Ada County officials seek authority, funding and coordinated response as rat reports rise

Adam Schroeder, director of Ada County Weed, Pest & Mosquito Abatement, told the Boise City Council that his office is receiving increasingly frequent reports of both Norway and roof rats, that the department currently lacks statutory authority to address rats, and that coordinated funding and legal authority from the state would be needed for a sustained campaign.

"Rats are not mentioned within the state code or title," Schroeder said. He told the council his office is getting roughly two to five calls per week about rats, described the two species’ different behaviors, and emphasized public health risks — including leptospirosis, hantavirus and salmonellosis — while noting that the agency does not have population counts or comprehensive monitoring now.

Schroeder laid out a range of near‑term and longer‑term options discussed with stakeholders. Near term, his department could develop a GIS‑based reporting tool and public mobile app to collect reports and map sightings; he estimated an in‑house build of that tool at a low five‑figure cost. He said basic control supplies such as snap traps cost about $0.50–$1 each and could be distributed by request if funding were available. For more comprehensive control, Schroeder described three legislative approaches he is drafting: (1) a state‑level fund and control program; (2) a state fund that enables counties to contract with private pest control operators; or (3) enabling legislation for counties to form a mandated county program similar to existing mosquito and pest districts.

Council members and the mayor pressed practical questions. Several members noted the urgency and offered support for pursuing enabling legislation; Councilman Halliburton said he would be "supportive and I'd encourage you to press the legislature," and several councilmembers volunteered to coordinate with county leadership. Schroeder said interim abatement authority exists but is limited: an interim abatement district could be declared for up to two years and might allow some immediate actions, but it would not by itself create a long‑term funding mechanism without additional legislative or voter approval.

On funding mechanics Schroeder and council members discussed options similar to existing assessments for mosquito abatement: enabling law plus either legislative funding or a voter‑approved district assessment would be required to create a permanent, funded countywide program. Schroeder said his board has authorized initial outreach to cities and stakeholders but that his small agency (the pest abatement district budget was described as about $1.5 million overall) cannot absorb a full eradication program without additional dollars.

The council suggested steps Schroeder can take now: pursue the GIS reporting tool, distribute educational materials and low‑cost traps where feasible, build a coalition with affected cities, and push enabling legislation in the coming session. Schroeder asked for municipal support and said he would bring draft legislative language for the council and partners to review as it develops. Councilmembers stressed the need to act sooner rather than later to prevent rat populations from becoming harder to control.