Boise Bench homeowners are rethinking their Halloween traditions after a surge in rat activity has led to pumpkins and other garden produce being devoured. Long‑time resident Kayla Groat, who has lived in the neighborhood for 16 years, says this is the first summer she has witnessed such a problem.
“It’s essentially a race between me and the rats: who gets to the produce first,” Groat told reporters. “I have sat awake at night just stressed out about the issue. To know that it’s just being destroyed is really upsetting.” She is now opting to grow pumpkins indoors, letting them ripen on the porch after they are picked green.
Neighbors adjust decorations
Grandmother and great‑grandmother Pati King, who enjoys carving pumpkins with her grandchildren, announced she will forgo real pumpkins this year. “We’re doing fake Halloween decorations and fake pumpkins,” King said, urging other residents to avoid feeding the rodents.
King added, “I can hire a pest control company to come and remediate, but I know a lot of my neighbors can’t.” She hopes the community will collectively keep food sources away from the rats.
Expert advice from pest professionals
Matt Schwartz, service manager at Vertex Pest Control, explained that pumpkins provide both food and moisture for rats. He recommends displaying pumpkins inside near a window so they remain visible but out of reach.
“You can still decorate, you can still show everybody the cool artwork that the kids did,” Schwartz said. “People can still see them, but the rats can’t get to them.” He also suggests clearing leaf piles, removing ripe produce promptly, and avoiding straw decorations that can serve as bedding for nests.
While some home remedies, such as rubbing cayenne pepper on pumpkins, are popular, Schwartz warned that they have not been proven effective. “There’s a lot of wives’ tales on what can be done,” he said. “The biggest prevention is actually removing that source from them.”
Local officials begin tracking the problem
At a recent meeting, Ada County and Boise city leaders identified tracking rat sightings as a first step toward a solution, noting the need for a clearer picture before deciding on broader remediation efforts.
King said she appreciates the agencies working together but noted there are no large‑scale eradication plans yet. “I think right now it’s mostly about tracking,” she said.
Groat, who attended the meeting, left feeling discouraged. “It really is a feeling of something that’s outside of your control. You do everything you can to try to stop it, and it’s upsetting,” she said.
Schwartz advises residents who are already seeing regular rat activity to contact a professional pest control service promptly.
Original reporting: KIVI Idaho News 6 Boise metro (local) — read the source article.
