Somerville Residents Wage War Against Relentless Rat Invasion

As of November 1st, 2025, the city of Somerville, Massachusetts continues to grapple with a severe rat infestation that has plagued residents for years. Locals share harrowing tales of the rodents' destruction, such as Adeline Lining's experience of having her Christmas pears devoured by rats on her porch. Donine Williams recounts how the rats burrowed under her deck, chewed through the subfloor, and nested in the insulation, leaving a lingering stench of urine and feces.

Andrew Jefferies, a former Somerville resident, vividly remembers the "screaming" sounds of rats rummaging through his trash at night, even after he requested new trash cans, which the rodents promptly chewed through. These stories illustrate the pervasive and disruptive nature of Somerville's rat problem.

In response, the city has launched a field trial of a new, safer form of rodent birth control in an effort to reduce the overall rat population and mitigate the extensive damage they cause. Alicia Privett, Somerville's Environmental Health Coordinator, acknowledges the challenge, stating, "I have no illusion that we can actually outsmart the rats." However, she and her colleagues, including Cambridge's Senior Director of Environmental Health, Sam Lipson, are hopeful that this innovative approach can at least lower the rat numbers and make other control measures more effective.

The trial relies on community volunteers to monitor bait boxes containing the anti-fertility chemical, which aims to disrupt the rats' reproductive cycle without causing permanent infertility. Privett and Lipson believe that by raising awareness and encouraging residents to adopt best practices, such as improving sanitation and reducing food sources, the city can make progress in its ongoing battle against these "scrappy" and persistent pests.