WPBCC Commercial Rat Control Program

Wicker Park Bucktown's Special Service Area launched Chicago's first pilot program to begin rat birth control in our commercial corridors.

Working together as a community, we can most effectively and ethically curtail our city’s rat problem!

The program from Special Service Area #33, implemented in April 2025, has crews installing bait boxes with Senestech's Evolve Rat in alleys behind several major thoroughfares, as well as in tree pits and planter beds throughout the neighborhood.

 

The goal is to control the rat population without the toxins and poisons that pose a risk to many other animals in the city as well as water supplies.

About the Product:

  • OPTIMAL SOLUTION: Cottonseed Oil is the main ingredient used to limit the fertility in rodents, resulting in a decrease in population; Evolve targets both male and female rodents for comprehensive control without hurting them
  • SUSTAINABLE IMPACT: Achieves population control within 4 to 6 weeks, aligning with ecological principles and ensuring a long-term solution to managing rat numbers
  • EASY TO USE: Place bait stations in active areas, avoiding proximity to harmful methods; secure with 2 to 12 pieces of bait and monitor, adding more as needed for continuous effectiveness
  • APPEALING FORMULATION: Designed to attract rodents consistently, ensuring effective consumption without the common drawbacks of avoidance; promotes sustained population reduction with a sustainable alternative to harmful
  • TARGETED APPROACH: A proactive solution by decreasing the birth rate, addressing the root cause of infestations, and supporting overall ecosystem health; recommended use in multiple bait traps to quickly conquer and limit unwanted rats with a mess-free experience

Recommended Preparation for Alleys and Gangways:

  • Report and replace all damaged trash cans through the 311 app (linked HERE) and/or contact your alderman's office:
  • Keep all trash cans covered and contained.
  • Consider composting food waste with a local provider.
  • Clear all debris, foliage, or other hiding spaces.
  • Organize neighborhood cleanup in alleys and maintain them.