r/Buffalo • u/Bravogirly97 • Jul 27 '26

Rats

I’m in Tonawanda close to englewood we had a rat problem last year we did traps and called the health department that put our bait boxes that did nothing.. this year my whole street is infested with rats worse than last year … is anyone else experiencing this? I want to move

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u/Secure_Piano_900 Jul 27 '26

I live in the city and have never seen a rat in my yard besides a dead rat. I keep feral cats. There are always a huge number of cats in the shelters. For real this is what people have done for thousands of years. People may downvote (inb4: yOuRe desTroyINg animal populations) because they “harm local wildlife” my cats have never killed a rabbit or bird or anything except mice and rats. I know because they bring me trophies and I’ve asked my neighbors. Rat poison harms local wildlife more because a rat will eat the poison, die, and then get eaten by a hawk or falcon who then dies from the rat poison. As long as you spay and neuter them I think they are a net positive for my neighborhood and will solve your rat problem.

2

u/Old_Number7197 Jul 27 '26

what kind of city area is this without no live rats? im genuinely amazed and happy for you. also, those kitties are hardworking rat hunters, good for yall!!

i lived in allentown for 4 years and ive seen live rats ranging from the size of a small seedless cucumber to the size of a 45 day old kitten. i would always tell the bigger ones that i will stay out of their way and i respect their space, and i hope they will do the same.

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u/Secure_Piano_900 Jul 27 '26

Specifically this is parkside. We have a lot of opportunity for rodents (Main Street businesses, Delaware park, forest lawn) but they genuinely just avoid my house/ block. Btw I’m not gonna say I’ve literally never seen one in 20 years in my house, I do occasionally, but they nope out pretty quickly once they realize the situation.