City Health officials address rodent issues with Council

Free rodent control extermination available to residents

Advocate Staff Report

Revere’s Chief of Health and Human Services, Lauren Buck, and Director of Municipal Inspections & Health Agent, Michael Wells, were at the City Council meeting this week with a presentation on everything residents need to know about the city’s chronic rodent problem.

Calls to 311 to report rat sightings were up dramatically last year, although Buck noted that some residents called multiple times. Revere has been hit with a large population of Norway rats that multiply with litters of 12 every six weeks. They have settled into Revere in part because of the natural environment. Norway rats like marshland and they are excellent swimmers. But they are also in the city because of human behavior, and that’s what city officials hope to change.

Wells started with the city’s trash ordinance. Every property has a blue cart for each household, up to 10, at the address. Residents can request an additional cart for $75. The lids on the trash containers must be closed, and no trash or litter can be placed on the ground. There is a $25 fine for any containers with open lids, litter, bulky items or overgrowth and vegetation. According to Wells, enforcement officers gave 4,000 fines from 2018 to 2024.

Large residential buildings that rely on dumpsters must keep them enclosed and ensure they are not overflowing. Retail and food businesses that have dumpsters are inspected every 30 days and more often if a problem is found.

Residents who have seen rats on their property or have discovered evidence of rodents can sign a waiver that will allow the city to send an exterminator to their home for free to inspect and, if needed, place baited traps on the property. A waiver allows exterminators to treat a property six times a year. Wells said that allowing professionals to do the baiting and trapping is the safest option and will avoid any problems with wildlife and pets ingesting rodent bait.

Wells and Buck stressed that clean, sealed trash barrels are the most important step residents can take to reduce the rat population. Bird baths and birdfeeders are also an easy food source for rodents and should be avoided if there is a rodent problem.

“The fines are a way to remind people of what needs to be done,” said Wells.

Councillors agreed the city needs to educate the public.

For more information on rodent control and waivers for exterminators, go to Revere.org/rodents.