digging! And we all know how much construction is going on…
If you’re thinking of getting a dog, get a terrier. They kill rats. Let them out at night they’ll have a blast. We also need more opossums and birds of prey. Owls and hawks. I prefer snap traps over poison. Whatever eats a dead poisoned rat will die. so, no poison.