Are rats running rampant in Ottawa? 2 councillors want to find out

After hearing more and more about rats spotted in public parks and city streets, two Ottawa councillors have asked staff to report back on the city's rodent population.

MathieuFleury and Allan Hubleytabled an inquiry at the end of Wednesday's city council meeting, asking what the city is doing "to resolve community concerns relating to rodents in the public realm."

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The inquiry also asks whether the city is tracking the "rat and rodent population" and whether there has been a significant increase in rats running rampantsince the city stopped using pesticides.

And if staff arenot already tracking the rat populationthe councillors would like them to start,possibly by using cameras in sewers.

"We know other municipalities such as Windsor are looking at municipally-funded rat control programs," the councillors wrote in their inquiry.

"Education is always helpful, but what concrete measures can we take to reduce the significant number of rats in the future, for example, in the sewers?"