Article date: March 28, 2001

By Mary Jordan

Skunks aren’t the only rodents roaming the streets of Front Royal. Rats are also marking their territory.

Several residents have reported seeing rats along the fence line between the Avtex parking lot and 11^th street, which sparked the concern, according to Town Manager Richard A. Anzolut Jr.

At a Town Council meeting held Monday night, Director of Planning Kimberley Fogle discussed the possibility of patrolling the area of 11th Street near the Avtex Superfund Site on Kendrick Lane for a rat population, Anzolut said.

Councilman Hollis Tharpe speculated that the recent demolition of the Avtex site may be driving the rats out of the area and into the yards of nearby residences, where trash and pet food are easily available.

"Once they find water, shelter and food, they’re not going to go anywhere unless someone removes them," Tharpe said.

Animal control is not run through the town, just the county, so council members suggested an exterminator be brought into the Royal Village area, where most of the rats have been spotted.

However, no final decision has been made.

"We don’t have animal control and to just target 11th Street, would be unfair to the rest of the town that (may) also have rat problems," Tharpe said.

The rats pose additional problems for that area of 11th street, which has been selected for the Community Development Block Grant to revitalize the neighborhood.

Anzolut said only a few residents in the area reported seeing rats. Many residents on the block said Tuesday night that they were unaware of any rat problem.

Tharpe suggested that people eliminate any food sources outside their homes. If pets are fed outside, remove the food when they are finished eating. He also recommended that trash be put in garbage cans with the lids firmly in place to keep the rats from ripping through garbage bags.