I hate rodents. So living in D.C. past years, and seeing them every time I took out my trash or anticipating the “terror walk” home after hours, I wanted the reign of rats to be over.

So I sat down with the City Director for Wildlife, Sarah Sirica, DVM, MPH, to see how. Right now, I’ve learned there are many soldiers on the front lines of D.C.’s war on rats:

• Lawmakers and coalitions who are advancing provisions for the RAT Act, a bill aimed at ensuring landlords are held accountable for keeping tenants’ homes rat-free;
• DC Health workers who respond to 311 calls and place baits to protect citizens from health risks of infestations;
• Exterminators lead the charge, armed with rodenticides — the shortest-term solution.

Sirica explained that a test found 85% of non-rat wildlife in the area tested positive for rodenticides. If they harm wildlife, cats, and dogs; why are citizens of D.C. continuing to use something that hasn’t shown progress for years?

The solution to this problem might just be us; me. The last line of defense, and we’re solving a major climate issue simultaneously. Our role is simple: keep food waste out, compost, and accept the fact that we control what rats need to populate. So why aren’t we fighting?