Logan Square pest controller chooses to transport vs terminate rats at O'Hare

Logan Square Pest Control, whose owner is Carl Easter, contracted with American Airlines to exterminate rats at O'Hare Airport. However, according to a statement Easter made in the Sun-Times, he chose to transport instead of terminate.

As stated in the Sun Times, he "prefers to trap and release — rather than exterminate — rats. He says he typically drops them off at local parks."

This statement prompted Logan Square resident Jim Angrabright, who donates yearly hundreds of volunteer cleanup hours in Wicker Park, to contact two aldermen, Rey Colon (35th) and Ray Suarez (31st), as well as other members of the Wicker Park Garden Club volunteers, many of whom do not live in Logan Square or Wicker Park. 

"I've been a volunteer landscaper/gardener with the Chicago Park District, specifically with the Wicker Park Garden Club (WPGC), for the last 10 years," said Angrabright. "I have constantly had to do battle with rats (and lately rabbits, too) in the park and it is not my favorite part of the job."

Betsy Tandy who lives in the 50th Ward and is another WPGC volunteer, contact Alderman Debra Silverstein. Silverstein took immediate action and contacted Juan Manzano, Intergovernmental Affairs, Chicago Department of Aviation. 

American Airlines was contacted by Manzano. "They were not aware that Logan was capturing and releasing the rodents. They have informed us that they will be replacing Logan with another exterminating contractor to exterminate as that is what the contract obligations called for," Manzano reported to Silverstein. 

Tandy said that this year rats are so bad by a pond in Boundary Park, 2500 W. Lunt Ave., that she will not go walking in her favorite place.

One solution a building manager had for ridding a multi-unit building of rats was a boa constrictor, according to a Logan Square resident, "Neither the tenants or the police were happy with this solution," she said through outbursts of laughter.

A Bucktown resident said, "Well, maybe we should bring in a coyote."

Trap and release in Chicago for rats is not a program for which any City resident expressed interest. What do you think?

Mr. Easter, said through a spokesperson, that he will not talk with the media.

Photo courtesy of dalje