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Willard Park Tot-Lot Closed By Riya Bhattacharjee
The City of Berkeley has announced that the Willard Park Tot-Lot will be closed from March 9 to March 17 in order to bring the park’s current rat infestation under control.
City staff as well as exterminators will be brought in to carry out an extermination. Traps to catch the rodents will also be set underneath the platform and the ramp at the tot-lot and underground baiting will be carried out. Baiting is a way of killing the rats by poisoning them.
The bushes around the park will also be trimmed, especially the agapanthus. The city has also decided to replace the trash cans since they do not have secure locks. Contractors will be employed to look into long-term possibilities of eliminating rat harborage in the park since they are bound to reoccur.
Speaking to the Daily Planet, Councilmember Kriss Worthington commented that “rat harborage posed a serious problem to the community and it should be dealt with promptly.” Worthington also stressed that the least toxic way of getting rid of the rats should be looked into in order to preserve the environment.
The park will however remain open for those who walk their dogs there.
The Daily Planet first reported on the Willard Park rat infestation problem March 7. ›
