What we learned at the rat meetup

[Friends of St. Johns Pl]

Hi neighbors,

Thank you to everyone who came to the rat meetup on September 12 in the backyard at 365 St Johns Place, and thank you to the folks from Sterling Place who came over to share what has actually worked on their block.

What you can do about rats 🐀

From our meetup on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Seven things that actually work.

1. Spray a bleach and water solution where rats have been. Rats leave a scent from their whiskers that leads other rats to food and nests, and bleach wipes that trail out.
2. Collapse burrows as soon as they appear, or fill them with landscaping pebbles. Do this carefully. It matters most right after a professional CO2 treatment, because if the burrow is left open, new rats move in and feed on the dead ones.
3. Ask your building for trash bins with a latch, and compost bins that are large enough or more of them. A latch is what actually keeps rats out, a loose lid is not enough. Compost only cuts the food supply if there is capacity for all of it. If the building will not pay, fundraise. SCRAM has raised money for bins by raffle and we could do the same here.
4. Report every rat sighting to 311, then log your complaint number here. Giving the city data is the single most useful thing a resident can do. We will send the numbers to Council Member Crystal Hudson's office.
5. Start anti rat walks and meetups to find the problem spots. SCRAM runs monthly rat walks and we can team up with them.
6. Sign up for Rat Academy training, virtual or in person. It is free and open to anyone.
7. Pick up after your dog. Rats eat dog waste.

Next up: St Johns Plants Together, Saturday October 3, 9am to 2pm

Our block's City of Forest Day. Planting the tree beds all morning, then lunch together at 1pm in the backyard at 365 St Johns Place. Sign up here:

https://friends-of-st-johns-pl.github.io/#st-johns-plants-2026

Thank you,

Friends of St Johns Place
https://friends-of-st-johns-pl.github.io

[Friends of St. Johns Pl]

P.S. The meeting minutes for those who would like to know more.