The Manager's report back on an update on rodent control citywide

Extermination in Parks, Playgrounds and City Building

exteriors is managed by Public Works. Installation complete on 200 new Big Belly units plus repairs & service to 286 existing Big Belly units. Once installation is completed, there will be 530 units. All wrought iron open top receptacles will be eliminated. 23,000 trash carts provided and in service for three years. Curbside food waste collection removes 9 tons of food waste per day.

Ensuring proper storage and set out of residential trash and compost plays a key role in rodent reduction. • Installed 50 SMART Boxes at schools and Housing Authority locations. • Chose these locations due to the high food waste in these locations. • Additional boxes to be added in ’26-’27. • Residents can follow along on the number of rats caught by PB SMART Boxes on Open Data. 6

Participatory Budget

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Private Property

Massachusetts State Sanitary Code requires extermination

when rodent activity is present. ISD inspectors conduct inspections and cite property owners to correct rodent activity AND correct conducive conditions (IPM) Provide tips to prevent rodent activity Work with restaurants to ensure of proper trash disposal and overall sanitary conditions Inspect construction sites for cleanliness Inspect all licensed dumpster (food establishments, apartment buildings etc) 8

Private Property Rodent Control Program

Housing with 4-units or fewer can receive Free Rodent Control Services for up to 60 days. Over 1,500 applications since 2021. 74% of participating properties have been deemed resolved.

Contractor can use non-rodenticide options if the resident prefers. • Rodent control on Private and Public projects • Private property • Full demolition requires submission of an inspection and service plan for the duration of the demolition and rebuild. • Large projects or projects with partial demolition are also required to submit service plan. • All other private property projects especially ones that have a dumpster associated with it are inspected for cleanliness, proper dumpster use, evidence of rodents. • Any construction site that a rat was reported seen on or near is inspected and ordered to get rodent control service plan if deemed necessary. • Public projects • Rodent control required and must follow the restriction on SGAR’s.

Preferred method of rodent control on public project sites is trapping. Capital projects office shares reports from exterminator. 9

Construction Project Rodent Control

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Recent Initiatives

Collaborate with Harvard Square Business Association and Harvard

University to improve trash management and storage in Harvard Sq. area. Plan underway to develop and present “best practice” for trash management and expand to other neighborhood groups A Rodent Infertility trial is underway to study the efficacy of this treatment approach as a part of an overall plan to decrease the reliance on Second Generation Anti-Coagulants. We expect to have a report from Cambridge Public Health soon. As of June 2025, Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides are prohibited on public property. Increase outreach through Communications office to increase Private Property Rodent Control participation. 11

Smart Boxes and Smart Pipes Data

Smart Box: Non-rodenticide electronic trap maintained

by vendor. Smart Pipe: Electronic trap maintained by vendor and deployed in sewers. Vendor sends weekly reports of rodents caught. All data is uploaded to OpenData platform. Boxes provided by Participatory Budgeting in 2024 accounted for 28.7% of all SMART Box kills for the year. Questions?