DEARBORN HEIGHTS — An epidemic of rats has plagued residents of Dearborn Heights for years despite complaints.

Residents packed Tuesday’s city council meeting to address the issue with city leaders.

The Arab American News first reported of the city’s pest problem last summer. In addition to rats, residents were complaining that skunks and possums were running loosely in neighborhood streets and backyards. 

At Tuesday’s meeting, some residents said they’ve seen rats the size of a house cat.

“If I put a trap there tonight, I guarantee there will be a rat there in the morning,” said Caroline Staurt, president of the Southwest Dearborn Heights Neighborhood Association. “They get into trash. They burrow holes under concrete. They spread disease.”

The council heard from Jack McIntyre, the director of ordinance enforcement and animal control about what the department does to control the problem.

“We ask them to make sure they’re picking up after their animal,” said McIntyre. “If they’re not storing garbage properly, we ask them to do that.”

Some residents and council members want the city to bring in an exterminating company.

The council made a motion Tuesday evening to have a private study session to discuss the issue further.