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Chicago is the most rat-infested city in the country. If you’re not seeing any signs of them you’re probably okay, but it’s good to remain vigilant and follow best practices (mostly not leaving trash where they can get into it)
The most rats I have encountered have been on the riverwalk. Very jarring to be walking and then have rats scurry from little bushes right in front of you.
My wife is obsessed with the rats. They come out at night and are probably in your neighborhood if in the city. We are in RV.
Enthusiast
I know they’re there, but right now they don’t bother me. I never see them and I haven’t found droppings. I’m not sure how much energy I should put into keeping them out.
Lived in West Town for two years - lots of rats in our alley, and we needed to keep lower level doors closed to keep them out.
Currently live in Roscoe Village (4 years) - have seen maybe 3 over the course of this time, although I know they’re around.
I don’t worry about them. They aren’t in my space so live and let live. Plus you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to fight them; they have us beat by thousands.
I'm assuming in the burbs? Generally I would definitely not want them in my house because that means they've probably eaten/tunneled through some part of the house wall that I will need to find and patch. Usually if the neighbourhood is good about not leaving trash around, especially dog poop, it's not that big of an issue
Pro
Maybe get rid of the bird feeder, not a huge sacrifice for peace with your neighbor. Good luck, congrats on the new home.
I've lived in the city my entire life. The only time I really noticed any was when I shared an alley with a restaurant. The city/restaurant took care of some clean up and they didn't bother me in my yard so I didn't do anything. I have a bigger yard now and the closest restaurant is 2 blocks away so I don't see any and don't worry about it. Be a good neighbor but you do you.
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Congrats on the new house! Happy Gardening!👏🏻
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Thank you!
My neighbor feeds the birds, seemingly harmless. But the squirrels and rats benefit too and are everywhere. We keep asking her to stop, but she loves the pigeons or something. Once rats and rodents have a food source, it’s very difficult to get rid of them. In the case of rats, you often won’t realize there is an issue until they have made quite an advancement into your basement or walls. One neighbor couldn’t rent his garden unit for a year while he fought an underground rat burrow and then had to gut the unit.
Our other neighbor’s dog was recently hospitalized with a rat born illness and we can’t take our trash out at night without running into them scurrying around the alley. And the squirrels destroy all of our planters and literal thousands of dollars of plants over a few years.
Enthusiast
Omg that’s pretty intense.
Enthusiast
So we got rid of the bird feeder, are putting repellents out, and are filling holes/gaps in fencing.
Cat will keep them away