{"id":303648,"date":"2026-10-10T07:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T07:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/303648\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T07:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T07:34:11","slug":"northeast-philadelphia-residents-frustrated-by-ongoing-rat-problem-you-cant-live-like-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/303648\/","title":{"rendered":"Northeast Philadelphia residents frustrated by ongoing rat problem: “You can’t live like this”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Residents in several lower Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods say a growing rat problem<\/a> is disrupting daily life, damaging property and raising health concerns. Now, City Council is calling for a more aggressive response.<\/p>\n

Residents in Oxford Circle, Castor Gardens and Summerdale said rats have become difficult to control in recent months, despite efforts to keep the rodents away.<\/p>\n

“They’re pretty big. They’re not small rats,” Eugene Rivers, an Oxford Circle resident, said. “They’re pretty big.”<\/p>\n

Rivers said rats tear open trash bags, scatter garbage and startle residents walking outside at night.<\/p>\n

“They’re everywhere,” he said.<\/p>\n

Although the rats have been a longstanding problem, residents said the infestation has worsened in recent months. Their attempts to control it have brought little relief.<\/p>\n

“I’m ready to relocate,” Gail Burris, another Oxford Circle resident, said.<\/p>\n

Burris said neighbors have tried poison, peppermint spray, mothballs and even freezing their trash until collection day. She said rats continue to damage cars and burrow in yards.<\/p>\n

“You can’t live like this,” Burris said. “My grandkids get in my car, and they’re like, ‘Why do we smell mothballs, Mom-Mom?’ It’s just a lot. It’s a lot.”<\/p>\n

Philadelphia City Council member Dr. Anthony Phillips, who represents the 9th District, said the city needs to take stronger action to address the infestation.<\/p>\n

“I feel like the city has not responded in a way that is arduous,” Phillips said.<\/p>\n

Phillips recently proposed a resolution urging the city’s sanitation, public health and licenses and inspections departments to coordinate their efforts to combat the problem.<\/p>\n

The resolution calls for a targeted response that addresses vacant properties, improperly stored trash and repeat offenders, including the use of hefty fines.<\/p>\n

City Council unanimously approved the resolution, recognizing the rat infestation as a public health emergency.<\/p>\n

Phillips said residents who properly maintain their properties are also suffering because of the actions of others.<\/p>\n

“There’s a lot of good neighbors in this community that are suffering because there are individuals that are not necessarily cleaning up after themselves,” he said.<\/p>\n

City officials are urging residents to store trash in hard-sided containers and limit the amount of time garbage sits on the curb before collection.<\/p>\n

Residents can report rat activity by calling 215-685-9000.<\/p>\n

\n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n

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