Tempe will give homeowners information about preventing and eradicating roof rats 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 during a meeting at Tempe History Museum Community Room, 809 E. Southern Ave.
According to a city news release, neighborhood activist and roof rat expert Barry Paceley will share his tips and tricks for tackling existing problems and preventing new ones. Roof rat bait stations will be available for purchase at the meeting.
Signs of roof rats include hallowed-out citrus fruit, rat droppings, gnawing or scratching noises around the home, damage to plastics and coverings on electrical wires, and unsettled pets.
To help control the rats, residents can drop off quality fruit from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays through March 25 at Elks Scottsdale Lodge 2148, 6398 E. Oak St., in Scottsdale. The fruit will be donated to food banks, senior centers, jails and other locations.
Residents who suspect they have roof rats should call Maricopa County Vector Control at (602) 506-6616.
az2008 posted at 12:53 pm on Wed, Jan 18, 2012.
I routinely see Tempe neighbors who toss their dropped fruit over the wall into the alley. I called the city about it and was told there's no code against that. Even though Tempe goes to great lengths to "enhance" neighborhoods through codes against overheight weeds, etc., and educating residents to reduce the roof-rat problem, there's no code that addresses the creation of what is essentially an "attractive nuisance."
What a waste of government resources. They'll ding you for overheight weeds. And, they'll conduct workshops to prevent roof rats. But, they won't ding you for improper disposal of fruit grown on your property.