Rats return to South Philly creating drive-throughs in residents' cars
PHILADELPHIA - In South Philadelphia, neighbors are fed up with the rats, some of which are living inside cars and storing food.
Philly is no stranger to rodent problems and the city is working hard to stop this rat infestation.
"They're not scared of ya. They stop and look up at us like, 'What do ya want?'" a resident said.
Imagine opening the hood of your car to see where the odd noise is coming from and seeing a rat scurrying around the engine.
"It's shocking that they were back," said the resident.
Back and badder than before, bad to the bone, you might say... chicken bones.
One South Philly rat has its own fast food drive-thru in BJ Baretta's car engine compartment.
"It's a convenient place to eat. Little rat buffet in my car," Baretta said.
The food didn't come from leftovers inside the car but from the trash rats have been feasting on for months, left behind the fast food places on South Broad Street.
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Businesses leave their trash in the back, but that's in front of Watts Street homes.
"Seven days a week there's bags of trash out here, dumpsters full, garbage cans overflowing, some days higher than my head," said Andy Liberatoscioli, a Watts Street resident.
We saw the rats and the trash when we first went to Watts Street in May.
"Our goal is to make sure trash is stored properly, and if not stored properly, there will be consequences and fines associated with it," said Mark Squilla, Philadelphia City Councilman.
On Monday, Councilman Squilla's office told FOX 29, "City sanitation staff has been going out weekly and issuing tickets at the location where conditions are less than favorable. We have been trying to find a contact at the corporate office of Popeye's and maybe Dunkin' if necessary and insist on increased collections, namely a Saturday or Sunday collection."