Thanks to Maggie for sending: “in front of the Air and Space museum on the Mall during an early morning run. You’ll notice a fiercely-guarded rat breakfast between the talons.”
If you spot a hawk, any interesting wildlife or celebrity skateboarder Tony Hawk, and get a good photo please send in an email where you spotted them to [email protected]. Thanks! Hawks around Town is made possible by a generous grant from the Ben and Sylvia Gardner foundation.
Ed. Note: Is that a mouse or a rat?
In the rodent justice system, the reality is represented by two separate, yet equally important groups: the Rodent and Vector Control Division, who seek to eradicate them, and the people with very big hearts, who seek to save all rodents. These are their stories.
dun-dun
Thanks to a few readers who passed on the above posting from a FB share group…: “I am not sure what to think.”
Oh, I am VERY sure what to think!!
“Dear PoPville,
An item for consideration – we have been struggling to mitigate a rat problem in our block of row houses. We have a neighbor whose trash is the major feeding source for the rats. Neighbors says that when they call city asking for new trash cans, (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I’m reaching out regarding Mayor Bowser’s proposed changes to short term rentals. Please indulge me with some context first that powers my alarm. And I’d like to be anonymous please.
I saw your recent posts on rats. In Brightwood they are bad, and on our block getting worse due to a short term rental that isn’t owner occupied and appears to be owned by a VA resident. There are numerous large parties generating lots of garbage. And in recent months no one is putting the trash in the alley. The piled up garbage on the property is feeding a surge in rats on our block.
For many, many months my neighbors and I have been going from DC department to department and to Airbnb directly to try to address the non-owner-occupied full time Airbnb (violation of current law) on our street and as noted the numerous parties that often exceed quiet hours and generate uncontrolled garbage.
In researching links to share with Airbnb, (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
Could get some traction on this rat abatement petition in Columbia Heights. We only need 6 more houses on the Kenyon/Lamont block between 11th and 13th St for consideration. Any help promoting this community effort to kill these effing rats would be appreciated. With the re-opening of Harriet Tubman any day now, this would be welcomed in this area.
In order to qualify for the block treatment, we need at least 15 unique households on the block or adjacent to the block neighborhood. Right now, we only have 9. Without the 15, we don’t meet the DC Health threshold. They’ve kept open the petition until Tuesday.
Other blocks can also sign up for treatment through this as well.”
Thanks, I think, to Ray for sending above: “a floating dead rat…”
And C. sends the sad/frustrating sight below: (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
Barely 200 feet from trendy 14th Street, NW cafes, rat tunnels in the 1400 block of R Street NW have doubled this year. (more…)
Thanks to M. for keeping the nightmares fresh :)
“I saw this beast near the corner of 13th and S NW in a tree box, and the glasses are NOT kids glasses.” (more…)
Thanks, I think, to a reader for sending this very unpleasant video from 16th, New Hampshire and U Street, NW.
From the files of I will not bear this burden alone so if I had to watch it, well, to the video! If you dare: (more…)
From the office of Councilmember Henderson:
“On Monday, June 22, Councilmember Henderson introduced the Rodent Education and Management Yields Results (REMY) Amendment Act of 2026. The bill targets eliminating food sources for rodents while protecting residents from health risks associated with untrained application of rodenticides. (more…)