Some Dearborn Heights residents say the city has been overrun by rats. With spring around the corner, city officials will be actively enforcing ordinances that could stop the rodent problem.
Ordinance Director Jack McIntyre said, "I think they want faster action but we do have to follow due process."
Many residents took to social media, like Facebook, to complain about the city's rat problem.
Some posted pictures of dead rats they've found in their neighborhood.
McIntyre said the city needs the residents' help to stop the rat issue.
"If they have a shed a rat wall, we want them to correct that, if they have an abandoned vehicle in their driveway, we want them to correct that."
The city has been passing out letters giving animal control tips:
* Make sure the property is clean
* Store garbage in cans with tight lids
* Pick up animal feces
* Stop ground feeding animals
"These are the things we need for you to do," McIntyre said.
City officials said pest control is a resident's responsibility but they are doing what they can to stop the rat issue.
McIntyre said residents called him asking for bait boxes, but it is only used as a last resort.
"It's pointless to start off that way, with a bait box if you have a property that is drawing the rodents to the property."
The ordinance director tells us, his office will make enforcement sweeps late April to help prevent the rat issue from growing.
"We are getting those things done. We are being very aggressive about our enforcement."
If residents are not following the ordinances, homeowners could get ticketed with fines of up to $200.
