To the Editor:

To the person who left letters in Dayton Road mailboxes this week, signed “JONDOE”:

We are concerned for you. Your letter talked about rat problems and you blame it on dog poop. You went to a lot of trouble to write, photocopy, and then put sealed letters in many mailboxes after dark.

I share your disgust for rats. They are rarely seen in daylight, but they look for warmth when the weather gets cold. If they get into your house, they can chomp through wood and plastic. They can carry diseases. They can ruin your sleep. They can even chew electrical wires to start a fire.

And you are right—rats will eat just about anything, even dead rats. They especially like fallen fruit or garbage. They adore bread or dog poop close by. Even a smelly shovel is rat candy.They love leaky outdoor faucets because they cannot survive without water. Some people think a cat is the answer, and that might work for baby rats. But if your cat goes after an adult rat; it might not go well for the cat.

We once had a rodent problem after hanging bird feeders on our porch. That turned out to be a great way to attract wild rodents. If your problem is new, you might be able to buy what you need at a hardware store. But if you are seeing lots of rats, you have a serious infestation and you need a professional, like Lincoln Pest Control 393-7506. You will have to pay them to come and solve the problem, and then you learn how to avoid all the things rats love to prevent it from happening again. Rats stay close to their nests, so you need to keep your home and yard clean.

I hope you read this and I hope it helps. Leaving letters in peoples’ mailboxes the way you did is against the law. Many people don’t know that. The only people who should open a mailbox are the people who own the mailbox and the USPS mail carrier.

But anyone with a rat infestation needs to ask for help. If you don’t have an adult at home who can help; call Public Health 386-2325 and ask for Will. Good luck.

Wendy Turnbull

Potsdam