Rat-hunting squad in the US capital

On a sweltering June night, dozens of people brought their dogs to an entertainment venue in Washington, D.C., to begin their weekly rat hunt.

"Well done, Henry!" shouted Marshall Feinberg, 28, a dog trainer, as his lead dog killed the first rat.

Dog barking, growling, and the squeaking of rats fill the air during a rat hunt at Adams Morgan, a nightlife entertainment spot in Washington, D.C.

Two rat-hunting dogs in Adams Morgan, Washington, USA, on June 3. Photo: AFP

Rats scurry through the alleyways behind restaurants, bars, and clubs, scavenging for food in trash cans. Washington consistently ranks among the top five rat-infested cities in the United States. The rat problem has worsened due to warmer winters, population growth, and the reopening of outdoor dining areas since the Covid pandemic.

In 2022, the city recorded 13,400 calls to its hotline reporting rats, an increase of approximately 2,000 calls compared to the previous year. Residents are now joining the fight against rats.

The stench of garbage and urine filled the air as the rat-hunting squad advanced. Dachshunds, terriers, and greyhounds scoured garbage bins, chasing after the rodents.

Their owners are ethnically diverse, including people of color and white people, both young and old. Some live in the city center, some in the suburbs, and some have moved here from neighboring states after connecting with fellow rat hunters through social media.

Rat-hunting squad in the US capital

A group of people are hunting rats with their dogs in Washington on June 3. Video : AFP

Bomani Mtume, 60, a retired police officer, has been participating with his terrier dog Barto since March, when the rat-hunting campaign began.

"The first time we went hunting, the rats didn't even run. They just stayed put, staring at the dogs," he said. "Even the unfamiliar dogs started cooperating with each other. It was amazing."

Teddy Moritz, 75, nicknamed "Grandma Death," is a very well-known figure in the community. She brought her son and grandson from Delaware to Washington.

"Using dogs to hunt rats is an effective natural method," she said, explaining that rat poison takes several days to kill rats, while dogs catch them very quickly. "It's a simple but effective method."

A group of rat hunters in the Adams Morgan neighborhood on June 3. Photo: AFP

Agile and nimble, Mrs. Moritz kicked the trash can to scare the rat hiding inside out. An experienced dog breeder, she had bred many dachshunds and trained them to hunt rabbits, and now rats.

In three hours, they eliminated more than 30 rats. "This is a great example of teamwork. Dogs and people working together to control rats and help the city," Feinberg said.

Bobby Corrigan, a rodent researcher, says there is little scientific data to confirm the effectiveness of rat hunting, but the practice dates back hundreds of years, when dogs were trained to hunt rats on farms. "Today, using dogs as a tool for rat control is making a comeback," he says, highlighting the increasing demand for buying and selling dogs.

Furthermore, rat poison has been shown to harm species such as hawks and owls, and rat traps are time-consuming. Hunting rats has become a more humane option. "Dogs break a rat's spine very quickly, before it even feels like it," Moritz said.

Besides dogs, cats are also used to hunt rats, as they are natural predators of rodents. Lisa LaFontaine, president of the Humane Animal Rescue Alliance, says the organization launched the "Blue Collar Cat" program for the city's feral cat population in 2017, which has now helped connect 400 cats with businesses.

"We created this program to give these cats the life they already have, but with the difference that they all receive the necessary vaccinations," she said.

Tim Williams holds his cat Rue inside a plant shop in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 1. Photo: AFP

In the town of Alexandria, Virginia, about a 20-minute drive from Washington, Rue the cat chased away rats that regularly gnawed on bags of bird food and fertilizer at the Greenstreet Growers plant nursery.

"It only killed a few rats, but the main effect was to scare them away," explained Tim Williams, the store manager. He estimated that the store reduced losses by 10% compared to before.

Rue is considered a great employee and has a large following on Instagram. "Having cats here brings two layers of benefits. Everyone enjoys looking at Rue," William added.

Thuy Dinh (According to AFP )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/doi-quan-san-chuot-o-thu-do-my-4619228.html