CBS 13 • January 18, 2024
The city of Portland is working to remove the rats at Harbor View Memorial Park by way of traps and rat poison. The recent infestation follows the clearing of a homeless encampment at the park earlier this month. There is now a group of people trying to save some of the rats. People are speaking out against the move, arguing more than half of the rats are domesticated or pet rats that got loose at the camp and can be kept as pets. The group advocating for the rats said the city’s approach of using poison not only harms the rats, but the surrounding environment as well.