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Rats! Growing frustrations in Chelsea as city's rodent problems continue

CHELSEA, Mass. - Residents in some Chelsea neighborhoods are not happy about the city's constant rodent problems.

"You pull in and all of a sudden you see the rats scurrying everywhere," said Joe Stutto, a resident.

Last year, the city of Chelsea launched several programs to control their rat population, including free exterminator services.

Bait boxes were placed all across the city, including in Stutto's neighborhood. The problem now, he says, is finding dead rats everywhere.

"We found two in the yard last week," said Stutto.

Stutto's neighbor reported seeing as much as nine dead rats.

The city is now asking residents to report those issues to them via the see, click, fix website.

Code enforcement says dead rats are a sign that their free extermination program is working. They'll come and pick up the dead rats on public property, but not on private.

The next step in the city's rat extermination plan is set to roll out later this year. City officials will provide free heavy duty trash barrels with attached lids.

Neighbors say that, while they're optimistic about the city's efforts, construction and flooding in some areas are underlying issues that still need to be addressed.

"The problem with the rats is the swamplands and it floods out - all the rats come out and they start scurrying around," said Stutto.

The city's Public Works Department will host an informational meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Chelsea Public Library to address the new trash barrels.

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