Overview
- Mayor Michelle Wu announced Thursday that Boston will host the second National Urban Rat Summit on Sept. 23–24 to convene experts, researchers, public-health officials and municipal operators.
- The summit is intended to advance evidence-based rodent mitigation and let cities share operational practices, new technologies, and academic research on control methods.
- Boston will use the forum to present its Boston Rodent Action Plan work, which the city says began in 2024 and has guided pilot programs and coordinated agency responses.
- Under the action plan the city reports piloting sewer and surface traps, installing rodent-resistant trash receptacles, mapping rat populations, adopting safer alternatives to common rodenticides, and expanding resident education.
- Partner agencies including Inspectional Services, the Boston Housing Authority, Parks and Recreation, Waste Reduction, and the Water and Sewer Commission are preparing to present pilot results, and the city’s claims of reduced burrows and colonies come from agency statements rather than independent evaluation.