Rodents - 09-28-22 - Update (with item 22-1515) — File 22-1515

Rodent Committee Fall Meeting September 28, 2022

Data and discussion of 311 Calls Ward Specific Calls 2019-2022 Residential Assistance Program and Visits Community Site Visits SMART Pilot Phase I Plans for Phase II Somerville IPM 2023 and beyond Agenda

311 Reports Per Ward 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4 Ward 5 Ward 6 Ward 7 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 (Jan-Sept.)

311 Calls by Ward throughout Year

2019 2020 2021 2022 Note: Color scales are not comparable. Maps are to show how activity patterns have shifted

Residential Assistance All Complaint Inspections and Residential Program Participants 2015-2022 *duplicate addresses removed (n=1305) individual locations that have received an inspection or baiting on their property

1st Time Residential Visits Avg. During Spring/Summer= 25

Residential Program Treatments 2019 2020 2021 2022* 323 547 642 564 *As of 9/23/22 These are individual properties all treatments are 3x

Community Site Visits

The SMART Pilot Program Phase I is complete! • Promising results: ~900 Captures with data being used to target area specific causes of rodent activity. • Identification of inactive area types and higher activity areas to inform future efforts. • Avoided rodenticide usage on these rodents will only positively impact the local environment long- term.

What the data shows March April May June July August September Total 18 168 147 216 210 61 93 913 Bow St. is a private account.

High concentration of rats in/around commercial dumpsters Locations abutting the GLX and the capture data further confirms that the City must work closely with the MBTA and other major construction/demo. sites. Mixed use spaces residential + business should be areas of focus as well Access to residential waste Access to commercial waste Access to shelter We are working with Modern (Anticemex) on developing a more real-time data tracking service to avoid data delays. What we learned!

Inactive boxes will move to Union Sq. and Lincoln Park. We have identified locations near high concentrations of dumpster permits in Union. Lincoln has been chosen as a different kind of green- space/residential space There is a school, high concentrations of pedestrian trash, dog park and dense residential spaces. SMART Phase II

New Rodent PSA video With the Mayor delivering remarks Annual Postcard (~23,000 properties) Updates to website 300 Rodent door hangers distributed National + Local Media Coverage of SMART Coordination with other municipalities. Communications

Work with DPW staff to identify and replace trash barrels in green spaces with Big Bellys Expansion of the SMART program to include other high-report areas (Davis, GLX abutting neighborhoods) Explore a Community Composting program Develop community-based rodent monitoring programs City resources, Community driven solutions Potential Additions to the IPM

The MA legislature is beginning to consider stronger restrictions on the use of rodenticides as a “last resort” This will greatly alter the Residential Program and may shift our focus to IPMs on a case-by-case basis We must look at alternatives to bait treatments. RodentRx, Single-kill snap traps, etc… Community Lead programs Potential restrictions on the use of Rodenticides

Thanks everyone! Questions, Comments?