Months of late-night scrabbling and snapping traps have turned one Milwaukee block into a small-scale rat war, according to a resident near 12th and Morgan who says she is running out of patience. Yesterday, Kathleen Bebo says she pulled two dead rats from a single trap in the alley behind her home. She traces the problem back to last October and says she has now killed eight rats in all, including one soaking-wet rodent she recalls as nearly the size of her shoe. After 25 years in the neighborhood, Bebo says the constant sightings have her seriously thinking about moving.
Neighbor blames trash, fears rodents will come inside
Bebo told WISN she believes the rats are coming from the alley, where some neighbors do not always secure their garbage, and says official efforts have not fixed the problem. She worries it is only a matter of time before the rodents find a way indoors. "They are going to be in my house," she told the station, describing a daily routine that now includes checking traps and disposing of whatever they catch. Bebo has contacted her alderman and the Department of Neighborhood Services, but reporters were unable to get comment from those offices before publication.
What the city can do
According to the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, inspectors respond to rat complaints by looking for active burrows and other signs of activity. They can issue orders that require property owners to remove rat harborage or hire a licensed exterminator. If abatement is not started within the reinspection period, DNS can place bait and continue treatments until rodents stop taking it, then add the cost of that work to the owner’s property tax bill. The city also notes it carries out targeted baiting in public areas, such as sewers, during the months when rodent activity is highest.
Practical steps and public-health guidance
Pest-control specialists and public-health agencies emphasize that long-term rat control depends on exclusion and sanitation: sealing gaps, securing trash, clearing brush and clutter that provide shelter, and cutting off food and water sources. The UC ANR pest notes recommend sealing any opening larger than about 1/4 inch and keeping outdoor food and compost tightly secured, while the CDC's rodent-control guidance outlines how to set and check traps safely, clean up droppings without stirring up dust, and close off entry points. For stubborn or building-wide infestations, both advise turning to licensed pest-control professionals instead of relying only on do-it-yourself measures.
Where things stand locally
Bebo told WISN she feels stuck after following the steps she was given and says she is ready to leave if the situation does not improve. Residents who want to contact Alderman Scott Spiker can find his office information on the city’s District 13 page, and neighbors dealing with similar infestations are encouraged to reach out to DNS through the city pest-control information page referenced above.
