CDC Warns of the Rodent Dawn as Rodents Become Increasingly Aggressive

If a rat comes calling, don’t be afraid to get in his face.

If you thought the CDC’s latest warning against the increasing “unusual or aggressive rodent behavior” under the coronavirus lockdown was thinly disguised anti-Semitism, you were wrong. At least, I think you were wrong.

Jurisdictions have closed or limited service at restaurants and other commercial establishments to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Rodents rely on the food and waste generated by these establishments. Community-wide closures have led to a decrease in food available to rodents, especially in dense commercial areas. Some jurisdictions have reported an increase in rodent activity as rodents search for new sources of food. Environmental health and rodent control programs may see an increase in service requests related to rodents and reports of unusual or aggressive rodent behavior.

We need to eliminate the conditions that attract these rodents in order to lessen this rodent presence.

During rodent-related service calls and inspections, environmental health practitioners should advise residents and business owners to eliminate conditions that may attract and support rodent presence. Preventive actions include sealing up access into homes and businesses, removing debris and heavy vegetation, keeping garbage in tightly covered bins, and removing pet and bird food from their yards.

I just can’t help but think the next time I walk outside I’m going to see an old woman swarmed and eaten alive by rats.

We need to start categorizing the consequences of this lockdown into larger groups of problems. Basically, I think it has caused every problem, and most of them are never going to go away.

The important thing though is that we took precautions against this flu.

Do you guys know what year it is on the Chinese calendar?