Rodents have been digging in your trash and dining on your leftovers.
More than 600 calls were made to DC officials handling rodent problems over the last 30 days. District officials blamed the rising number of rodents on two factors: warmer winters and a growing city.
As more people have moved into the city, more restaurants have popped up. Rodents have reaped the rewards of that growth.
A data map showed the most reported rodent problems were along sections of the 16th Street corridor that runs through Wards 1, 2 and 4.
In the Columbia Heights neighborhood, resident Josephine Hodges said she saw rodents daily.
"We have a nest," Hodges said.
"It's just like an underground city for them. They play just like the kids are playing out here," she said.
The data map showed other hotspots near Lincoln Park and the Capitol Hill neighborhoods. Both areas belong to Ward 6.
Areas with fewer rodent reports were Wards 3, 5, 7 and 8. But, it's unclear from the map alone why some neighborhoods saw more rodents than others.
Officials said residents should call 311 once a rodent has been spotted. Meanwhile, trash should be placed into a bin with a very tight lid so the rodents can't wiggle inside.
Other strategies include:
- Pull weeds and other debris around one's home.
- Focus on getting rid of English Ivy, Periwinkle, Pachysandra and Hosta because rodents love to hide among the leaves.
- Throw out uneaten pet food.
- Seal any cracks or holes on the property.
