West Allis may say rats to feeding wildlife

West Allis - A ban on feeding all wild animals, except birds, to deal with a rat problem on the city's east side is expected to be voted on by the West Allis Common Council on Tuesday.

The problem, as city officials see it, is not so much feeding bunnies or squirrels, but the rats that help themselves to the food.

"A couple people saw rats running in their yards," said Dan Koralewski, community health environmentalist. "We've had people call in a couple areas where they have seen rats and they never saw them before."

To address the problem, Health Department officials want to cut off the rats' food source. Lots of times that's people putting food down for bunnies and squirrels, he said. You just never know when rats are in the neighborhood, too, he said.

Birds would be exempt because officials believe that bird feeders are harder for rats to get to than food on the ground.

The city already prohibits feeding deer, and the proposed new ban would bolster the current ordinance that prohibits providing rat harborages such as leaving food on the ground.

Complaint-based enforcement

Banning such feeding practices isn't as harsh as it sounds, from an enforcement standpoint, Koralewski said.

"We don't drive around looking for people throwing bread on the ground," he said. "The only time we go out is if we get a complaint."

In one recent instance, they did get complaints from neighbors of a house in the 2200 block of 72nd Street, where a tenant and his landlady love to feed the squirrels. The problem is that the squirrels dug up neighbors' flowers, gardens and yards burying the nuts they got at the house, said Jenna Merten, assistant city attorney.

One neighbor also said she saw a rat, and the man allegedly leaves feed in other peoples' yards, Merten said.

As a result of the complaints, the man and his landlady were warned to stop, which they ignored and now face a total fine of more than $1,000, Merten said. They are appealing the fines in Milwaukee County Circuit Court and are scheduled for an April 5 court appearance.

Legal battle

But it all might go away, at least for the man, if the council approves the wildlife feeding ban. He has agreed to stop feeding squirrels if the ban is approved, Merten said.

"If he holds up his end, the city will drop the fines," she said, adding that the same deal will be extended to the landlady.

To say both residents didn't react kindly to the fines would be an understatement - the man and woman have filed damage claims against the city for a total of roughly half a million dollars.

The city has 120 days to respond, said City Attorney Scott Post, who seriously doubts he will recommend that the claims be paid.

Other control measures

Aside from the proposed ban, the Common Council will likely be asked to consider another measure to help control rats.

It would be reducing the number of days the city allows piles of discarded material to sit at curbs awaiting pickup from five to two, Post said. Such piles that usually pop up when people move often contain food residue that rats eat, he explained.

In addition, Health Department and city officials will likely step up enforcement to make sure trash receptacles are in adequate condition - with well-fitting lids and no cracks large enough to allow rodent access, he said.

Another ordinance in line for stricter enforcement is the removal of dog feces from yards.