Rats! Rodent infestation shuts down New Bedford playground

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — Rats have been strewn across the streets of New Bedford after a recent fire at a waste transfer facility.

The city said the rodents came from Harvey Waste and Recycling Services, which was ravaged by flames two weeks ago on May 14.

Resident Melissa Butts told ABC6 the situation hits close to home.

“I had rats when I was growing up,” she said. “They are very clean animals.”

However, not everyone is a fan, as officials had to shut down the playground near New Bedford Regional Airport due to the infestation.

“They’re looking for food and water,” Butts said. “So they’re crawling up to people.”

ABC6 spotted rats scattered all along Shawmut Avenue on Wednesday evening, with some even on the playground equipment.

Some drivers were so fed up, they tried to run the rats over, while other residents said they put rat poison on their lawns to keep them away.

“You cage something for so long, then you let them out into the middle of nowhere and then they have no clue what to do,” Butts said.

Residents said there are still a lot of questions yet to be answered.

“It was two weeks ago when that the place went up in flames,” Butts said. “Why did they come out now?”

The city has called in the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to find out how the rats escaped from Harvey’s facility.