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Exterminators Busy Dealing With Roof Rats In Las Vegas

Exterminators say they are dealing with an explosion in the population of roof rats in the Las Vegas Valley.
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Exterminators say they are dealing with an explosion in the population of roof rats in the Las Vegas Valley.

Roof rats, species name Rattus rattus, are taking the valley by storm, according to exterminators.

That means many of us have been stunned to look in the backyard to find a rat, its segmented tail resting lazily, slurping from the swimming pool. Or fishing in the garbage for a snack.

One exterminator says that in 2011, he put out maybe six rat traps. This year, he expects to put out 2,000 by the end of the year.

And some people, such as Las Vegas City Councilman Bob Beers, have intimate knowledge of the struggle to rid their homes of the pest. He says he’s in a “life and death” struggle with the creatures.

"We know what he looks like," Beers told KNPR's State of Nevada, referring to one rat. "The problem is he runs down the fence and into the garden, and eats the best tomatoes."

Kurt Trombetti is the CEO of a pest control company. He said business is booming.

"We're on pace to put out over 2,000 [traps] in 2015," he told KNPR's State of Nevada.

That's more than double the amount his company placed last year, he said.

Bob Beers, Las Vegas City Council;  Kurt Trombetti, CEO at Enviro Safe Pest Control

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Joe Schoenmann joined Nevada Public Radio in 2014. He works with a talented team of producers at State of Nevada who explore the casino industry, sports, politics, public health and everything in between.