For some Rostraver Township residents, spring in the suburbs suddenly felt like a horror flick, as neighbors say hundreds of rats poured out of one property and into their yards, leaving families holed up indoors. Police have now charged 59-year-old Wendi Kraemer, alleging that unsanitary "trash conditions" at her Route 51 home spawned a rat colony that spread to nearby houses on Adams Drive. Court records state that Kraemer is set for a preliminary arraignment and a preliminary hearing on July 13.
The Rostraver Township Police Department filed a criminal complaint accusing Kraemer of creating a public nuisance that put neighbors' health and safety at risk, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Investigators say the case started after a township code-enforcement officer flagged the situation, and police then reviewed local news coverage of the infestation before moving forward.
Neighbors told reporters they felt trapped in their own homes as rats came out in broad daylight and tunneled around foundations. Karen Cain said she spotted hundreds of rats on May 17 and "couldn't sleep that night," while Jed Allen recounted that a rat once jumped out of the woods and chased his son as the boy rode a bike, per KDKA. Rostraver's zoning officer told the station officials had obtained evidence identifying conditions that contribute to rodent activity, including piles of garbage and debris.
Neighbors Set Traps, Some Flee Their Homes
Desperate to reclaim their yards, residents have set traps, put out poison, and hired professional exterminators in an attempt to beat back the infestation. Police wrote that some neighbors were so frightened they avoided going outside and chose to stay elsewhere instead. Homeowners reported rats digging holes around their houses and finding dead rodents scattered in their lawns, fueling mounting fears about disease and contamination, CBS Pittsburgh reported.
Township Rules And The Charge
Under Rostraver Township's nuisance ordinance, a nuisance includes conditions that interfere with the health and/or safety of persons beyond the boundaries of that property, and must be fixed within 10 days. If a property owner refuses or fails to comply, the township can remove the problem itself and bill the owner, according to the township's nuisance code. Penalties range from $100 to $1,000 and up to 30 days in jail per violation, although civil abatement is typically the go-to remedy.
Federal court records show Kraemer previously sued the township, alleging long-running conflicts over trash and animals on her property, which provides context for the current enforcement action.
Township officials told reporters they mailed Kraemer an enforcement letter on May 19, giving her 10 days to address the conditions, and also urged residents to contact the township manager for help with mitigation, the station reported. Neighbors say they plan to keep a close eye on the July court dates and hope the case will finally force a thorough cleanup and an end to the rat invasion. We will continue tracking court filings and township responses as the case moves ahead.
