Description
There has recently been an increase of rats at Lake Merritt. I used to only see an average of about one rat on my morning runs around the Lake. Now I am seeing about 3-4. This combined with the lighting on the trail around the Lake not functioning in certain places have led to several close encounters with rats. As I cannot see what is on the ground where I am stepping, the other morning I stepped right in front of a rat that then ran across the top of my foot. Lake Merritt is the gem of Oakland, but this lighting and rodent problem has kept me away.
7 Comments
Acknowledged City of Oakland (Verified Official)
City of Oakland (Verified Official)
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/PWA/Connect/ReportaProblem/index.htm
Thank you.
calonergan (Registered User)
Two problems:
1) too many rats @ Lake Merritt
2) too many feral cats everywhere else, being fed cat food, instead of doing what they were designed for
How about we stop feeding, and instead humanely trap & release the ferals @ Lake Merritt, where they can fulfill their biological destiny?
(only a little bit kidding... >;-)
Eileen (Registered User)
I know you're kidding but the ferals might kill the birds in the sanctuary so we don't want them there. Aside from being a nuisance and eating eggs and chicks, some rats and mice carry the Hanta Virus so it's good that Alameda County Vector Control was notified.
Facts on ferals:
http://oaklandanimalservices.org/educate/feral-cats/
Closed Zachary Kahn (Registered User)
calonergan (Registered User)
Eileen (Registered User)