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Old 09-08-2013, 08:59 PM
 
34 posts, read 82,454 times
Reputation: 44

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Okay maybe just my section of Lakeview. I live relatively near the Belmont el stop --- and I've recently noticed a dramatic increase in the rat population since Sept 1st-ish.

It used to be --- haven't seen a rat once here in 10+ months, including all summer.

Now? I see several while walking down my block each night after dark. Some mondo-sized gigantor rats.


I have no idea why they moved in now ---- some homeless bum recently installed himself as a permanent fixture in some alleyway (neighborhood is really looking up, eh?) around the same time and maybe he's feeding them.

Thankfully I live on the second floor of my apartment (though that's not the best defense) --- but as this population increases outside around the street/ block, is it only a matter of time before they find their way indoors?

I can only imagine the people with yards around here --- I looked in one yard and there must have been three rats scurrying around.

Should I alert the property management as a heads up? Will I have to wait until November for these vermin to freeze to death?

They seem like they have a lot more balls in terms of running right next to a human vs. a squirrel.
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Old 09-08-2013, 09:13 PM
 
Location: Chicago, IL
3,793 posts, read 4,599,678 times
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I promise rats did not just move into Lakeview, or your section of Lakeview, or any neighborhood of any city in the world. They've been there. I have noticed that sometimes they show themselves more than others, though, and I have no idea why that is.

I am truly amazed at how big they can get in Chicago, though. Mondo gigantor indeed.
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Old 09-08-2013, 09:25 PM
 
34 posts, read 82,454 times
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Yeah maybe they were here before, but it's still a huge difference in visibility. Hopefully they stay outdoors.

Yes I was reading something online saying --- to determine if it's a rat or mouse, examine the size of its droppings --- yeah, no... I can tell it's a rat because it's the size of a football.
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Old 09-08-2013, 09:31 PM
 
Location: Chicago
3,569 posts, read 7,197,612 times
Reputation: 2637
It's just a rat.
Why do people make a big deal
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Old 09-08-2013, 10:03 PM
 
34 posts, read 82,454 times
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It's gross, it's unsightly, it doesn't fear man --- it may bite me and give me some varation of the Bubonic Plague.
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Old 09-08-2013, 10:21 PM
 
Location: Chicago, IL
3,793 posts, read 4,599,678 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peterparker20 View Post
Yes I was reading something online saying --- to determine if it's a rat or mouse, examine the size of its droppings --- yeah, no... I can tell it's a rat because it's the size of a football.
Ha. I'm pretty sure they mean you should do that in situations where you don't actually see the rodent itself. Anyone who can't tell the difference between a mouse and a rat by looking at them probably isn't going to have the observation skills to differentiate between types of poo.
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Old 09-08-2013, 10:24 PM
 
Location: Chicago, IL
3,793 posts, read 4,599,678 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peterparker20 View Post
Yeah maybe they were here before, but it's still a huge difference in visibility.
Maybe they were previously deterred by a neighborhood coyote that recently died or got old and moved to the burbs.
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Old 09-09-2013, 04:32 AM
 
58 posts, read 125,742 times
Reputation: 35
Arm yourself with a BB and fetch yourself some lunch.

The football sized ones taste the best
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Old 09-09-2013, 07:15 AM
 
Location: Wheaton, Illinois
10,261 posts, read 21,748,788 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicago_Josh View Post
Arm yourself with a BB and fetch yourself some lunch.

The football sized ones taste the best
Vicksburg chicken.
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Old 09-09-2013, 07:23 AM
 
2,756 posts, read 4,412,167 times
Reputation: 7524
They're always on the el tracks. No biggie.

Probably just walking South for the winter.
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