Evanston aldermen tonight will be asked to spend $40,377 to evict rats from 14 planter beds around Sherman Plaza downtown and install new plantings.
In a memo to the City Council, Public Works Director Suzette Robinson says the contractor she wants to hire for the job, Landscape Concepts Management of Chicago, has done similar work successfully for the city on planters near Church Street and Orrington Avenue.
The project involves removing most of the soil and plant material and installing a steel mesh liner that discourages rodents from burrowing into the soil.
The contractor would also make repairs to the lighting and irrigation systems included in the planter beds.
Update 11:10 a.m. April 29: Aldermen approved the contract Monday night. More discussion here.
Note to self…
Do not sit on Sherman Avenue planter beds…
Rats
I would like to see more work done around Evanston to control and eradicate the rats in the alleys, especially in the 1600-1700 block of Monroe St. The rats have eaten my car wires twice now. The first time my car was parked in my driveway in the rear of my building; the second time my car had been parked on the street.
Plaza Planting Bed RATS
Perhaps if they either removed the trash (Rats Feeding Source) more often or used containers with lids (see picture) it would help. Seems the City addresses Rats about every TWO Years. Believe there was and article earlier this month about the way garbabe was picked up (in some cases so missed the trucks) and wasn't picked up. Has the City ever considered doing a study on the number of trash bins by multi family buildings and attempt to address the rat problem.
Cheap way to reduce rats
Aside from a few people who I'm sure are opposed to killing rats [national treasure, cruel, a distincitive part of Evanston history, etc.] most people would lke to get rid of the rats.
One simple/cheap way is to put out yeast. It is not a poison but rats eat it and drink water until they die. This was a popular way used in poor European cities during WWII.
Another way to Consider
Rat snakes are primarily known as rodent eaters, however other food preferences do exist. As juveniles, rat snakes eat small lizards, baby mice, and an occasional small frog. Adult rat snakes have a diet mainly consisting of mice and rats, but also include chipmunks, moles, and other small rodents. Adults also eat bird eggs and young. Rat snakes kill their prey by constriction.
If you merely evict them
If you merely evict them,where will they go? Seems to me you want to destroy them. Might be cheaper to get a team of terrors and ferrets, and a lot more environmentally sound.