Evidence of increased rat activity after COVID lockdowns is mounting across cities nationwide. More municipalities are scrambling to address the concerns of residents who are finding rats in their attics, living spaces, and in retail stores.
As Axios reports, some governments are turning to smart technology to beat the rat problem. Devices like the Internet of Things (IoT) rat trap are more than a rodent elimination tool, although they do that too. These internet-connected devices use sensor technology to take and relay continuous data about rodent activity. They also trap and eliminate rats without the use of poisons.
Smart Technology is "changing the pest control industry," Dana Cote, director of SMART operations for pest control company Anticimex, told Axios.
With the data gleaned from smart traps, cities and businesses can get a better handle on the situation without the use of toxic chemicals.
A warning: cities and businesses may find the data disturbing. As City News has reported previously, California is experiencing a significant increase in rat infestations as a result of two years of COVID closures and lockdowns. Rats that traditionally found food sources in restaurant dumpsters were forced to seek food elsewhere, driving them further into housing developments, residential areas and suburbs.
The problem has gotten so bad that an organization recently formed to raise awareness about the problem. RatsOfCalifornia.com allows people to share videos of rats in strange places throughout California. Check out some of the videos here.