New Urban Rat Control Program in a Post- Recessionary Environment NEHA AEC - Las Vegas, Nevada July 10, 2014 Keith L. Krinn, RS, MA, DAAS, CPHA Public Health Administrator Columbus Public Health

The Norway Rat – Public Enemy #1

In the 1970’s & ’80’s most American cities had federally-funded rat control programs – including Columbus

When the federal funding dried up in the early1980’s as the responsibility for rodent control was transferred from the United States Public Health Service to the Department of Agriculture, the programs in many cities was discontinued – including Columbus.

The Columbus Rat Control Program:

Columbus, Ohio Planning Districts/Area Commissions

Fast forward – Complaints began to grow numerous about rats in the downtown area, and the student residential areas adjacent to the OSU campus.

The City Council initially approved $275,000 a year for a control program that targeted the downtown and the University District. The Short North area was added in year two connecting the target areas.

A staff of five surveyed 3,670 properties in 2006 and 2007 and found signs of rat activity in 56 locations.

Program workers placed poisoned bait, issued citations for code violations and distributed information that encouraged residents and business owners eliminate harborage and food.

The CDC guidelines recommends taking steps to control rodents when they are found in at least 2 percent of locations. We killed plenty of rats those two years but the rate of infestation was well below 2%.

The Great Recession began in December 2007 and officially ended in June 2009

With its AAA bond rating, The City of Columbus was in pretty good shape, still… Columbus had already made deep cuts in city services to close a $114 million or 17 percent shortfall for its 2009 fiscal year Voters narrowly approved raising the city income tax by half a percentage point in order to prevent service reductions and restore previous cuts. The Rat Control Program was the first thing cut, especially given it never showed infestation rates over 2%.

City employees were required to take five unpaid furlough days.

Fast forward – Summer, 2013

Clintonville Area Commission

Headlines….

First Question You’re the city leadership – How do you respond for the demands for service?

Consultations with Capt. Mike Herring at CDC and Bobby Corrigan

Columbus map showing the new target areas for 2014

Second Question The City Council has approved $150,000 to begin a Rat Control Program for Where do you begin?

Assessment Results 50 Blocks randomly chosen for inspection 885 of 1,665 parcels visited were inspected Active rodent signs were observed at 34% of inspected parcels or units. Food sources were observed at 69% of inspected units or parcels.

CPH Rat Control Process Educating Residents, Assessing the Community for Active Rodent Signs, and Issuing Recommendation Notices Assessing Community Progress Notice Issued if Rat Harborage or Food Sources Observed Area Clean Without Active Rodent Signs Violations Resolved, but Rat Activity Persists CPH Baiting to Eliminate Rats City Code Violations Persist on Follow up Inspection Rats Observed, However Area Properly Maintained Work with Resident to Progressively Correct Issues or File in Court as Last Resort Require the Hiring of a Pest Control Operator

Food Inspections The Food Protection Section inspects licensed restaurants and retail stores one to two times per year. Refer complaints concerning improper trash storage and rats to the City of Columbus 311 Call Center.

When will CPH issue a notice to an area resident? When rats are observed in an area and conditions on a residents property are helping them survive. –For example, a resident may receive a notice if a large accumulation of bird seed is observed on the ground where rats are active. –If rats are NOT found in an area, then having bird seed accumulate on the ground wouldn’t be a large concern.

Compost Maintenance Good CompostBad Compost

Compost Construction and Maintenance Tips Avoid placing fats, meat, animal feces, and dairy items in compost Only place appropriate food scraps in the middle of a compost pile, and surround them with leaves or grass. Place ¼ - ½ inch of coarse gravel and galvanized hardware cloth underneath of your bin if it is placed directly on the ground.

Scrap Wood Storage Good StorageBad Storage

Bird Feeder Maintenance Bad Maintenance Good Maintenance

Bird Feeder Maintenance Place a large tray or container underneath of the feeder so seed doesn’t fall on the ground. Position feeders ten feet away from any jumping off points Place tilted baffles over the feeder when hanging off a tree or below if the feeder is hanging from a post

Assessment…

In the Alley…

Reaching Out to Residents

Returning to Clintonville to Bait

Third Question With only two field staff in the Rat Control Program, how do you more than one activity at a time?

Requested doubling staffing for 2015

Questions?