Mount Auburn Street Construction Pest Control FAQ

  • As discussed during the 2022 budget process, the Department of Public Works (DPW) proposed to deploy rodent control measures along both sides of Mount Auburn Street and in sewer manholes in advance of the TIP project.
  • Currently proposed layout is bait boxes at alternating light poles (every +/- 250 feet) and the approximately 50 sewer manholes in the corridor, with another station 500 feet down the side streets. The boxes will be monitored and relocated as needed moving outward from Mount Auburn, expanding and spreading out the boxes as deemed appropriate by the licensed applicator.
  • In addition to the bait boxes, the DPW, in coordination with a licensed pest control applicator, has deployed 30 electronic SMART traps along Mt. Auburn Street as well as another 40 electronic SMART traps on Arsenal Street in anticipation of roadway work set to begin this spring. Further, another 10 electronic SMART traps will be spread throughout the City in high traffic rodent areas.
  • Boxes are sized for rodents and secured to poles.
  • We will be endeavoring to quantify rodenticide/rodent success rates.
  • Rodent complaints have doubled in Massachusetts in the last 8 years. The idea is to reduce the impacts of a 5-year 2-mile construction project by conducting pest control measures prior.
  • The City’s DPW worked with a licensed applicator to apply rodent bait stations along Mount Auburn Street in advance of next year's 2-mile roadway reconstruction project with MassDOT. There are also a number of existing stations set by National Grid that are slated to be removed this winter. All rodent control measures are in keeping with the requirements of the Pesticide Control Board.
  • We continue to evaluate all pest control measures in the City. The Board of Health has been meeting with the Council Committee on Human Services to discuss in further detail and has formed a task force to address pests on a citywide basis.
  • To stay informed of project progress and future meetings about the Mount Auburn Street Project, visit the project website at www.mountauburnstreet.com and sign up for email updates.
  • While widespread Pest Control is new to the community, we will be looking at the amount of material removed from the bait stations and tracking usage. We will review volume of material vs effectiveness and calculate a number of pests effected. If we see a high volume removed from the trap, we will Re-bait. If no materials are eaten, no pests were addressed, and we will relocate bait stations.
  • The electronic SMART stations are more expensive, require more man-hours to check/empty, and are larger/ less common in larger scale municipal applications. However, we are evaluating all options for pest control measures and are specifically looking to diversify applications as opposed to a one-tool fits all approach.
  • We are in the same position as our neighbors in Metro Boston trying to address the increase of pests in our cities. In starting to phase in a large-scale program, hopefully, the biggest indicator of success will be a drop in sightings in the areas we are targeting.
  • Regarding the Rodenticide within the roadside bait stations, the City's licensed contractor through our recent procurement process will be using TERAD3, which is less detrimental toward secondary avian populations.
  • The goal is specifically to reduce the number of bait stations on Mount Auburn Street and endeavor to address high pest population areas. National Grid is to remove their bait boxes on Mount Auburn Street shortly which will decrease the number of bait stations in this area.
  • Rodent bait stations are secured to poles only on Public Property and are sized to prevent child and pet intrusions. Stations will be relocated periodically once we have evaluated effectiveness.