Another Maine town is grappling with a rat invasion.
The rat infestation in Howland became an issue beginning in 2023 after a convenience store was torn down. At the time, contractors reported seeing a wave of rats fleeing from the demolished structure, according to CBS affiliate WABI.
Much of the infestation has centered around seven locations in the town, including abandoned buildings. But during Monday night’s Select Board meeting, residents complained that the rats have begun to encroach on their homes, WABI reported.
Howland is the latest Maine town to confront a swelling rodent population. Camden and Trenton in the past year have grappled with containing and reducing the population of rats in their communities.
Before that Caribou in Aroostook County and Milford and Old Town in Penobscot County dealt with an abundance of rats. Old Town resorted to electrocution boxes and sewer death traps in a bid to contain the horde, while some homeowners took up pellet guns to keep the rats at bay.
On Monday, Hillary Peterson, a specialist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, gave Howland residents tips to prevent rats from encroaching further on their properties until the situation can be dealt with.
