Chicagoist: Coloring Their Way Out of Crap In Cicero

Cletus Warhol

Fri, 11 May 2007 17:40:21 -0600

They should send copies of those coloring books to residents of upscale Chicago neighborhoods to let certain dog owners know that they are basically leaving a banquet for rats when they don't clean up after their pooches. Since the concept of social responsibility is beyond their grasp, perhaps the idea of a big fat rat running around their granite counter tops might convince them to act like grownups and clean up after Fifi.

Tony C

Fri, 11 May 2007 17:06:05 -0600

My old apartment in the East Ukrainian Village had an awesome back yard I planted a garden in, but then also had a rat problem. I called the City. One day a guy from the City came by and was like in the yard going "HELLO! IS ANYONE HOME?!" So I go outside and talk to this guy, and he showed me what they do. They put down bait--little pellets of poisonous stuff rats will eat, in obvious rat holes in yards, along walkways, under garage foundations... handfulls of the stuff. But he explains that the problem is that so long as there is real food to eat, they won't eat the poison. Apparently, rats are some kind of culinary critics. So, key is trying to make sure garbage cans stay closed and bags are sealed (although rats will chew right through the bags if they can get in the can for food). On the gruesome side, he suggested tying a road flare to a stick, lighting it, and inserting it as far as possible into one of the holes. Then, when the rats run out of the other holes, you can whack them with a shovel. The look on my face when this City rat control guy told me this had to have been priceless. I am still a little dumbfounded by this, two years later. lol

jocelyn

Fri, 11 May 2007 15:44:25 -0600

i believe it's costing them $15K and it's coming out of their printing budget?

NSH

Fri, 11 May 2007 15:12:41 -0600

How much do you want to bet these coloring books are a mob money laundering scheme

navin

Fri, 11 May 2007 14:18:57 -0600

"Oh Rats!", he he I love it! I want one of those coloring books!