One Detroit-area community is digging deep in its pockets to battle rats.
Warren Mayor Jim Fouts says the city is spending $125,000 on bait traps along the fence lines of Interstate 696. He worries that rats fleeing construction on the freeway will scurry into city neighborhoods.
Fouts said in a release that the pounding and excavation causes rats to seek shelter, food and water elsewhere.
A contractor has placed bait boxes and individual traps. They are checked every two weeks.
New 90-gallon rubbish containers also will be distributed to Warren residents this month to help reduce the city's rat population by keeping trash from overflowing garbage cans along city streets.
I-696 cuts east and west through Warren which is just north of Detroit.